I've lived in the South East all my life, and it might be hard to believe but I don't recall ever seeing a lizard around here. It would be nice to see one and even better to get a photo, so where do you think should I be looking?

Any tips would be appreciated. I know there are at least some around here as friends have seen them, not sure which species though.

Generally, common lizards will either be completely still or moving very fast, so they are quite hard to see. As always it comes down to a bit of luck and a lot of patience, and making sure that you have a good look in places even where at first glance there doesn't seem to be anything there.

Lizards are so good at blending in, sometimes the first glimpse of them is also the last glimpse of them! I saw one on my holidays a couple of days ago, which I did not spot until it was halfway across the path. It was running on tip toes, something I had never seen before!

Or, as riana says, they will sit motionless and allow you to snap away.

Kingfisher

I'll just have to try and catch one unawares then and hope that I see it! I would imagine that the same advice for snakes of try in the early morning when they are a bit colder and slower holds for lizards as they are cold blooded too. I often prefer walking hte early morning anyway when the air is fresh and there are less people around.

They are there, but very hard to see just because they are so well camouflaged. Looking in the morning is a good idea probably, but I think it would be difficult to find one when your looking specifically for them. If it were me, I would just keep an extra eye out for them on normal outings.

I have never seen one, you're no the only one!

I saw one on our street last year but I wasn't sure if it was a common lizard or just an escapee from the reptile shop on the corner. It was a light sandy brown colour.It was living in a neighbours garden but we haven't seen it this year.

I used to see lizards all the time growing up in California. They really seem to like heat, so it's not much of a surprise that they aren't easily found in the UK.

I have never seen a lizard here in western Washington, and only seen lizards a few times in Eastern Washington.

Kingfisher

I've seen many small lizards abroad and it's always fun watching them as they scuttle about the place, but still have never seen one in the UK.

Tibbar, sounds like it was probably a common lizard, they are darker brown though.

I don't know if you count Norfolk as the south east, but I photographed this lizard at Hickling in 2005. It was on the boardwalk and allowed quite a close approach. Just another case of being in the right place at the right time!

wild canon, you have got a knack for that being in the right place at the right time! Not to mention that you manage it with a camera in hand .

I can see why everyone is having a hard time spotting them--they do just blend right in.

Kingfisher

wild canon, you have got a knack for that being in the right place at the right time! Not to mention that you manage it with a camera in hand .

Kingfisher

Except the time I almost ran over an adder on a bicycle in the New Forest, when I had no camera with me.

What sort of lizard is that then? I ask this as the one I saw did not have marks on it , although it was a young one. It seemed all one colour, no variations etc.

This post was last modified: 04-09-2007 06:41 PM by tibbar.

It's the Common Lizard Lacerta vivipara

For more info go here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/fa.../282.shtml

This post was last modified: 04-09-2007 05:28 PM by wild canon.

Great photos, you definitely do have a knack for being in the right place!

You can see why they are easy to miss, which is probably why I haven't seen one before.