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

Bavarian Alps, part I

Samira and I actually had different travel plans, but because of COVID-19 all flights were canceled and borders were closed, so we decided to explore a bit of the southernmost part of Germany: the Bavarian Alps. 

The first days we stayed in a small town called Mittenwald, very close to the Lautersee and Ferchensee. So right after our arrival from the 6 hour drive, we checked these beautiful lakes.

Lautersee

Bufo bufo - Common Toad

Ferchensee

A raised bog is the perfect habitat for Amphibians & Reptiles... So the first full day of our trip we went to the Murnauer Moos. We saw several Grass Snakes and an entire Common Frog Kindergarten rising from a small pond. Also after quite some hiking, we found some Yellow-bellied Toads enjoying their life in a cozy puddle.

Habitat of Grass Snakes

Natrix natrix - Grass Snake

Habitat of tiny froglets and juvenile Grass Snakes hunting them

Rana temporaria - Common Frog, juvenile

Natrix natrix - Grass Snake, juvenile

Habitat of Yellow-bellied Toads

Bombina variegata - Yellow-bellied Toad

Bombina variegata - Yellow-bellied Toad

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