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Not Lepidoptera - Reptiles
Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 7:30 pm
by Chris
Hello...
Finally got out with the camera again today and went searching for reptiles... I found plenty of common lizards, no slow-worm, no adders but three grass snakes, including this inquisitive one. It ain't a perfect picture, but I like it.
Oh yeah, saw a small tortoiseshell, 2 Peacocks and a Red Admiral too, all in the south York heathland.
Re: Not Lepidoptera - Reptiles
Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 8:23 pm
by Gruditch
Oh fantastic Chris, I spent a few hours looking for snakes today, with no luck,
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
This has given me the incentive, to try again tomorrow.
Gruditch
Re: Not Lepidoptera - Reptiles
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 5:03 pm
by eccles
This adder was seen last week at New Fancy View, Forest of Dean, the first I've seen in many years. Shot through a wire fence, hence the slightly odd haze.
Re: Not Lepidoptera - Reptiles
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 9:58 pm
by FISHiEE
Re: Not Lepidoptera - Reptiles
Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 8:39 am
by Chris
Nice shots FishiEE...
Those male adders almost look black and white when newly moulted! I've been in Shropshire this weekend at my brother's wedding; last night I needed to escape from the family so I drove to the Wem mosses in search of adders. Pleased to say there were plenty about... more than I remember in fact, which is a reverse of the fate of the Yorskhire adders I normally look for.
Anyway... though I saw plenty of adders, none were being obliging models, hiding in tussocks of grass. I've got plenty of adder shots from previous years, so I decided to stake out one of the lizards instead that was basking on top of a mossy stump.
150mm macro, at 15". 1/125 @ f/5.6, ISO 200 with flash, on tripod [no crop].
![Image](http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x298/xopher78/Other%20Wildlife/CommonLizard-WemMoss-11thApr09.jpg)
Re: Not Lepidoptera - Reptiles
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:49 pm
by Padfield
I don't normally butt in on UK threads when I'm abroad, but I was pleased with this male green lizard I snapped this morning. They are so well camouflaged I normally see them just as they dart away. This time I saw him before he saw me.
Guy
Re: Not Lepidoptera - Reptiles
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:15 pm
by Chris
Nice... I wonder why they're called Green Lizards??
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
it's imagination gone mad.
Re: Not Lepidoptera - Reptiles
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:29 pm
by Padfield
The Latin, Lacerta viridis, is hardly more inspired!
There's some beautiful cryptic colouration on this page of reptiles.
Guy
EDIT: Correction - I've just checked, and it's not viridis but bilineata in Switzerland (Quirm's western green lizard with a bit of blue under the chin). Viridis is the eastern species and they hybridise in parts of Italy.
Re: Not Lepidoptera - Reptiles
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:43 pm
by Pete Eeles
Speaking of cryptic - I'm sure their scaling was the inspiration for Blockbusters
http://www.ukgameshows.com/page/index.p ... ockbusters
Sorry - been a long day
Cheers,
- Pete
Re: Not Lepidoptera - Reptiles
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:50 pm
by Padfield
Can I have a pee, please, Bob?
I suddenly feel very old.
Guy
Re: Not Lepidoptera - Reptiles
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 7:31 pm
by eccles
Chris wrote:Nice... I wonder why they're called Green Lizards??
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
it's imagination gone mad.
It's a contraction from the original name by Leonard of Quirm. They were originally called green lizards with a bit a blue under the chin. Some cracking shots here!
Re: Not Lepidoptera - Reptiles
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 8:03 pm
by Denise
Good lord, that takes me back!
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Re: Not Lepidoptera - Reptiles
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:47 pm
by geniculata
hi all,
Although its not a british native, i was given this little blighter last night, it came from a local nursery garden centre.
more than likely shipped in with plants.
Only 5cm long and freshly hatched, no doubt an egg laid in a plant pot.
Its a turkish gecko (hemidactylus turcicus) a mediterranean species.
gary.
Re: Not Lepidoptera - Reptiles
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:55 pm
by Dave McCormick
Great looking green lizard guy! I never new such colourful species of lizard appeared in Europe. Gary, your Turkish Gecko reminds me of the ones a friend of mine is breeding. He has a few, but I am not sure if they are same as one you posted, they are geckos though.
FISHiEE, like the Adder shots. I am a big fan of snakes, exception being poisonous ones for kinda obvious reasons, but I like seeing snakes all the same.
Re: Not Lepidoptera - Reptiles
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 10:05 pm
by FISHiEE
Re: Not Lepidoptera - Reptiles
Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 6:08 am
by xmilehigh
Hi,
Great reptile photo's everyone. Here are a couple from a recent foray to the Mendip hills just outside Bristol. I was also lucky enough to see what I believe is called "Dance of the Adders". N.B there 3 Adders in the second pic.
#1 Adder
#2 3 Adders
#3 Grass snake
![Image](http://xmh.smugmug.com/photos/511804148_QAdN4-XL.jpg)
Re: Not Lepidoptera - Reptiles
Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 6:53 am
by Padfield
The dancing adders take my breath away.
Guy
Re: Not Lepidoptera - Reptiles
Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 8:37 am
by FISHiEE
Superb shots!
This thread is becoming more popular than the butterfly sightings of late
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Re: Not Lepidoptera - Reptiles
Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:00 am
by Padfield
Jerry, are the dancing adders competing for the female they're sitting on? I've never seen this behaviour.
Guy
Re: Not Lepidoptera - Reptiles
Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 5:59 pm
by xmilehigh
padfield wrote:Jerry, are the dancing adders competing for the female they're sitting on? I've never seen this behaviour.
Guy
Hi Guy,
Yes they are competing for the female according to the references I have read. I have seen this twice now and on both occasions a male was courting a female and along comes another male. The two males then rear up and entwine themselves around one another and start to push each other about in a series of very rapid movements. It was all over in a few seconds. It looked like the larger of the male then chased the other away. Quite a thrill to see.