JS●Jeroen SpeybroeckAMPHIBIANS · REPTILES · JOURNEYS
A NATURALIST’S NOTEBOOK
Out there,
looking closer.

Amphibians, reptiles and the places they lead us.
Field notes and photographs from Europe and beyond.

Explore the field notes ↗
OBSERVED & PHOTOGRAPHED BY JEROEN SPEYBROECK
Hyalinobatrachium valerioi, a glass frog on a branch
Hyalinobatrachium valerioiRead the Costa Rica report ↗
HERPETOFAUNA OF EUROPE
& THE WORLD

A personal record of finding, observing and photographing amphibians and reptiles. From familiar European landscapes to journeys further afield.

About Jeroen ↗
THE TRAVEL ARCHIVE

Notes from the field

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK

Europe’s amphibians
and reptiles.

Explore the European species overview, or discover the field guide.

01 European species overview ↗02 The field guide ↗03 ManderMatcher ↗
← Back to the field notesEurope

Spring trip to Greece

From the Prespa lakes to Meteora and Mount Olympus: a week among wetlands, mountain slopes and spring-green forests.

18–24 APRIL 2026 · PHOTOGRAPHS BY JEROEN SPEYBROECK
Spring landscape beside the Prespa lakes

Once more, we had a great time in Greece, with limited herping involved. We visited the Prespa lakes, the Meteora monasteries and Mount Olympos.

18 APRIL 2026

Prespa: water and mountains

Greece, April 2026 — photograph 1
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 2
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 3
19 APRIL 2026

Around the lakes

Greece, April 2026 — photograph 4
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 5
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 6
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 7
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 8
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 9
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 11
Balkan spadefoot toad — Pelobates balcanicus
Balkan spadefoot toad — Pelobates balcanicus
20 APRIL 2026

Towards the snowline

Erhard's Wall Lizard — Podarcis erhardii
Erhard's Wall Lizard — Podarcis erhardii
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 18
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 19
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 20
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 21
bears are near
bears are near
no adder this time
no adder this time
Greek Stream Frog — Rana graeca
Greek Stream Frog — Rana graeca
21 APRIL 2026

Among towering monasteries

Greece, April 2026 — photograph 31
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 32
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 33
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 34
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 35
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 37
22 APRIL 2026

Tortoises and salamanders

Greece, April 2026 — photograph 38
Marginated Tortoise — Testudo marginata
Marginated Tortoise — Testudo marginata
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 40
Hermann's Tortoise — Testudo hermanni
Hermann's Tortoise — Testudo hermanni
Fire salamander — Salamandra salamandra
Fire salamander — Salamandra salamandra
Fire salamander — Salamandra salamandra
Fire salamander — Salamandra salamandra
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 45
Green toad — Bufotes viridis
Green toad — Bufotes viridis
23 APRIL 2026

Forest paths and clear streams

Greece, April 2026 — photograph 48
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 49
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 50
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 51
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 52
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 53
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 54
Greek Slow Worm — Anguis graeca
Greek Slow Worm — Anguis graeca
Yellow-bellied toad — Bombina variegata
Yellow-bellied toad — Bombina variegata
Yellow-bellied toad — Bombina variegata
Yellow-bellied toad — Bombina variegata
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 60
Balkan Whip Snake — Hierophis gemonensis
Balkan Whip Snake — Hierophis gemonensis
24 APRIL 2026

One more look

Greek Stream Frog — Rana graeca
Greek Stream Frog — Rana graeca
Nose-horned Viper — Vipera ammodytes
Nose-horned Viper — Vipera ammodytes
Glass Lizard — Pseudopus apodus
Glass Lizard — Pseudopus apodus
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 68
Greece, April 2026 — photograph 69
Starred Agama — Laudakia stellio
Starred Agama — Laudakia stellio
Worm Snake — Xerotyphlops vermicularis
Worm Snake — Xerotyphlops vermicularis
ROUTE & RECORDS

Locations and species record

Route map of visited locations around Prespa, Meteora and Mount Olympos
SpeciesRecord
Salamandra salamandra40
Bombina variegata
Pelobates balcanicus4
Bufo bufo1
Bufotes viridis6
Hyla arborea
Rana dalmatina2
Rana graeca5
Pelophylax ridibundus
Testudo hermanni50
Testudo marginata1
Emys orbicularis2
Laudakia stellio2
Hemidactylus turcicus1
Algyroides nigropunctatus3
Lacerta viridis
Lacerta trilineata
Podarcis erhardii
Podarcis muralis
Podarcis tauricus1
Ablepharus kitaibelii1
Anguis graeca4
Pseudopus apodus2
Xerotyphlops vermicularis7
Natrix natrix2
Natrix tessellata10
Coronella austriaca1
Hierophis gemonensis3
Zamenis longissimusDOR
Vipera ammodytes1

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