Common Lizard Set 1

[Ryewolf]

Just a few from a late evening drive up today around Pendle Hill - I've seen Common Lizards up here before, in fact on this same stretch of drystone wall. I only had to wait about 20 minutes before I spotted one. These were were taken using my Canon 100mm f2.8 macro lens, either on it's own or in conjunction with the Canon EP12 or EP25 extension tubes.

I used aperture priority and single point focus, f9 to f11, iso 400

The lizard is about 15cm max from nose to tip of tail.

 

[kev7d]

A nice bunch of images presented here Rye.  

[Ryewolf]

Thanks Kev. It's interesting that I've seen a lizard on this particular drystone wall - within a few feet - almost 12 months apart.

[kev7d]

Will it be the same lizard?  

[Ryewolf]

To be honest Kev I don't know, I've no idea how long they live in the wild, but it does seem strange to see one in the almost exact same place.

[kev7d]

I guess if it has a safe home it may well stick around.  

Its great that there is a lizard there though. 

[JamesT]

4 minutes ago, Ryewolf said:

To be honest Kev I don't know, I've no idea how long they live in the wild, but it does seem strange to see one in the almost exact same place.

I'm pretty sure the lifespan would have to be 1 year plus, as reptiles like birds have to have suitable food for their young available at the right time (even if the young have to fend for themselves), unlike mammals hwre milk allows them to break the rigid seasonality of food availability. As for the place -- a good basking spot stays a good basking spot until someone rebuilds the wall.

[Ryewolf]

There must be more than one, last year when I spotted the first one I then suddenly started seeing them all over, running over roads, basking on walls. I'm guessing the walls make a good place to hide up for the winter.

[Rick448]

Very good detail and sharpness there. Thanks for sharing. 

[johntwo]

Well I never.  I didn't know we had anything like these in this part of the world.  Nice series of images.

[Ryewolf]

Thanks James and Rick.

33 minutes ago, JamesT said:

I'm pretty sure the lifespan would have to be 1 year plus

Just checked the Wildlife Trusts website and they have the lifespan of common lizards as 1 to 12 years, so it may well be the same one from last year.

[Ryewolf]

3 minutes ago, John2 said:

Well I never.  I didn't know we had anything like these in this part of the world.

Thanks John, I must admit I was surprised to find them, I knew we had a few lizard species in the UK, but hadn't expected to see them up around Pendle Hill. Apparently this species of lizard can be found across Europe upto 3000m and as far north as the Arctic Circle.

[Kobione]

Great set Rye - especially the last one. I can't get that close to ours because they run off.

[Ryewolf]

Thanks Kobione.