LOCAL OBSERVATIONS 2007 - March

Sunday 18th March 2007

Conditions : Clear sky, light winds.
Temperature : around 20 C
Time of observations : 15h30 to 16h00

Very windy in the morning, so as the winds calmed down I thought I might have some luck for Malpolon monspessulanus. I headed to the hot spot and when I got there the wind picked up and I lost hope, but when I was there I saw a large male retreat into his hole. I then spotted a few big Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus). I left and cycled until I saw a spot that looked good for snakes, upon my arrival I found myself in a cat and mouse chase with a 1m long female Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus), it got away, but to the least of my expectations, only 2 meters away along a vine yard wall I came across another which retreated, and then three more one of which I was too fast for, all females:

Female Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus)

Same as above

Tuesday 13th March 2007

Conditions : Clear sky, moderate winds.
Temperature : around 15 C
Time of observations : 21h30 to 22h30

A very warm evening made me go out in search for amphibians, but to my amazement, none were singing, maybe because of the winds, however, I think the real problem is the lack of water, it has not rained here now since the 17th of February. I did however find a sleeping Slow worm (Anguis fragilis) under some wood and a female Palmate newt (Lissotriton helveticus):

Sleeping male Slow worm (Anguis fragilis)

Sunday 4th March 2007

Conditions : High light clouds, slight breeze.
Temperature : around 17 C
Time of observations : 11h30 to 14h30

Going to the Malpolon monspessulanus hot spot for another attempt to photograph them, I came across two adults who were very long, and I managed to follow one until it disappeared inside a hole in the ground, this time I stayed laying down at arms distance from the whole and waited for him to come out again, after 20 minutes, I saw his head appear, a huge male Montpellier snake. I didn't have the camera on me, I waited 5 minutes and then he decided to retreat into the den. Shortly afterwards, I observed numerous Psammodromus algirus, Timon lepidus and a Ladder snake (Rhinechis scalaris), all along the side of the road and fleeing into walls and bushes. Closer to my village, a rather young adult Timon lepidus found himself at the wrong place to flee and I caught him:

Me and my catch, photo for size comparison

Ocellated lizard (Timon lepidus)

Same Ocellated lizard (Timon lepidus)

I went on to observe without photos another 6 Ocellated lizards (Timon lepidus), many Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus), another Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) and heard singing a few male Stripeless Tree frogs (Hyla meridionalis).

Saturday 3rd March 2007

Conditions : Heavy clouds to no clouds. No wind to slight breeze. Lunar eclipse
Temperature : around 18 C
Time of observations : 19h30 to 23h30

I headed off to the Alytes obstetricans locality to find out if the males are still singing, upon my arrival there were no singing, but a very strange call was coming from a not to far field. I got to within touching to the insect making this strange sound, however I have not the slightest clue to what insect it was:

I returned around 30 minutes later to the Alytes location and came across an unexpected Bufo calamita and there were 2 male Alytes obstetricans singing, but from a different area, trying to get as close as possible I stumbled upon a female who had been attracted like me to the males call, I then found the two calling males.

Male Natterjack toad (Bufo calamita)

Female Common midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans)

Male Common midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans)

I headed off to the next village and on the way heard Pelodytes punctatus singing at various places without further investigation. Near the next village I saw some Pelophylax sp. but also and more importantly I heard Hyla meridionalis, very loud, it took me a while to locate them, this was because the frogs were singing so loud that they were actually on the other side of the village! I eventually found them after 10 minutes and they had met each other in the town swimming pool, their singing seemed unusually loud:

As they were located in the pool I couldn't get into the private grounds, but also strangely there were a few calling from the river which is not their habitat, on closer inspection, after a Common toad (Bufo bufo) and a twig shoved into my eye I came across one of the only 3 or 4 calling from the river, of course with a very painful eye, you can interpret the lack of motivation for that photo.

Male Common toad (Bufo bufo) observed just before almost popping my eye on a twig.

Poor photo added just for the record of this Stripeless Tree frog (Hyla meridionalis) who was seen crossing the river.

I slowly made my way home, coming across more Common toads (Bufo bufo), Parsley frog (Pelodytes punctatus) calls and found a new Common midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans) locality, but only be their singing.

Another male Common toad (Bufo bufo)

It is interesting to note that the Stripeless Tree frog (Hyla meridionalis) were really singing stronger then they usually do, maybe there is a link to the fact that there was a lunar eclipse?