I have planned to explore a new destination somewhere not too far away. I used the help of Google Earth. After searching in the vicinity of my home, I found something promising in the distance of approximately 1 hour.
![treasure map](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35a196_cb14555e3c07498c97d82ba788c7d4b6~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_654,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/35a196_cb14555e3c07498c97d82ba788c7d4b6~mv2.jpg)
The X marks the spot... so I drove there without any further information and I was not disappointed.
![habitat](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35a196_fbaba0d5e5bd426c93d08a2f50fbda67~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_654,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/35a196_fbaba0d5e5bd426c93d08a2f50fbda67~mv2.jpg)
The habitat proved to be very beautiful and so I was able to start the search for critters. A cute semiadult Common Toad (Bufo bufo) made the start. Followed by a young Slow Worm (Anguis fragilis).
![Bufo bufo - Common Toad](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35a196_899fba4df35c4a2e929727243f26f5b5~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_654,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/35a196_899fba4df35c4a2e929727243f26f5b5~mv2.jpg)
![Anguis fragilis - Slow Worm](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35a196_33fe727968a542db90cfdcc341c23631~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_654,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/35a196_33fe727968a542db90cfdcc341c23631~mv2.jpg)
At the end of the day trip I discovered gold: this magnificent Barred Grass Snake (Natrix helvetica). It was my first encounter with this species!
![Natrix helvetica - Barred Grass Snake](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/35a196_9b3729f9752242feb73c70a1c62f9152~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_654,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/35a196_9b3729f9752242feb73c70a1c62f9152~mv2.jpg)
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