Montpellier Snake at Primorsko

Primorsko, on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast beside the wetlands, dunes and lagoon-fringed river mouth of the Ropotamo Nature Reserve, is a rewarding place to look for the Montpellier snake, one of nine reptile species recorded here alongside 23 amphibians. Greek and Hermann's tortoises, European pond turtles and the leopard snake share this rich mosaic of habitats, giving photographers plenty of subjects to work through while watching for this large, alert snake. May is the typical month to visit, and it's this stretch of coastline that our Reptiles & Amphibians in Bulgaria holiday explores. Patience around the reserve's margins is key, as the Montpellier snake's size and wariness make for a genuinely satisfying find through the lens.