Summer (observations)

[Berislav Horvatic]

Not a reptile or amphibian, but definitely an highlight. The European badger (Meles meles).

Definitely & definitively! I've seen it in vivo only once in my life, two years ago, running like mad
along the road in front of our car - by night, of course, and not for long enough... No opportunity
to take any photos, but the experience is... well, you've had it yourself, so you know. I just envy
you for the photo...

[Ronald Zimmerman]

Not a reptile or amphibian, but definitely an highlight. The European badger (Meles meles).

Definitely & definitively! I've seen it in vivo only once in my life, two years ago, running like mad
along the road in front of our car - by night, of course, and not for long enough... No opportunity
to take any photos, but the experience is... well, you've had it yourself, so you know. I just envy
you for the photo...

I think we had seen 7-11 that night. They did not notice us. They were very active.
Very lucky!

[Berislav Horvatic]

I think we had seen 7-11 that night. They did not notice us. They were very active. Very lucky!

Very, very lucky indeed... Now I envy you even more - immensely, what else... Any other photos of these
non-herp beasts? And what were they doing actually, at that time, while not noticing your presence?
BTW, how is/was that possible at all? What were the fortunate circumstances allowing THAT?

[Bobby Bok]

A friend of ours made a video of this amazing encounter, it also shows how little these animals were effected by our presence besides what they were doing (foraging, scratching, playing).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DkgE0CHumE

For more summer observations from my side (and a low-quality Iphone picture from how close the badgers were) have a look at my website:

http://www.herpsafari.nl/herping-around ... rner/2015/

[Berislav Horvatic]

Well, what could one add to that, but a movie with even many more than 7-11 very agile budgers,
plus a mushroom (Amanita muscaria?), plus a snake (don't ask which one, but it fits the story...)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIyixC9NsLI

[Rob Andriessen]

I monitor several areas in The Netherlands for RAVON; today after some rain I saw the first smooth snake in two years in one of those areas

[Rémon ter Harmsel]

Great find! Not the first time smooth snakes go unnoticed for several years.

[Rob Andriessen]

Yesterday, at the same spot as the snake in my post above, 3 adult Coronella austriaca, in full sunlight. It's amazing how these guys can remain hidden for years while they now seem to pop up everywhere.

[Andre Schmid]

Because today starts autumn...

here a few standard herpeto shots from the past months from black forest (in this case the last summer observations )

[Pablo Deschepper]

I love the black one with the red lips! Stunning!