Sunday, September 23, 2018

Snorkeling in Croatia

It is not possible to spend a holiday with your girlfriend in Dalmatia without going to the sea. So we stayed in a pretty village called Kravica, very close to Makarska. Passing the harbor, a stony path leads along the sea. We looked for a nice spot and cooled off in the water. Armed with goggles and a GoPro, I tried my luck at snorkeling. Scroll down past the pictures and check the result.

Harbor of Kravica
The stony path to...
...this beautiful beach
Happy couple :-)
Not very colorful, still fun to watch: Chelon labrosus - Thicklip Grey Mullet
Watch your step: Arbacia lixula -  Black Sea Urchin


Saturday, September 1, 2018

Praying for Reptiles (Vipers)

Actually the main goal of this trip was to observe vipers... unfortunately that did not work.
Anyway it was nice to find some Reptiles and a lot of Praying Mantis (Mantis religiosa).

Habitat

European mantis - Mantis religiosa

Habitat - Stone Wall

This Stone Wall is the perfect habitat for reptiles, especially for the Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis brongniardii). These lizards can be very curious, so with a little patience portraits like this are possible. 

Common Wall Lizard - Podarcis muralis brongniardii

European mantis (mating) - Mantis religiosa

It was the first time I saw mating European mantis. I don't know if the male Mantis survived this...

Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca)

The most beautiful observation of this trip was this little Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca). Not the viper I was hoping to find, but still an amazing snake!