Southwest Spain October 2012

[Matthijs Hollanders]

Nice, Bert! Some really cool stuff. That cork oak forest is absolutely gorgeous.

[Bart Smit]

what a nice trip report and nice foto's ! I especially like the chamaeleon shots.

[Bert Vandebosch]

Thanks people,

Ofcourse the second hippocrepis and the chamaeleons were my personal favourites too.

Nice - particularly jealous of the Blanus

As a family man myself with limited time and finances for dedicated herping trips abroad I can really appreciate the value of such short outings.

I enjoyed your report of Israël also. I never considered the possibility of camping out in the desert with my family ... untill now...

wow lot of interesting species, bravo ! Donana, El Rocio where some place of my youth when we were sleeping in the Palacio (heart of Donana, not more accessible now) with Juan Antonio Valverde (around 1969). Near the Palacio (summer home for Juan Carlos), there was a lot of stones and I discovered all amphibians of this area... sorry very bad quality pictures, scanned diapositive...
http://www.batraciens-reptiles.com/batr ... lousie.htm

Nice Pierre-Yves,
I wish I could have visited Doñana in those days. Because nowadays you're not allowed access to the most parts of the park, especially after dark, I feel like I missed out on a lot. Although with some more time, I think you can find some interesting places along the edges of the nature reserve. I should have seen Pelobates with that type of weather

By the way, I think your mantis is - Crowned Mantis - (Empusa egena).

Thanks Ray, I don't know much about insects. But when I google it, it sure looks the same.

[GertJan Verspui]

Nice job Bert, love the Fuurmanders, so you had rain in Spain.....that never happens..... I hope to have the same kind of luck 5 weeks from now, when I visit that area..

[Julius Zidorn]

Great report, Bert!

I have visited S-Spain two times, and I´ve found all this species but no chamaeleons!
I must do something wrong.
Maybe anyone have some hints for me?

Best regards,
Julius

[Matthieu Berroneau]

Arf !
Hemorrhois hippocrepis and Chalcides bedriagae !! Great trip !