Mario - Around my house, 1

[Mario Schweiger]

Todays late morning and up to approx. 2:00 p.m. I´ve been just about 6 km north of my house at a place, Vipera berus has been reported from the late 70ies and early 80ies of the last century.
It was the x-time now, I was looking there for vipers.
Weather today has been perfect for vipers. 90% clouds and about 23°C.

I found Bombina variegata everywhere. Although this species was reported to be extinct in that area since many years. But they have been everywhere.
You only have to look in every waterhole

Bombina variegata in a very small waterhole in the deep fir-forest

Bombina variegata at a small, mostly overgrown trench. How many?

wheel track at a forest road

Bombina in the wheel track

Lacerta agilis female along the forest road

stack of logs at the edge of the forest

Lacerta agilis male in the wood pile

another male at the wood pile

wood pile and ..........

The only snake seen today has been a last year black Natrix natrix. But deep inside the Rubus branches

So the chance is still alive, Vipera berus is still living there

Mario

[Andre Schmid]

Hi Mario,

I see only two Bombinas...maybe I´m a little bit blind

Good luck to find some adders in this habitat in future !

[Mourits Løvholt]

Very cool that you can find those cool creatures around your house, especially Bombina variegata!
In my garden I can find; Zootoca vivipara, Anguis fragilis, Rana temporaria, Pelophylax kl. esculentus, Bufo bufo, Bufo variabilis, Lissotriton vulgaris and sometimes Natrix natrix and Rana arvalis

[Daniel Kane]

Nice one Mario. It's always nice to find animals which no-one knows are there. Is it a Zootoca in the last picture?

[Mourits Løvholt]

I agree on Zootoca:

[Mario Schweiger]

Yes, its a Zootoca vivipara. So both lizard species, agilis and vivipara have been basking "close" together on the same wood pile!

male, ... with a tick on left hand shoulder

female

And the occurence of Zootoca make me believe, Vipera berus might really live there (not to dry and not to hot!)

Mario

[Mario Schweiger]

On sunday, August 22nd I´ve been to "my" locality again, still searching for the Vipera berus.
But - without success
It was a very warm to hot day, so I went there in the morning, approx. 8:30 a.m.

view to the habitat. "behind me", there´s the stack of wood, shown in the 1st posting

and this wood pile was still in the shade.

Lacerte agilis male "out" in the shade

but not one Zootoca vivipara was visible.
So I walked around, looking for herps, and found another water filled wheel track

small ditch, habitat of Bombina variegata. The red spot in/on my photo-bag is a bottle of Autan©. Believe me, you need it - every 10 minutes - because of myriads of Culex.

Bombina variegata - adults ........

... and tadpole(s)

On my way back, short after noon, I passed by at the wood pile again.
No Lacerta agilis was out and basking, but 8 Zootocas were basking on the pile or on open spots in front of.

This was very interesting
It seems to be to hot for the agilis, but all? Zootocas, living in/below this pile have been out

Count the specimens!

Mario
PS: since yesterday the first really bad autumn days started here in Salzburg (18°C)
and the weather will be like today for the next 10 to 14 days (13°C - 18°C)