Sand Lizards at Higher Hyde Heath Dorset

While sorting and editing photos from last year I found a folder from way back in May 2017 of Sand Lizards -Lacerta agilis at Higher Hyde Heath in Dorset. I'm not sure why the photos never made it onto here, but here they are. Better late than never I suppose. 

The famous tile pile, with female Sand Lizard just about visible in centre. If you stand quietly far enough away the lizards come out onto the tiles to bask in the morning sun. Notice how they flatten their bodies onto the surface to collect as much heat as possible.I took all these photos with my Canon super-zoom.

FEMALES

PAIRS

 MALES

 Sand Lizard - Lacerta agilis

And here's a Common Lizard - Zootoca vivipara Seen at the same site for comparison.

Green Woodpeckers

Back in the summer a family of Green Woodpeckers were frequenting the children's playground outside our flat, which is infinitely preferable to the children. (Yes,I'm a miserable old git, I admit it) They particularly like the wooden supports of the zip wire frame which do rather look like dead trees. I took a few photos of them from the comfort of my living room window. Best views I've ever had by far! Photos are of adult and one of three juveniles which were present.

Marsh Sandpiper at Black Hole Marsh, Seaton Wetlands

Back in August I was tempted out to Seaton Wetlands to see a Marsh Sandpiper, a bird which was always on my most wanted list when I was a more active birder back in the day. I did see it, but it remained either very distant or hidden for most of the time I was there. It did venture a bit closer once but was horribly backlit in the early morning sun, so my photos aren't really that bad if you squint a bit! I think I was hoping for a bit too much to be as lucky as I was for the Black-winged Stilts earlier in the year. Unfortunately this trip was to be my last outing of the year as I crashed my car on the way home and it was written off, so I've been off the road ever since. I'll be back...I hope.

Anyway here are the photos, just don't zoom in! 

 

Marsh Sandpiper