A smooth surprise on a Monday afternoon walk.

[Bastien Comment]

13.06.2011

With a friend, we went for a walk in the vines in the Lavaux in Switzerland. Beautiful place with beautiful sights. We didn't even go there for herping but as you probably imagine, I never stop watching everywhere because experience has already proven to me that it's sometimes when you expect it the less that you find surprising things. It didn't fail that day. A plate on the side of the road and my heartbeat always increases...I flip it and wow! A bright young adult Coronella austriaca!! I hadn't seen a living one for more than 15 years!!

Pictures were taken with my mobile phone, so quality is not the best sorry...

Cheers!

Bastien

[Paul Lambourne]

Bastien,

Nothing beats an unexpected flip it always happens when you dont have a camera.. thank god for I phone Smooth snakes are a real rarity in the UK, I did not see my first UK one till I was in my late thirties!!..

[Mourits Løvholt]

Congratulations on the beautiful snake!

[Bastien Comment]

Paul:

Actually, iPhones are not too bad for pictures. It's just that I had to take 20-30 pictures to have some in pretty good condition...smooth snakes can be found in many places in my area but there are not so many in number. So as said, my last living one was seen more than 15 years ago and in the black forest in Germany (again a surprise herping, just walking in the woods with some friends and bam! A smooth snake crossed the path )

Mourits:

Cheers mate!