The 10th of May was to be the only sunny day during my stay in Alsace, and so it was to be a reptile day. We left Strasbourg and headed to the Vosges mountains where I wanted to find for the first time Viviparous lizards (Zootoca vivipara) and Adders (Vipera berus). We arrived at around 3pm and it seemed that we left it too late for the Adders (Vipera berus) as their sunbathing spot was shaded, we didn't find any. However we did find a few Viviparous lizards (Zootoca vivipara), and a mass of Common frog (Rana temporaria) tadpoles.
Habitat photo
Mass of Common frog (Rana temporaria) tadpoles.
Adder (Vipera berus) habitat.
Young Viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara).
We left that spot after a disappointing lack of Adders (Vipera berus), we headed east where Sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) occur commonly, and once again it would be my first ones. We arrived and there were many Common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis) to be seen as well as a few Western green lizards (Lacerta bilineata), and when I almost gave up Jean-Pierre spotted a wonderful female Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis).
Habitat
Common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) sunbathing in an appealing position.
Western green lizard (Lacerta bilineata) male sunbathing.
Same specimen of Western green lizard (Lacerta bilineata) who had re-appeared after I disturbed him.
Female Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis)
We changed area and searched along a stone wall where we had better luck with the Sand lizards (Lacerta agilis).
Another female Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis).
A smaller specimen of Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis).
Another Common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis)
We left to go to a different spot where Smooth snakes (Coronelle austriaca) and Asp vipers (Vipera aspis) are present, the spot was south west from the Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) location, back in the Vosges. We arrived and it had clouded over and it was starting to become dusk, Jean-Pierre and I walked along a stone wall that bordered a grass field, and he stopped me and pointed to a wonderful reddish Asp viper (Vipera aspis), only a few instants passed before the viper retreated under a stone, we moved the stone to find him coiled up, this specimen measured around 70 cm long. Very soon after we carried on searching the wall and looking under stones, I found a Slow worm (Anguis fragilis), and the Jean-Pierre found a Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca), while he was photographing the Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) I headed down the path and searched under the stones and I managed to find a further 2 Smooth snakes (Coronella austriaca) and 2 more Asp vipers (Vipera aspis) and one Western green lizard (Lacerta bilineata).
Habitat
First Asp viper (Vipera aspis)
Same
Slow worm (Anguis fragilis)
Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca)
Same
First specimen (below) and another Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca).
The third and least good looking Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca).
Second Asp viper (Vipera aspis)
Third Asp viper (Vipera aspis)
Night fell and we changed area and headed to a pond in a sand dealers yard, Jean-Pierre found a very large Marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus).
Scary the size of that frog, isn't it JPV!
Amplexus of the Marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus)
We then again changed area and headed to a forest where the Yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata) population is very large, when we arrived this was very true as we observed around 40 specimens.
Habitat
Habitat 2
Typical dwellers of puddles, the Yellow-bellied toads (Bombina variegata)
Amplexus of Yellow-bellied toads (Bombina variegata)
Yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata)
Yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata)
We left to go a pond that supported the Great crested Newt, yet again another of my first observed species.
Great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) male.
Great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) female.
Alpine newt (Mesotriton alpestris) male.
