A blog and photo journal about the natural history of north-west England and beyond
An unmistakeable male Sand Lizard foraging for insects on the edge of Higher Hyde Heath. Outside of the mating season the green flanks are far more subdued. Interesting to note the remains of her old skin still in the process of being shed. Another female Read More …
Meadow Grasshoppers at Higher Hyde Heath. Can’t recall seeing a bright pink grasshopper before. Apparently the vivid pink is due to a genetic mutation known as erythrism. Perhaps unsurprisingly few pink grasshoppers survive to become adults. Female Sand Lizard Basking on one of the discarded Read More …
A return to DWT’s Higher Hyde Heath Nature Reserve one of the most reliable sites in the country to see the Sand Lizard the rarest of our native lizards. Read More …
Sand Lizard, catching a few rays of afternoon sunshine at Studland Heath, Dorset Although Studland is renowned as being the best place in the country for Sand Lizards a sighting of Britain’s rarest reptile is far from guaranteed. Their cryptic markings are a superb camouflage Read More …
Can you see me – a superb male Sand Lizard at Shipstal Point, Arne. The cryptic colouring is surprisingly effective especially amongst the heather growth that dominates the Arne peninsula. Probably just as well with the dissection of Kestrel pellets proving the local Kestrels Read More …
Great to see the Sand Lizards especially when the males are bright green during Spring and early Summer. Hard to believe they’re native to the UK. In total over a couple of hours we were fortunate to see 5 males and 2 females. Somewhat surprisingly Read More …
Common Lizard Enjoying a few rays of sunshine at Norden Heath close to the boundary with Kilwood Nature Reserve. Sand Lizard Great to see the lizard taking advantage of a south west facing banking recently cleared of Gorse. Young Common Lizard Silver Y Moth Common Earthbumball Read More …
The amazing compound eyes of a Common Darter at Higher Hyde Heath. Must be very strange being able to see in every direction all at the same time. Common Darter enjoying a few rays of sunshine. Sand Lizard (female). Although Higher Hyde Heath has Read More …
Male Sand Lizard at Higher Hyde HeathAlways great to see these wonderful lizards. It’s just a shame that the Kestrels appear to be far better at finding them than me. Plenty of debris for the lizards to hide in. Also a few Slow-worms and Common Read More …