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It was an interesting trip to Dobrudja with different goals which drives the participants. The members of the group were: Alex Strugariu, Gherghel Iulian, Tiberiu Sahlean, Anca Pavel, Mihai-Victor Huţuleac-Volosciuc, Valentina Moraru. The weather was acceptable just in one day in all trip, but I can say: for me the trip was successful. A similar report could be found here posted by Alex.

The target zone was the protected area near Hagieni. Here in couple picture you can see the area. The most checked are was the right flank (first picture) with couple trips in the neighbor area as the forested isle in the middle of the pond (at left), the home of couple large Spur Thighed Tortoise (Testudo graeca ibera), Green Lizards (Lacerta viridis meridionalis) and some Balkan Wall Lizards (Podarcis tauricus tauricus), and as the northest end of the pond with Marsh Frogs (Pelophylax ridibundus) and European Pond Turtles (Emys orbicularis).

 The rocky side of the valley with a rich snake fauna.

All the checked tortoises (more than 50) belonged to the Spur Thighed Tortoise, although to west (still in Dobrudja) the distribution of Hermann's Tortoise reach the Romanian territories also. Some of the exemplars are still messy as they emerged in this period.

Sexual dimorphism in plastron in Spur Thighed Tortoise (male up, female down).

A male tagging a female. We were able to see nuptial activities and even copulations.

This specimen probable was injured with an ax. An unbelievable act from local people.

 An unhatched tortoise egg.

The Lacerta viridis meridionalis differ from the nominat form with less dilated maseteric region, with pileus and dorsum colored uniformly green. Although other forms still appear (see the last photo) mainly in contact zones, which are not clear in Romanian subspecies distribution. The specimens mostly lack their bright colors (the males have a white neck region) as they are in the first part of their activity period.

In this subspecies the maseteric plate is in contact with the first supratemporal and the posterior supralabial. Although not always as a great variability in this feature is known.

Juveniles frequently appear with 2-4 longitudinal stripes, without vertebral stripe. Or without also...

The Balkan Wall Lizard appeared mostly as males. I identified personally just one female in this trip.

This specimen showed some snake bite clues.

Some closer views of the snakes micro habitats.

The Caspian Whip Snake (Dolichophis caspius): a juvenile and an adult female. Obviously at the beginning of their activity period.

A photo session with the Caspian Whip Snake (from left to right): Valentina, Tiberiu (the greatest snake hunter in this trip), Iulian and Alex.

A juvenile Aesculapian Snake (Zamenis longissimus) with characteristic coloration and pattern.

An adult Aesculapian Snake. Even in the colder environment of the day when it was captured, it tried to constrict the Green Lizard housed in the same sac. The lizard escaped alive.

A subadult two-lined form of the Grass Snake (Natrix natrix var. persa). And its particularly defense posture.

Another representative of the genus the Dice Snake (N. tessellata) the most abundant snake species in this trip.

And its defense postures...

A juvenile male dobrujan Nose-horned Viper (Vipera ammodytes montandoni).

And two male dobrujan Nose-horned Viper. 

Another photo session with Nose-horned Viper (Valentina, Tiberiu and Iulian).

Dryomis nitedula captured by Mihai.

The habitat of amphibians. Periodically, the area were invaded by the European Tree Frog and the Lake Frog mating songs.

The Lake Frogs from the pond are mostly characterized by a light green vertebral sprite.

In the north-east directions from the fishpond a wetland mostly destroyed by wild-boars housed several Lake Frogs and European Pond Turtles.

Two European Pond Turtle were found in copulation posture. The female is in the water.

An European Tree Frog captured by Iulian in the snake site under a rock.

A Green Toad captured in Hagieni.

Socializing in the front of the saloon (Valentina, a tartar and Mihai).

Our home for couple nights...

And a last stop in Mangalia. The Black Sea and one of its inhabitants.

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