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](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35a196_7c8b1f9383b54143bcfa0a28d8a8435c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_654,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/35a196_7c8b1f9383b54143bcfa0a28d8a8435c~mv2.jpg)
![Zootoca vivipara - Viviparous Lizard](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35a196_a950997597ec47419588040b57f54e2d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_654,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/35a196_a950997597ec47419588040b57f54e2d~mv2.jpg)
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](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35a196_b7f7c986f27f441483641d7305259671~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_654,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/35a196_b7f7c986f27f441483641d7305259671~mv2.jpg)
![Zamenis longissimus - Aesculapian Snake, juvenile](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35a196_5463b78d9daf40c997e59d022ff39014~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_654,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/35a196_5463b78d9daf40c997e59d022ff39014~mv2.jpg)
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](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35a196_7c65dc2bce494313a290c24e8a9f2794~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_654,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/35a196_7c65dc2bce494313a290c24e8a9f2794~mv2.jpg)
![Lacerta agilis - Sand Lizard, male](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35a196_87edaafef60f4e6f8de766e58e216958~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_654,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/35a196_87edaafef60f4e6f8de766e58e216958~mv2.jpg)
![Natrix natrix - Grass Snake](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35a196_f9d8b5f48a5648848e0528c69a3e4a2e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_654,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/35a196_f9d8b5f48a5648848e0528c69a3e4a2e~mv2.jpg)
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](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35a196_ba149b52b0d049ce8c1ef5a274bd24f4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_654,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/35a196_ba149b52b0d049ce8c1ef5a274bd24f4~mv2.jpg)
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