The last few times I visited Bulgaria were all in June/July by which time the temperatures there are in their 30s (C). I don't usually expect to find austriaca in these conditions but I did every time. Although there were some cloudy days it was still pretty hot (27-29C) even when raining. Maybe lack of direct sun light is more important for austriaca than the actual temperature? I was nicely surprised to find this female at the exact same spot under a big piece of tin and wood (must have been quite hot under that) where I found her last year
Female found in June 2013
Same female at the exact same spot in June 2014
I was also lucky to observe austriaca out in the open for the first time (I've always found them under some sort of cover) which was again a bit strange for this time of year. This one was resting in a man-made ditch next to the road and it was completely motionless even when I got really, really close (this has never happened to me with any other snake). It was not trapped there as the ditch was open to one side and there was also vegetation hanging on the "walls" to which the snake could take "hold". Even when I touched it gently it was reluctant to move but finally went very slowly in the surrounding leaf litter. I have no idea if it was tired or what it was doing there at all...Any ideas? I should mention that 10min after this observation there was a big thunder storm with heavy rain.
In situ
In situ
Coronella austriaca is quite well studied in Western Europe (and the UK, for those who think it's not Europe) but not so much in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, so I'd be interested to hear your experience with this species in this area including under what conditions you observed it, where (under cover/in the open), how did it behave?
Thanks.