Portugal in July again - Around Odemira

Portugal, Spain, Andorra

Portugal in July again - Around Odemira

Postby Frank Paul Fietz » Wed Jul 01, 2015 7:37 pm

Hi folks,

I´m going to Portugal in the hot season again still willing to find as many herps as possible.
This time i´m staying at around Odemira, that is a little bit north of the border to the Algarve at the western coast.

The nearest better known city should be Sines.
Probably not one of the hot-spots for herping.

Does anybody have been there for herping resp. within a distance that can bei easily reaches by car without sacrifying family luck ...

I´´ be thankful for any other intersting spots to watch stunning nature.
(In my country it´s called: "In der Not frisst der Teufel Schmitterlinge", someting like: `in Adversity the devil eats butterflies`) :twisted:

Thanks in advance,

Frank
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Re: Portugal in July again - Around Odemira

Postby Frank Paul Fietz » Sat Jul 11, 2015 8:58 pm

I forgot to tell that I´ll be spending some days at Lisbon and surrounding areas.
Does anybody has been to the Natural Parks of Sintra Cascai or Arrabida ?

Do you have anny recommendations for herping or wildlife photography?

Yours, Frank
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Re: Portugal in July again - Around Odemira

Postby Thomas Bader » Sun Jul 12, 2015 7:58 pm

Dear Frank,

Lisbon and Sintra in August was rather disappointing. Try to follow streams for amphibians and Mauremys and maura. In a well we found boscai still in the water. The common species like wall lizards, large Psammodromus etc. are there, although not in high numbers and mor in the shade. For big snakes you need a bit of luck - they are there but quick and the vegetation is high... We mainly found them dead on roads

I don't know the Mira valley very well but not far the the Seixe valley is also very nice, although I don't know it in August. Schreiberi is very common, for amphibians I suggest to search in the night. In general I recommend you to search in higher elevations

good luck
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Re: Portugal in July again - Around Odemira

Postby Peter Oefinger » Mon Jul 13, 2015 2:34 pm

Frank,

I agree with Thomas - Portugal lowlands in summer can be frustrating. Sintra = Nice forests but very few herps (Ps. algirus + Podarcis virescens).
In Lissabon you can see Teira and P. virescens. At the coast - Cabo Roca or Peniche - you can search for P. carbonelli.
The mountinas are more rewarding (Serra Estrella with Timon, Lacerta schreiberi, Chalcides striatus, Iberolacerta monticola, Podarcis guadarramae, Podarcis bocagei...)

Have fun!
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Re: Portugal in July again - Around Odemira

Postby Frank Paul Fietz » Mon Jul 13, 2015 9:16 pm

Hi Peter and Thomas,

thanks for your reply.

At the weekend I fixed some decisions for the stays.

We´ll not be going to the coast west of Lisboa.
Instead of that we´ll be visiting the Arrabida Nt. Park.

Thomas: Do you have I secial Idea for the Teira and P. virescen in Lisboa?

Three years ago I visited Caldas de Monchique and the Picota without much success (just a DOR Monspessulanus, a juvenil L. Schreiberi and P. perezi)

Hope to find T. lepidus and a living H. Hippocrepis.
At my last stay a founf about a dozen DOR Hippocrepis.-That was pretty frustrating. But obviously the snakes changed to a noctural activity.

Looking forward to my trip,
Frank
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Re: Portugal in July again - Around Odemira

Postby Martti Niskanen » Tue Jul 14, 2015 1:14 am

Regarding the south: As you've obviously been there before, you know that it's stupidly hot in July, so you need to be an early bird. It doesn't get much better if you seek altitude at Serra de Monchique. Still hot. The times I've been around Odemira, I've had the best luck following some of the few streams between Saboia and Odemira. Not prime herping, but a bit of shade and water.
You can find chameleons on the south coast, but it'll be a full daytrip.

Whilst there, I'd try a bit of herping very early morning. If no luck, I'd go to the beaches between Sagres and Sines. A beautiful and underrated bit of the Iberian peninsula.
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Re: Portugal in July again - Around Odemira

Postby Michal Szkudlarek » Thu Mar 09, 2017 11:41 pm

Frank Paul Fietz did you find anything after all?
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Re: Portugal in July again - Around Odemira

Postby Frank Paul Fietz » Tue Apr 18, 2017 11:09 am

Hello Michal,

since my posted question I spend another two weeks in autumn around Tavira in the south.

While my summer stay I only found Natrix maura and Malpolon monspessulanus (not sure - very fast gone)
I also found Hyla meridionales, Tarentola mauretanica, Chalcides bedriagai.
Quiet a short list.- I got to say that is was a Family Holiday and no herping focused trip.

In Autum I found my target species Chamaeleo Ch. and Bufo bufo spinosus and Psammaodromus.
Just one sighting of a snake, guess Natrix (also too fast gone).

Both trips weren-t very successfull.
It was striking that there even wasn't alot of road kill.
On my fist trip to Portugal (also hot summer) there was daily roadkill to see.

Would to try spring next time.
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Re: Portugal in July again - Around Odemira

Postby Peter Oefinger » Sat Apr 22, 2017 1:27 pm

Frank,
I've been in that area last week: I think the area is good for amphibians in late winter and for some lizard species in spring. Maybe not the best herping area for snakes as there is not much things to flip - mainly oak trees, grasland and bushes. At least there are some nice coastal habitats.
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