Over the last few weeks, we have been playing a nocturnal game called “what is that sound?”. Around 11 pm when all else is quiet and dark we hear a quasi-electronic sounding beep spaced at ~4 second intervals.

It gets so that you wait for the next beep!

It is tad irritating when you are nodding off.

So, I have variously stopped the voltage getting to the external lights, the supply voltage to the LNB detector on the satellite dish, and the electrical volets. None of which made any difference. The beep-beep is not here during the day. Only at night. Electrical causes are ruled out.

Last night it sounded like it was coming from the rose garden. I went out to explore wondering if I would discover some hidden electronic device. No. It went quiet when I approached.

Having spent time in Zambia and Queensland I am more accustomed to weird frog noises.

A Google search this morning revealed The Common Midwife Toad!!

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This now adds to our wildlife tally with the two fire salamanders in the basement {vide sanitaire}. The slow worms are due to start leaving hibernation soon. Then we will have the grass snakes, some of which swim on the pond.

I don’t know if knowing it is a toad will make it easier to sleep. There is no electronic catastrophe pending.

We shall see….