Last Tuesday I spotted this cute little toad—I think it may be a Fowler’s Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri)—while exploring the wilds of Fairfax County. The toad was just chilling (or more accurately may have been warming itself) on a rock ledge with a bumpy texture and mottled coloration that matched those of the toad pretty well.
It is hard to know what the frog was thinking, but it appeared to be in deep contemplation. “I think, therefore I am.”
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I LOVE everything about this photo. The detail of the toad is so crisp. I really love that I can see all the detail in his eye. I adore all of the visual texture in this image too – the delightful toad and the background. Really lovely handling of all the warm, neutral tones too.
Waiting for a princess.
Your comment, Dan, reminds me of a time long ago when I got involved in the theatre while stationed at an Army base. We did a production of The Frog Prince in which I played the frog, wearing a mask, leotard, tights, and flipper-like cloth fins on my hands and feet. When I got kissed, however, I did not get to play the prince. That role was given to someone who was blond-haired and younger and more handsome than me. 🙂
Awww. No fair.
Without a doubt the toad is thinking that! 🙂 Great picture!
Thanks. I know that I should not anthropomorphize and impute human motives and feeling on the creatures that I photograph, but sometimes I cannot help myself. 🙂
Mike, I am the same way!
Toadally nice shot, Mike.
Almost unfrogetable. 🙂
🙂
Nice Mike! Great detail!
I have always called them Fowler’s Toad, recently I checked a few places and many that I have seen are an American Toad. Not exactly the same…I think. Nice shot, always loved these guys.
I honestly have trouble distinguishing between American toads and Fowler’s toads. To make matters worse, the Virginia Herpetological Society notes that “These species frequently hybridize making identification difficult.”
I never knew there was an American Toad until recently. 😀
Apparently there are even three sub-species–the eastern American toad, the dwarf American toad, and the rare Hudson Bay toad.
Not to mention the slip under my garage door toad.
It was willing itself into existence! Great image, Mike. I love finding these little toads.
Thanks, Todd. In most of the places that I visit, I am more likely to find frogs than toads, so it is always nice to spot a toad, especially one out in the open like this one.