For the first time since the pandemic and in almost a decade, we went abroad on holiday a few weeks back to Corfu. My brother knew of its reputation as a herping hotspot for snakes, he’s doing zoology specialising in herpetology at university so we knew who to count on for identification. We stayed on the north coast near Acharavi. A ways down the beach and across a lagoon was a ruined monastery hidden in the trees and overgrowth. We saw a bunch of stuff in there but no snakes (tiny scorpions, spiders, big moths, nesting small birds, a stone marten at one point, several geckos). Apparently their peak time is April for snakes. We only saw a roadkill Montpellier snake at one point but no dice elsewhere. The other way down the beach where a stream met the sea, under a bridge we found small turtles which was a first for me. But the first thing we encountered was the Bufo bufo, we were stunned to see how big they were, same size as the one you found, you could hold them in both hands. They might as well have been cane toads they were so enormous, we laughed our asses off about how big their heads were in proportion to their body. I returned to the area on the second to last night of the holiday. I found 4 or 5 of them in one small spot on a track through the woods.
Amazing stuff Ian. Sometimes snakes just get away. Lizards and phibs will work anytime!!! You would be amazed at how common the Mediterranean House Geckos are over here. Not sure how they got here but they are now well established in Oklahoma.
You saw some really amazing species, Corfu looks like an incredible place to explore. It’s a shame that the snakes all escaped your camera, but the lizards more than made up for it I think. Great work Ian, I love seeing species from a region that is new to me! - Harrison and Evan
Thanks mate. It's been a rough year health wise I've spent far to much time in hospital and not enough out in nature.Hopefully next will be better (let's go find some snakes!) Corfu is such an amazing place, hopefully I'll get back there one day.
For the first time since the pandemic and in almost a decade, we went abroad on holiday a few weeks back to Corfu.
My brother knew of its reputation as a herping hotspot for snakes, he’s doing zoology specialising in herpetology at university so we knew who to count on for identification.
We stayed on the north coast near Acharavi. A ways down the beach and across a lagoon was a ruined monastery hidden in the trees and overgrowth. We saw a bunch of stuff in there but no snakes (tiny scorpions, spiders, big moths, nesting small birds, a stone marten at one point, several geckos). Apparently their peak time is April for snakes. We only saw a roadkill Montpellier snake at one point but no dice elsewhere. The other way down the beach where a stream met the sea, under a bridge we found small turtles which was a first for me.
But the first thing we encountered was the Bufo bufo, we were stunned to see how big they were, same size as the one you found, you could hold them in both hands. They might as well have been cane toads they were so enormous, we laughed our asses off about how big their heads were in proportion to their body.
I returned to the area on the second to last night of the holiday. I found 4 or 5 of them in one small spot on a track through the woods.
Amazing stuff Ian. Sometimes snakes just get away. Lizards and phibs will work anytime!!! You would be amazed at how common the Mediterranean House Geckos are over here. Not sure how they got here but they are now well established in Oklahoma.
You saw some really amazing species, Corfu looks like an incredible place to explore. It’s a shame that the snakes all escaped your camera, but the lizards more than made up for it I think. Great work Ian, I love seeing species from a region that is new to me!
- Harrison and Evan
Thanks guys, this is an incredible part of the world, I hope to return soon and visit a little earlier in the season.
Fascinating lizards, and what a whopper of a toad! Sorry to hear you've been unwell. Hope you're well and truly recovered. All the best mate. 👍👍👍
Thanks mate. It's been a rough year health wise I've spent far to much time in hospital and not enough out in nature.Hopefully next will be better (let's go find some snakes!) Corfu is such an amazing place, hopefully I'll get back there one day.
Great footage of the lizards.
Thank you very much!
nice video! what shet up of camera do you use?
Thanks, this was filmed on a A7Siii, GoPro hero 12 and iPhone 14.
Shame you caught no snakes, corfu is beautiful
Hopefully next time!