RAUK - Archived Forum - mixed (and rather battle scarred) company

Hi I am still a bit new to this, what are we looking at here?,Is it a common and sand lizard together and if so is this normal.

I was out this morning from 0730 till 11.00 this morning where I would normally find common lizards but I saw nothing.Is this how it is going to be from now on until the weather cools?.

Ray  

Ray, it is more difficult to observe all our reptiles in the hot weather, early morning/evening might still produce some under tin. It's just a case that they warm up quickly so spend less time in the open basking or heating up under tins which is when we normally see them. Best save looking until we get some heavy overcast and lower temperatures.

Strangely, it is often during these times that the general public encounter our herps more than usual, due to them being active and hunting in gardens etc. though.

Nice piccy Mike, I've rarely seen sand lizards and viviparous lizards photographed together.

Hi Ray

Being unfamiliar with putting photos on web sites, I left no room for any text, but the animal on the left is an adult male Sand Lizard and the animal on the right is an adult (probably female) Common Lizard, which has recently lost its tail. The Sand Lizard shows scar tissue on the head, perhaps from battles with rival males, and a nasty looking scar low down on the flank, perhaps from a past encounter with a predator.

However, I mainly put the picture on the site to show the beautiful green of adult male Sand Lizards on Merseyside at this time of year (picture taken about 2 weeks ago) and because it is unusual to see a Sand Lizard sitting next to a Common Lizard.

The weather is too hot at the moment for the lizards to sit in the sun, except perhaps early and late in the day. The ideal weather for watching both species is sunny spells after rain or warm weather with hazy sun.

Cheers,

Mike Brown (North Merseyside ARG)

Hi Mike,

I live in Blackpool, not that far from Merseyside and have started looking this year for our Herps on known sites in the area.Up to pres I have only found common lizards but have now been looking for any signs of sand lizards in the area (which John Newton was hoping I may find) so it is good to see the two together so I know What I am looking for and they also live in the same habitat.I have also looked at three other sites where I thought I may find something but no luck yet.Not sure how well you may know the area up here but do you know of any other sites  and what else I should be looking for,there dosn't seem to be a shortage of amphibians just our scaley friends.

Cheers Ray.

Hi Ray,

First of all I should point out that female and juvenile Sand lizards do not look like the male in the picture.

I'm afraid I don't know the Blackpool area very well - I don't originate from the North-West, although I live in Merseyside now. I suggest you contact John Newton by PM, and he'll tell you the best sites to survey.

Good Luck anyway!

Mike Brown (North Merseyside ARG)