Common Lizard Up Close

[Ryewolf]

Canon 100mm Macro

Canon 100mm Macro + EP12 Ext Tube, f11, iso400

I spotted this lizard within a couple of feet from yesterday and within 30minutes of the time from yesterday.

Today I was prepared, the first 3 I took using just the macro lens, the last with macro lens and ext tube.

I spent around 30 minutes crawling about on my stomach, a few inches at a time, to get a low down POV and then I left it alone to do whatever it was doing... I figured if I hadn't got enough decent images in the 50 or 60 I shots, then I wouldn't. In the end I ended up with 20-30 really good ones which I then whitled down to just these 4.

[kev7d]

This is a set I am really enjoying looking at.  

[Ryewolf]

Thanks Kev, I'd been up earlier in the day and didn't see anything - birds or lizards, so went a few other places, then on a last minute descision decided to go back to where I'd seen the lizards before. I'm glad I did, you can also see it's moulting skin on both front feet, so I'm wondering if these rough drystone walls help remve old dead skin as well as being nice warm places to bask.

To be honest, once I knew where it was, it was quite easy to spot.... but really they are quite well camoflaged.

[Clicker]

You must be so pleased Rye ... Really great effort to get more pics ... And they are really excellent.,the only thing I wish you had been able to do was get one ( you may have one amongst the others that you took  ) that gave us something against which we could judge its size. I have no idea if these are an inch long or six inches or even bigger ...  A brilliant set of one of our rarely seen native creatures .. Hats off to you ... I would be well pleased if I had gotten these .. 

[Paul]

Super discovery. Seen rarely where I live up north, so always fantastic when anyone finds them!

Paul.

[Ryewolf]

Thanks Clicker, yes sometimes it's difficult to judge the size of things when they're really close - especially if it's an unfamiliar species..

This is the first shot I took on Friday (didn't have any wider shots from Saturday), the rock it's just got ir's nose behind is about 3-3.5 inches thick.

Thanks Paul, yes I was surpised to see one, especially given where it was...

[Clicker]

 Oh well done ... You did well to spot that at all !! 

[Ryewolf]

Thanks Clicker, it's that initial spotting stage that's the hardest, even when I knew what I was looking for and how small it was (though it was 12-15cm long) and I was searching maybe 60ft in length of wall (not very tall - < 3ft). Once I'd spotted it though it was fairly easy to keep track of. I think of all the macro shots I've done these are the ones I'm most pleased with, I was surprised just how close I was able to get, the last shot of the 4, my lens was less than 5 inches from the lizard.  I did move very slowly and backed away equally as slowly...

I watched it from a distance for about 10 minutes after I took the final shot of it and just felt priviledged to have seen it, yet alone get so close.

[Kobione]

Didn't get to reply to this yesterday, due to our internet probs. Rye, but this is a lovely set, and you were so lucky to get these. Looks like he has recently shedded his skin, and that would fit with the seasonal timing for ours shedding over here. Well done, love these

[Ryewolf]

Thanks Kobione, yes I noticed that both front legs showed signs of shedding, I did wonder if this rough stone, as well as being a nice warm basking place, would also help remove shedding skin..