Bavarian Alps, part II

While hiking around a lake north of Mittenwald, we saw some Grass Snakes. My goal was to take pictures of a melanistic specimen… and I got them, from a distance and in difficult light though, so not the best quality. Still my first pictures of a black Grass Snake in Germany. A little unexpectedly I found a male Sand Lizard at a height of about 1.5 meters (5 ft) climbing a tree.

Natrix natrix - Grass Snake

Portrait of this strikingly beautiful snake

Natrix natrix - Grass Snake, melanistic

Lacerta agilis - Sand Lizard

One of the most famous bavarian lakes is the Eibsee. It is located at the northerly base of the Zugspitze (the highest mountain in Germany). The scenery is absolutely stunning! Around the trails of the Eibsee we observed several Sand Lizards (Lacerta agilis). They were not shy at all, so I was able to take some wide angle in situ pictures of them. Samira had to be very patient, because I wanted to stay with the lizards almost all day. Later I found a Slow Worm (Anguis fragilis) in the more shady areas of the forest around the lake.

Eibsee

Lacerta agilis - Sand Lizard, female

Lacerta agilis - Sand Lizard, male

Happy couple posing with Cosima (travel mascot)

Slow Worm - Anguis fragilis

German spring - Reptiles

Spring is also the best time to observe reptiles in Europe. The Slow Worm (Anguis fragilis) is the most common reptile around and it was the first one I found this year. A lot of patience was necessary to get a portrait shot of a quite shy Viviparous Lizard (Zootoca vivipara).

Anguis fragilis - Slow Worm

Zootoca vivipara - Viviparous Lizard

The Aesculapian Snake (Zamenis longissimus) is very rare in Germany. There are only a few isolated and small populations in the country, I am very lucky to live in the center of one of those. This  spring I was able to find three juveniles. Young Aesculapian Snakes have a beautiful pattern!

Zamenis longissimus - Aesculapian Snake, juvenile

Zamenis longissimus - Aesculapian Snake, juvenile

The sun was already gone, when I saw a pair of Sand Lizards (Lacerta agilis) still hanging around on a tree trunk. Regarding Grass Snakes (Natrix natrix), 2020 has already been a successful year. I observed quite some of these good swimmers around different lakes and ponds. 

Lacerta agilis - Sand Lizard, gravid female

Lacerta agilis - Sand Lizard, male

Natrix natrix - Grass Snake

Samira found what I consider to be the most secretive reptile of Germany, a very pretty Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca)... perfect conclusion for this year's spring time.

Coronella austriaca - Smooth Snake

Yellow-bellied beauty

Not every human influence on nature is harmful. Stone walls, quarries, artificial waters and some others can be the habitat for many animals. Just like this abandoned clay pit in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Here you can find something that has unfortunately become much too rare in Germany: flat and fish-free ponds.

Rare amphibians such as the yellow-bellied toad depend on habitats like that.

The open, sunny areas are also the perfect place for reptiles.

When I visited this place for the first time, I was amazed by this view. Really nice landscape.

The big, blue pond is the eyecatcher for sure, but the small and warmer ponds are the right place to search for the Yellow-bellied Toad (Bombina variegata). They messure about 4 cm (1,57 inch) and are well camouflaged.

Fortunately, I found the first toads after a few minutes. It was a warm, sunny day and they were very active.

Some Pool Frogs (Pelophylax lessonae) enjoyed the sunshine as well. They got used to my presence and were not shy at all.

Apart from the coloration of the belly, Bombina variegata scores with additional characteristics. They are very appealing as they always seem to smile...

...and the heart-shaped pupil is a really cool feature too. You just have to love the yellow-bellied toad!

A pretty Grass Snake (Natrix natrix) was hunting in one of the ponds. 

I spent some hours in this habitat, most of the time lying on my belly to get this low angle and to almost drown my camera. 

Some Sand Lizards (Lacerta agilis), basking near the ponds, completed this nice day trip.