Lacerta agilis (Sand Lizard)
A European Protected Species
“What the…..?”
~
“Oh, it’s a chicken! Tee hee.”
This is one of our residents, showing off a bit. The male sand lizard is usually as dull and brown as the female, but he sports lime green in spring to impress the ladies…
Very dapper!
He’s about 20cm long and can move extremely fast when alarmed (hence the “agilis” in his name?). But on a cool day the sun’s rays tempt him to just chill out and soak up the warmth.
Hope you get some warm sunshine this weekend to soak up too!
xx
Words and Herbs 
Does he stay green all spring or change colors instantly like many lizards do to blend in to their environment?
Hi Karen. He only turns green in spring, for a couple of months, and then he goes back to brownish grey, like the female. The females are usually a little fatter than the males so you can still tell the difference. He can’t change according to his environment – but he blends in pretty well anyway! Have a nice weekend Karen!
What a cutie–so very bright green! I think when he opened his mouth in that sort-of smile, I might have backed away though…-:))
LOL! You should have seen his tongue coming out then – looked like he was licking his lips ready for dinner! (They are utterly and completely harmless though and would run if I got any nearer!)
How cool is that!!!! 🙂 Great pictures Cathy
Thanks Michael – once a year they pose for me, and then I just see them dashing through the plants when I’m weeding! 😀
Fun. Hope he finds a nice mate. Stormy today but warm and sunshiny tomorrow. Happy weekend Cathy.
His mate was just a few inches away, but hidden by some leaves, so I couldn’t get a photo. There are several in the garden, but these are the only pair I think. Happy weekend to you too Susie!
Awesome pictures, and the photo of him trying to fend off the chicken is priceless! What a cool little companion to have in the garden, I love that your garden is such a welcoming refuge for them 🙂
Thanks Frank – I love having these little creatures as company while I’m working out there. I often stop just to watch them, and then they vanish again. Last year I watched one licking water droplets from an Alchemilla leaf… no camera on hand though! 😀
It is amazing what is revealed when we really stop to look at our world.
Hi Charlie – you are so right. I try and stop and look more often these days, and there is always something new! Have a nice weekend!
A lovely zingy green! Rain today and showers tomorrow! Have a lovely weekend Cathy.
Thanks Julie – you too. That green is great camouflage for spring – it’s very green here already. Hope we get a drop of rain though as well. 😀
I have to get out and look for mine 🙂 I love this funny green of the male. 🙂
Today we have bright sunshine and the trees are almost green.
Have a wonderful Sunday! Uta
Hope you see some Uta – they are so cute to watch! It’s very warm and sunny here too. Have a lovely weekend!
He impresses me too. He is beautiful.
I hope he sits that still again for me one day soon. Maybe I’ll get a shot of a female too. 😀
How lovely to have a sand lizard! We only have dull-coloured wall lizards but they provide lots of entertainment, never the less. Amelia
Creatures in the garden are always fun to watch. More often than not the best moments are – of course – when the camera is miles away!
What a lucky encounter, Cathy. They’re quite hard to catch as they’re so agile. Lovely images. I wish you a great weekend in your garden 🙂
I often see them, but rarely have my camera at hand at the right moment! There is quite a lot of activity in the rockery at the moment… Have a good Sunday Annette!
My garden is full of lizards, I thought they just changed hue depending a bit on the background. Certainly they aren’t just green in spring so maybe it is a climate thing
You probably have the European Green Lizards (Lacerta viridis) then, which we don’t get in our region – too cold in winter perhaps. A shame as they are really pretty! There are hundreds of different ones, some changing colours slightly and others not at all.
Yes that sounds right. This winter has been so mild they have been active all the time, they are my constant companions in the garden.
The lime green works… I’m impressed (although I’m probably not the kind of lady whose attention he was hoping to attract!)
😀 That colour makes him look quite exotic… shame it only lasts a couple of months!
Hi Cathy, I had a male Jackson Chameleon just outside the door yesterday. Fierce looking bugger with three horns but his color of green was just stunning. Gotta love insect eaters.
I just looked that up – does look quite dangerous with those spiky horns, but a beautiful colour! Thanks for stopping by Dohn!
“Now you see me, now you don’t” – are the words tripping off his tongue. You are fortunate to have such a special visitor Cathy.
I enjoy seeing them all over the rockery Anna. Hope to see some young ones later in the year too!
What a cutie! He should have a TV commercial!
I wonder what he could sell… 😉
What a gorgeous critter in his lady-pulling togs.
Impressive, isn’t he! 😉
Well, I hope he indeed received some female attention! He is really quite cute, and he’s sporting a very lovely green! 🙂
I suppose it is understandable that, like the birds, (like anyone!), he wants to wear something smart when looking for a partner! 😉
Hee hee I like the middle picture (where he has his mouth open) best. Lovely shot!
Thanks Simone! He really did look like he was laughing!
Yikes all kinds of goodies at your place 🙂
I think it will be a good year for them as I keep seeing several at once! They are all over the place!
Wow I will have to keep my eyes open here 🙂
Wonderful photos! He really is a handsome little guy. 🙂
He’s been keeping a low profile recently… maybe he attracted too much attention, as there are quite a few female lizards in the garden too! LOL!