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Sand Lizards 2012 |
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SteveA
Senior Member Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 53 |
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Posted: 29 Feb 2012 at 3:25pm |
Hurrah, spring like weather has tempted first Sandies of year out with 3 sunning themselves mid afternoon. It was so hot here on sunday suspect they were out then. Interestingly one of them was very female like in build/proportions, though none of them were showing a hint of green yet.
S
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will
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1830 |
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sandies in Feb - that's just not natural! good spot Steve.
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SteveA
Senior Member Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 53 |
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Hi Will,
They do seem keen to get "out of bed" down here! mind you how natural is blazing sun and temps in the high teens for Feb?!
I'm fortunate enough to be able top look when I'm at work, but this is the third year in a row that a Feb sun fest has produced a Sand lizard record, sometimes before my first common of the year.
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will
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1830 |
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Hi Steve
interesting phenology, three years on the trot. I wonder if the Lancashire sandies have made an appearance yet?
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Paul Hudson
Senior Member Joined: 24 Sep 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 98 |
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Yes the first wild Merseyside sand lizards were spotted last weekend ,males and juveniles.
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Paul Hudson
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will
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1830 |
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thanks Paul; I wonder if it will be another year when we have females egg laying in late April?
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SteveA
Senior Member Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 53 |
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Hello Will, Paul,
Hmm that is interesting, maybe it is a Sand Dune thing (more rapid heating of exposed sand reaching the animals in their burrows...??) as we've heard nothing from southern heaths it can't be just latitude.
Since I last posted we've had double figure counts, seen very green males and even a couple of last years babies. Er but still no pics, sorry!
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Paul Hudson
Senior Member Joined: 24 Sep 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 98 |
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Hi Steve, I imagine you are seeing the lizards early and or late in the day at the moment? I saw 10 adult males last weeekend on the Merseyside dunes plus 2 babies from last years hatch, none of the males I encountered were green yet. |
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Paul Hudson
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SteveA
Senior Member Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 53 |
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Paul,
yes mostly from mid morning, with some sightings into early afternoon. Though those have been times I've been working in or walking past suitable habitat rather than than an actual survey transect. On thursday of last week had first really green male (actually trailing bits of old skin!). After a return to cold weather, we're enjoying another warm bright day, so will be interesting to see if the afternoon produces any activity.
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SteveA
Senior Member Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 53 |
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...and indeed that afternoon did produce some lizards, with basking observed until at least 4pm. Since last post we've had some pretty changable weather here, which I suspect the La's arnt enjoying much! They seem to be taking advantage of any sun at anytime of day with adults out from 0915 until 1630 (and prob earlier and later on those days)
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