Common Lizard

Common Lizard, Zootoca vivipara.  Hutchinson's Bank, 26 August 2016.

This lizard is not supposed to be rare in England, though you certainly don't see it everywhere.  I see it hardly at all.  Perhaps I walk too fast, because several of my walks pass through its territory.

I saw some at Ranscombe Farm in 2012.  Since then none, until a few days ago I saw this one sunning itself on a gate at Hutchinson's Bank.

Common Lizard, Zootoca vivipara.  Hutchinson's Bank, 26 August 2016.

I was actually hoping to see a Clouded Yellow butterfly, an immigrant species that has come over the channel in good numbers recently.  I did see a couple, but was not able to get a photo.  But the lizard more than made up for that!

The UK only has three lizard species; this one, the Slow-worm and the rare Sand Lizard.  I've seen lots of the snake-looking Slow-worms.  Here is one from Keston Common.

Female Slow-worm, Anguis fragilis.  Keston Common, 14 May 2011.

And here is my other Common Lizard sighting, from 2012.

Common Lizard, Zootoca vivipara. Ranscombe Farm Country Park, 25 May 2012.