Very Tame Common Lizard

balkantrek · #1 (**permalink**) 14-04-2007, 08:33 PM

Out walking with my son this afternoon we found a Common Lizard perched in the sun on a concrete block eagerly snapping up any small insect that crawled past its nose. We watched it carefully for sometime, gradually edging our way closer so as not to scare it, but pretty soon we were within inches of it. My little son gently extended a finger towards its nose, and the lizard edged away slightly, but when my son "tickled & stroked" its back, it didn't seem to mind at all, just moving slightly and carrying on with its business of enjoying the afternoon sun and the occasional passing snack!

Are common lizards normally so "tame" or was this one just unusually obliging?

Anyway, whatever the reason, it has made my son's day!! There has been a beaming smile on his face until he fell asleep tonight and he hasn't stopped talking about it all evening! His last words when I turned out the lights tonight were "Can we go and see him again tomorrow? Will he be in the same place again?"

So that is tomorrow's activities planned...lizard watching! I will also take my camera and hopefully get some nice close up photos!

Just hope it is there again or my son will be very disappointed!

phil2 · #2 (**permalink**) 14-04-2007, 08:37 PM

lol your lucky seeing one as i aint yet but will carry on til i do.

but no there not usually like this,your were extremly lucky,be carefull with him though there delacate things.

where was this?

GuyF · #3 (**permalink**) 14-04-2007, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by balkantrek

Out walking with my son this afternoon we found a Common Lizard perched in the sun on a concrete block eagerly snapping up any small insect that crawled past its nose. We watched it carefully for sometime, gradually edging our way closer so as not to scare it, but pretty soon we were within inches of it. My little son gently extended a finger towards its nose, and the lizard edged away slightly, but when my son "tickled & stroked" its back, it didn't seem to mind at all, just moving slightly and carrying on with its business of enjoying the afternoon sun and the occasional passing snack!

Are common lizards normally so "tame" or was this one just unusually obliging?

Anyway, whatever the reason, it has made my son's day!! There has been a beaming smile on his face until he fell asleep tonight and he hasn't stopped talking about it all evening! His last words when I turned out the lights tonight were "Can we go and see him again tomorrow? Will he be in the same place again?"

So that is tomorrow's activities planned...lizard watching! I will also take my camera and hopefully get some nice close up photos!

Just hope it is there again or my son will be very disappointed!

Thats strange, I had exactly the same thing at Durlston Country Park last weekend, I managed to touch the lizard as well, the first time I've ever managed to do so, all the others I've seen can't get away fast enough!
I think it is quite unusual, however, if the place you found the lizard has lots of people around then perhaps it has just got used to people being around and isn't too scared of them. It says in one of the wildlife garden books that Common Lizards can become tame if they come into a lot of contact with people and can even be hand fed, so that's your next challenge

Glad you had a nice day,
Guy

Kymba · #4 (**permalink**) 14-04-2007, 08:39 PM

Do you think people are seeing so many Lizards because of the unusually warm weather ???

Wild-Woman · #5 (**permalink**) 14-04-2007, 08:41 PM

I nearly trod on one in a local country park! It was a beauty too.

Kymba · #6 (**permalink**) 14-04-2007, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

I nearly trod on one in a local country park! It was a beauty too.

Tut!! Why weren't you laying down taking photo's of it????????

demicav · #7 (**permalink**) 15-04-2007, 09:24 AM

I recently saw common lizards in north Wales and they don't seem too bothered by people really, probably are too busy soaking up the sun and enjoying the food.

BUMPKIN · #8 (**permalink**) 15-04-2007, 09:49 AM

We don't see many lizards here but I was frog stroking yesterday evening. There were 10 of them enjoying sitting on the new double marigolds that I put in the pond yesterday.

Wild-Woman · #9 (**permalink**) 15-04-2007, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kymba

Tut!! Why weren't you laying down taking photo's of it????????

Oh I did try...but, by the time I'd stopped raving about it, got my camera out, chucked my back-pack off and got my Mum and Dad in the right position to stop casting a shadow...I'll let you guess the rest..

eeyore · #10 (**permalink**) 15-04-2007, 11:08 AM

lizards generally are quite phlegmatic - this one just sat their looking at me while i took countless shots - I think it is partly because they hunt by staying still til the prey are in range, and also partly because they are sluggish if not fully warmed up

okay this one was in captivity ( I think hes a bearded lizard) but he wasnt remotely phased by me invading his personal space with flash guns, reflectors, macro lens etc