Pics from my area

[Jürgen Gebhart]

Yesterday morning I made a Trip to a Lake close to my Home village. I started to look for herps at 9.30, Temperatures was 12 Degrees, lot of clouds, less sun (German summer).
I pictured my first flower this year, don`t know what it is, but looks nice.



The good thing at this weather conditions was that I saw some fat Zootoca sausages.
I found 18 gravid females (a lot of food for the next Vipera generation) and three males.







I found 12 Natrix natrix



Two males Lacerta agilis



I came across the puddle of the Bombina`s. They were waiting to get warmed up.



An hour later, with more sun.



I found two Vipera berus, a male and a gravid female.



And on the way back to the car and old full of scares Anguis fragilis.



After three hours it starts to rain and I drove back home.

[Tim Leerschool]

Nice pictures.

Those gracid Z. vivipara look like their about to explode. I've just recieved news that the first juveniles of Z. vivipara in my area are born! Going to have a look this week!

Now I'm anxious to see the new V. berus youngsters!

Concerning the flower, I've got no clue either.

Thanks for sharing,

Tim

[Peter Oefinger]

Very nice! The Lilium martagon shot is a good start - in some years you will be a passionate botanist
Cool Bombinas.

[Tim Leerschool]

Now I'm anxious to see the new V. berus youngsters!

In July?

Not in July Michael. At earliest in august.

The baby-boom in herpetofauna is just starting and that's getting my hopes up!

Best regards,

Tim

[Bobby Bok]

Love the Bombinas too, very nice to have such a local patch!

[Gabriel Martínez]

Yes, Bombina´s are cool!!!!

[Jürgen Gebhart]

The first time since the summer vacation (viewtopic.php?f=15&t=860) I was back at “my” Lake.
Weather conditions were not bad, Temperatures about 22 Degrees and a sun cloud mix with cold wind.
I arrived in the right time a lot of Lacerta agilis were outside. I saw in about a half hour more than 25 Individuals. After the clouds were gone, also the lizards were gone.














I saw also 4 Zootoca`s, two adults and two fresh born.


And 10 Natrix natrix (6 black, 1 dark normal and three normal)


In this area occurs a small population of Vipera berus. In the past two years I found 3 males (2 black, one banded) 3 females (banded) and 1 half grown (black). I never found a fresh born, don`t know where they go to.
Two years ago all three females were gravid, last year just one.
Normally I don`t take shot`s like these, but the situation had warmed up my heart.
What you don`t see in this very bad pic, are two females heavy loaded and ready to shed the skin.


And five steps away the third one, also heavy loaded and ready to shed. It looks like it will be a good year for this small population.


How long does it takes between shedding and the birth of the Baby`s? Is there any rule?

[Peter Oefinger]

great! varying pattern of the agilis is cool.

[Jürgen Gebhart]

great! varying pattern of the agilis is cool.

All I saw looks different too each other. I also saw a female with broad wide bands and an other individual with almost no markings, of course I couldn`t get these both in a pic.

[Jürgen Gebhart]

Today I was again there. I arrived at 11.00 h, Temperatures was 20 Degrees, no sun and a high humidity (in German: es war sauschwül!)
Berus female No. 3 was outside with no coverage.


At 11.30 h the clouds disappeared, one more female came outside and was hiding immediately under high grass, female No. 3 do the same. I don`t find the other one today.

Also some Lacerta agilis were outside


old fighter


Gravid????


the nicest of today


basking in the shadow


And a few Zootoca`s
Fresh born


At 12.15 h there was no more clouds and most of the Lizard were back under high grass or in there hiding places