It’s not just me that likes our sunny doorstep – and it’s not just the weeds either. Shortly after I’d dealt with the cheeky dandelion (seriously, will I start needing to weed indoors soon?) I came across this fellow sitting rather sluggishly in the sun, possibly wondering if he’d emerged from hibernation too soon. He certainly stuck around while having his photo taken, although I could see his heartbeat fluttering away on his side as he watched me.
Clearly he’s been almost too slow to get away from something else (the cat?) in the past
Moments later I stepped out of the door and realised I was standing right where the lizard had been… fortunately, no sign of him on the sole of my shoe, so he must have moved away at last. Here’s hoping he stays well clear of cats – and feet – until he grows a new tail.
Town Mouse 
Wow. You grow your lizards big up there. That would be some kind of mutant in all of the many different places I’ve lived. Could probably give you a run for your money in cockroaches, though. We even have a flying variety in Florida, which is surely the worst of all possible worlds. Mutant lizards are much preferable.
Can’t believe your luck! In fact I hope he’s brought good luck to your door while he’s at it. What a find! Yes, what a whopper.
PS Just thought – this being the year of the dragon, you’re well ahead of the rest of us, for good omens! As for the tail, or lack of it, am sure you’re spot on about the cat. Which probably makes the lizard feel lucky too.
Proof that the warm weather even reached you? There were a lot of lizards were we lived in wiltshire when i was about three, but even to my littler self none so big. Someone told me you could catch them by putting salt on their tails, and mum says I would sit patiently in the garden waiting for the next one, saltpot in hand. I wasn’t quite as quick as the lizards, so never found out if it really worked . Lets hope he’s quick too.
He wasn’t that big – must be the camera angle (I can’t believe Scottish lizards are bigger than American ones).
It’s cooled off now so I’m hoping he’s found somewhere cat free to hang out till he grows a new get-out-of-jail-free tail
Some of them don’t grow anything back, tail wise. Rather unfortunate I’m afraid, but just par for the course when it comes to “your tail or your life”. Hm, wonder if that could be a TV show?
Something is not right here, horses in one picture, lizards in the next, are you sure your in Scotland and not the new forest because the weather just seems to good to be true.
John
This is Zootoca vivipara, formerly Lacerta vivipara, the viviparous or common lizard which is is a common species in the northern hemisphere in Europe and Asia. Small, max length including the long tail is 18 cm but usually less, so between 5 and 6 inches. Doesn’t lay eggs but keeps them inside the body until they hatch – all because of their climatologically inhospitable environment, for a reptile that is.
John – don’t worry, it’s forecast to be back to normal tomorrow
Frits – it was easy enough to identify as it’s the only lizard with legs that we have up here…
Ha, the other ones are more like this then:
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/tetrapod-zoology/2012/04/01/amphisbaenians-and-origins-of-mammals/
Some people really work on their April Fools’ pranks.
Have you reported the sighting to your local Amphibian and Reptile Group?