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7th May - Lyon (Rhône, dept. 69), Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin, dept. 67)

I left Perpignan early on monday the 7th of May, on a 6h50 train, my first stop was to be Lyon where a friend Alex who lives only around 10 km from Lyon. It was a warm day with many clouds, slight wind. His house is isolated from the village and very commonly present around the area is the Western whip snake (Hierophis viridiflavus), I went to some of his best spots and we found 3 adult specimens, this was the first time photographing adults of the species.

The first Western whip snake (Hierophis viridiflavus) specimen had a bluish eye, meaning a shed was to occur in the following days.

The second Western whip snake (Hierophis viridiflavus) specimen was however much more vivid and more aggressive. This specimen had a part of his tail missing.

Same second Western whip snake (Hierophis viridiflavus). The reduced tail is visible.

Same second Western whip snake (Hierophis viridiflavus) specimen.

Third Western whip snake (Hierophis viridiflavus) specimen.

We left that spot and searched along the rail tracks where he often finds Western whip snakes (Hierophis viridiflavus). We did find hundreds of Common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis), one Western green lizard (Lacerta bilineata) and one Common toad (Bufo bufo) but no more Western whip snakes (Hierophis viridiflavus).

Common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis)

Common toad (Bufo bufo)

It was soon time for me to jump back onto a train that would take me up to Strasbourg where I was to be greeted by Jean-Pierre Vacher. I arrived in Strasbourg at 22h30 and Jean-Pierre Vacher and I went onto the field right away, it was spitting with rain and there was a slight breeze but we did observe Green toads (Bufo viridis). He was surprised to hear that I had never seen Common frogs (Rana temporaria) before and so he drove me up into the Vosges mountains where I could observe many hundreds going across the road, in a pond I also observed an Alpine newt (Mesotriton alpestris).

Green toad (Bufo viridis)

Common frog (Rana temporaria)

Another Common frog (Rana temporaria)

Male Alpine newt (Mesotriton alpestris)

8th May - Northern Bas-Rhin

Today it rained intensively but then stopped at dusk, this proved good conditions for amphibian activity, Jean-Pierre Vacher, Gaëlle (on work experience with Jean-Pierre's Bufo association) and I headed north to a Common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus) spot, on the journey up, we saw many Agile frogs (Rana dalmatina) crossing the roads, this was also another first time species for me.

Young Agile frog (Rana dalmatina)

Another young Agile frog (Rana dalmatina)

Adult Agile frog (Rana dalmatina)

Upon our arrival at the Common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus) spot, we geared up with our lights and cameras, I was playing with my lamp and noticed an eye reflection from something on the dark track in front of us, I moved towards it and to my surprise and that of Jean-Pierre (who had not observed them this far from the hear of the site) there was our first Common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus).

First Common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus)

Jean-Pierre Vacher photographing the first Common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus).

We carried on down the path, crossing another Common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus) before crossing a Common Tree frog (Hyla arborea), then another 6 Common spadefoot toads (Pelobates fuscus) before arriving at a breeding pond for Common Tree frogs (Hyla arborea).

Second Common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus).

Migrating Common Tree frog (Hyla arborea).

Third Common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus).

Fourth Common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus).

Fifth Common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus).

Sixth Common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus).

Seventh Common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus).

Eighth Common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus).

At the pond, the Common Tree frog (Hyla arborea) was the dominant species, observed at the pond were also Edible frogs (Pelophylax kl. esculentus) and Grass snake (Natrix natrix).

Common Tree frog (Hyla arborea)

Amplexus of the Common Tree frog (Hyla arborea).

Edible frog (Pelophylax kl. esculentus)

Male Common Tree frog (Hyla arborea) singing.

Grass snake (Natrix natrix)

To get back to the car we took a different track, on which we came across another 7 Common spadefoot toads (Pelobates fuscus), totaling to 15 specimens! We also saw two Common toads, one of which was very orange in colour.

Ninth Common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus).

Tenth Common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus).

Eleventh Common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus).

Twelfth Common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus), this specimen was digging.

Thirteenth Common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus).

Fourteenth Common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus).

Fifteenth Common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus).

Common toad (Bufo bufo)

Common toad (Bufo bufo), orange specimen.

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