fieldherping.eu

Where is the picture taken? Is it anywhere near the Algarve, as I am struggling to find that sandy heathy land.

i do not remember, sorry

this is where i found Natrix maura, Fuengirola



Fuengirola too, bush on the left was where I found Hemorrhois hippocrepis, it is near habitat from photo above, near river

Robert Andrews wrote:No sign of the Ladder snake that lives around the tree though.

You probably know already, but just in case...

keep in mind that Rhinechis should be expected to be nocturnal at this time of year.

I am home now. Despite it being a family holiday I got to see a few herps, however nothing like what I had hoped to find, bt that was probably partly due to not being able to look early or late in the evenings and my general newbie attitude towards herping on the continent- which seems to be different to the U.K.

I saw plenty of Tarentola mauritanica in the evening over the villa and what I think was an Iberian Wall Lizard in the grass
A large snake also shot Away from me in the scrubland near Manta Rota beach. Couldnt identify it though.

However what struck me was in general how desolate everything was. I searched in habitats that I am used to finding quite an abundance of herps in the U.K, yet almost nothing, not even many insects or anything else for that matter under stones logs or anything really.

Then it hit me that maybe in a different, much hotter climate maybe the way I herp has to change, so I will need educating on this.

It was early June and temperatures were in the early 30's by 11-12 am, so was that why nothing was about? Due to the fact I was with family I couldnt really escape to go out really early, nor look in the evenings, and I am not really used to looking for reptiles in the dark( Amphibians yes).

Didnt find any chameleons either, and I think in general the locals are shy about telling you where they are found. Although I guessed the sort of area they could be.

Here are some pictures of what I found.






If someone could identify the frogs for me that would be great as I am not up on European mainland frogs. I assume one was an Iberian water frog?

all the frogs are Iberian water frogs

Any tips for next time? Like I say I went out between 9 and 12 some days but found absolutely nothing anywhere all in this scrubland type habitat with lots of rocks.

Blowing one's own trumpet is frowned upon, but since nobody else is doing it , I advice to get our book and read the introductory chapters. It will (obviously) also allow you to determine that these are Iberian water frogs.

http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/field-guid ... 408154595/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amphibians-Rep ... 1408154595

Jeroen Speybroeck wrote:Blowing one's own trumpet is frowned upon, but since nobody else is doing it , I advice to get our book and read the introductory chapters. It will (obviously) also allow you to determine that these are Iberian water frogs.

http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/field-guid ... 408154595/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amphibians-Rep ... 1408154595

Ok thank you.

Regarding the Iberian frog in my pictures, when I search up this frog it tells me it is only present in northern and central Portugal, but I stayed in the Algarve, 20 minutes from the south coast.

Does that book contain information on herping methods on the continent, since clearly I am inexperienced when it comes to other countries ( on account of finding virtually nothing)? I must have been looking when it was too hot or something.

There's an Iberian stream frog and an Iberian water frog. Not the same frog. Are you using no field guide at all?

And yes about how to herp and the book. I already wrote that, didn't I? You may be the only person on this forum who doesn't own a copy.