Saturday 16 June 2012

Common Lizard

I have never knowingly encountered a lizard of any kind in the U.K., that changed last weekend when the sun was paying a flying visit.

Lisa and I were walking along an area close to a river known as the Maxey Cut when Lisa noticed something on an old broken stile. We both thought that it was some sort of dropping, but on closer inspection as one of these droppings moved, it proved to be three Common Lizards basking in the warmth of the sun. I then noticed a couple more on a nearby log, five of these lovely reptiles in the space of 5 minutes! The largest one was almost completely flat, increasing his body size to take as much advantage of the sun as possible. They warmed up and were gone.









All photos taken with `hand-held` Canon A640 Powershot

Also known as the Viviparous Lizard, this is the commonest lizard in Britain. Their colour can vary from grey-brown to reddish and olive green, with variable stripes down the back and sometimes black blotches organized into rows down the back or flanks. They can grow up to 17cm in length, including the tail which they can shed as a defence mechanism. They give birth to up to 10 live young between June and September and their diet consists of insects, spiders, snails and earthworms, as well as other invertebrates.

14 comments:

  1. You got some good images of it John. I briefly observed one at Castor H the other day by the workman's hut, but never got to photograph it. They do like to bask in the sun.

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    1. Thank you Roy,
      I know they are around and most people I know have seen one in the U.K., but up until the other day I wasn`t on that list! ;)
      J

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  2. Beautiful series, I'm very pleased that you found one, a lifer.

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    1. Thanks Bob, yes, I never thought of that, a different kind of lifer than the type I am used to!
      J

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  3. Great set John.
    I've never seen these before either.

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    1. Thanks Keith, keep your eyes peeled, you never know! ;)
      J

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  4. Splendid photos. If I ever have seen one it was a long time ago!

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    1. Hi John,
      Thank you. I am sure that I have only seen lizards abroad, until now!
      J

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  5. Ooh, you are lucky John! I think they're adorable creatures and am always on the lookout for them but never manage to spot any. I think I may have seen one when I was little but to be honest I can't really remember. Well done, great captures!

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    1. Hi Jan,
      Thank you. Yes, both Lisa and myself were quite amazed to see them. A first for both of us.
      J

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  6. Lovely clear photos of something I have yet to see.

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    1. Thanks John,
      I was lucky with the light, one of our few dry days just lately!
      J

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  7. Nice shots. They have such smiley faces :) I can see the similarity between these and slow worms, which I hadn't realized until recently are in the lizard family.

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    1. Thanks Omi,
      Yes, they do look as if they are smiling, don`t they! We only have 3 types of lizard in this country, the Common, the Slow Worm and the rather splendid Sand Lizard.
      J

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