Thursday, 28 July 2011

C'est la vie

When I was harvesting some potatoes the other day, I came across this small pile of eggs.  Thanks to Susan's post of a few weeks ago, I immediately recognised them as lizard eggs.  I carefully moved them to a sandy spot, where I hoped that they would continue to develop and hatch, without fear of me disturbing them with a spade or fork.  You can see the size of them compared with my fingers; some were smaller than others.
Nearby I saw this little chap, no more that 25mm (an inch) long, who had presumably very recently hatched

Noushka tells me that these two photos are of newts. I was a little surprised as we have no water near us!

This lizard is a little bigger with markings, but still very small

  adult wall lizards on a railway sleeper

and in the house

I managed to get this very distant picture of a hoopoe in the garden the other day and which I have tried to blow up so it is visible. You can see how the bits of rain we have had have greened up the lawn, though it is still quite brown in places!

and just to end off, I loved this evening sky of windswept clouds, which I took last night.

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82 comments:

  1. Anne in Oxfordshire28 July 2011 at 12:29

    Wow Diane all very interesting :-) and super photos too. I wouldn't of known about Lizards eggs at all. Funny to see them in the house. We used to have them in Singapore .take care and keep on posting :-)xx

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  2. Fifi 28 July 2011 at 12:39

    What a gorgeous evening sky. You have captured some fantastic close up shots of the lizard and other wildlife near your house. Looks like you are experiencing nice weather too. Fifi

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  3. Cate28 July 2011 at 12:41

    Let us know if you managed to save those little lizards!!!!

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  4. Dolly28 July 2011 at 12:42

    Ahh Diane those little baby lizards are so cute! And I have never heard of a hoophoe so it's all very educational today! You are having a marvelous summer I can see :)

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  5. Diane28 July 2011 at 13:39

    Hi Anne, hope that you are feeling better and managing OK. We don't often get lizards in the house but they do come in from time to time. Keep well Diane xx

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  6. Diane28 July 2011 at 13:49

    Fifi B, Yes I just loved that sky when I saw it, the clouds were unusual. Thanks for the comments on the wildlife. I was lucky to see the lizards so tiny. Safe trip to Ozz. Diane

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  7. Diane28 July 2011 at 13:51

    Cate I am too scared to dig near where I put them in case I do damage but I will look eventually :-) Diane

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  8. Diane28 July 2011 at 13:54

    Dolly I never thought about anyone not knowing about a hoopoe as they were regular visitors to our garden in Africa. I have seen them in Spain as well so I am sure they must go to Italy. Next time you are there have a look around. Their call is very distinctive 'hoopoo hoopoo'. Let me know when you see one :-) Diane

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  9. Velva28 July 2011 at 14:59

    I have never seen lizard eggs in the garden. Very cool. I need to pay more attention when I am digging in my yard. I have a lot of lizards.

    Cheers.
    Velva

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  10. Diane28 July 2011 at 15:11

    Velva if it had not been for Susan's post I would have been none the wiser!! I also now keep my eyes open. Diane

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  11. Mary Bergfeld28 July 2011 at 15:30

    I've never before seen lizard eggs. Your photos are wonderful as is your concern for nature and wild life. Are the lizards on their own once they hatch? I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  12. Jane and Lance Hattatt28 July 2011 at 16:27

    Hello Diane:
    We are not very good with creepy crawlies, but these are wonderful images which you have captured here. Never before have we seen lizard eggs. They are fascinating.

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  13. Craig28 July 2011 at 16:32

    I can handle little lizards like those Diane but any bigger and I'm not so keen! Never knew about the eggs, interesting.

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  14. Diane28 July 2011 at 16:53

    Mary to the best of my knowledge they are on their own once hatched but they must be extremely vulnerable when so small. The percentage that survive must be quite small I would think. Maybe someone will come up with an answer! Take care Diane

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  15. Diane28 July 2011 at 16:55

    Jane and Lance, I don't have a problem with reptiles, but I do not like spiders and stick insects, they simply give me the creeps!! Diane

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  16. lena28 July 2011 at 16:58

    diane, you even dare to put them in your palms?! i could have yelled them off, haha!

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  17. Diane28 July 2011 at 17:01

    Craig in Zimbabwe we used to have huge leguaans, or water monitors in our garden, that reached over 2m in length, they swim and spend a lot of time lying around in water. At that time we lived on the banks of the Hunyani River. We also had crocs close by who were not so friendly so these lizards are definitely not a problem!! Diane

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  18. My Little Space28 July 2011 at 17:05

    What a cool job, Diane! We do have too many lizard eggs around here. Almost everywhere! Errrrr..... Anyway, hope you're having a great day.
    Kristy

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  19. LindyLouMac28 July 2011 at 17:14

    I have been looking forward to this post since you told me about your find Diane. So interesting to see the lizards and a bonus photo of the hoopoe I have not managed to get one of them yet this year.

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  20. Diane28 July 2011 at 17:23

    Lena I will happily hold any of the reptiles, just don't ask me to hold a spider!! I used to have 12 foot python as a pet! Diane

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  21. Diane28 July 2011 at 17:24

    Kristy I am sure your lizards are different to ours it would be interesting to see some photos one day :-) Diane

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  22. Diane28 July 2011 at 17:26

    Linda you were the only one in the know about this post so I did not rush it, thought I would keep you in suspense. Ha ha. Diane

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  23. lejardindelucie28 July 2011 at 17:38

    Quelles magnifiques observations Diane.
    Je n'ai jamais vu d'oeufs de lézards. Merci de nous les montrer. Votre jardin est un vrai paradis pour toutes les petites bêtes! Et la huppe ne se trompe pas: elle sait qu'elle peut trouver un bon repas dans le sol.

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  24. Joyful28 July 2011 at 18:22

    You've got some great pictures there Diane. Love the photo of the lizard eggs. I hope they can continue on to hatch!

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  25. Anonymous28 July 2011 at 19:47

    Nice set of photographs.

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  26. Diane28 July 2011 at 21:33

    Lucie Je suis contente que vous aimiez mes petites bêtes. Revenez ici souvent et j’essayerai vous montrer plus ! Diane

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  27. Diane28 July 2011 at 21:34

    Joyful I also hope they hatch but I don't know if moving them has done them harm!! Diane

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  28. Diane28 July 2011 at 21:34

    Thanks Abe, have a good day. Diane

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  29. Marjie28 July 2011 at 22:00

    Those lizard eggs are so tiny it would seem hard to find them. It's nice that the little guys have a home in your garden.

    Love your sunset skies!

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  30. Diane28 July 2011 at 22:30

    Thanks Marjie, it was just luck I saw them when I was gently trying to dig the potatoes out with out damaging them!! Diane

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  31. muppy29 July 2011 at 00:07

    What a gorgeous post, love those little eggs, what a surprise to find!

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  32. Sarah29 July 2011 at 02:58

    I didn't realize that lizards laid eggs. But, eww, I hate lizards. You are brave. I have just learned to accept geckos.

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  33. Diane29 July 2011 at 09:00

    Thanks Muppy, I was delighted to find the eggs and the little one, there is always something new in the garden! Diane

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  34. Diane29 July 2011 at 09:02

    Sarah they are harmless, I am anything but brave, don't ask me to pick up a spider harmless or otherwise!! Diane

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  35. Starlight29 July 2011 at 10:47

    Good photos. I have to admit that I'm quite scared of lizards though. They remind me of snakes which I'm terrified of.

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  36. Diane29 July 2011 at 11:42

    Thanks Starlight. Lizards are generally quite harmless and docile creatures. There are a couple in other countries which are poisonous, but if left alone are also pretty harmless. Ours here are just a pleasure to have around. Diane

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  37. Sonia ~ Nasi Lemak Lover29 July 2011 at 13:14

    Diane, you are very brave ! I don't think I dare to touch this.

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  38. Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen29 July 2011 at 13:22

    Those little lizards are so interesting. Very territorial I think, hardly ever wandering far from home. I've never seen their eggs. How fabulous to discover them!
    Sam

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  39. This is Belgium29 July 2011 at 13:26

    great photos.... the lizards look kind of cute :-) especially seen on your hands
    http://whatisbelgium.blogspot.com

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  40. Cuisine de Provence29 July 2011 at 14:29

    We have a lot of lizzards here but I have never seen their eggs.

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  41. Peggy29 July 2011 at 16:12

    Love the picture of the beautiful sky!

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  42. Deana Sidney29 July 2011 at 16:52

    Lizards are wonderful... they eat bugs!! What could be better in a garden. Yours are quite lovely... aren't you sweet to protect their eggs from harm. Hope they thrive to take care of those evil garden bugs!

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  43. Rosebud Collection29 July 2011 at 16:55

    I was so surprised to see the little lizard and eggs..What a cute find. When we grew potatoes, our oldest daughter came screaming..she dug a mouse family up..Have to admit, we still laugh about it.
    Never saw a hoopoe before..Looks very interesting.
    Always a fun visit..xoxoRosebud..

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  44. Pam29 July 2011 at 18:02

    My kids would love to have lizards running around our yard. Hope the eggs hatch.

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  45. Olga29 July 2011 at 18:17

    These are the cutest lizards I've seen in a long time. The photos are so sweet. You just made my day.

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  46. Michel29 July 2011 at 19:10

    Those are great pictures of the lizard and lizard eggs. I would have thought we would have seen some lizards around our house in Provence but so far no lizards but we have seen scorpions.

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  47. Diane29 July 2011 at 19:41

    Ha ha Sonia they are harmless, I am quite happy handling them. Diane

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  48. Diane29 July 2011 at 19:42

    Sam I was delighted to see the eggs and the very tiny lizards. Diane

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  49. Diane29 July 2011 at 19:43

    Anni they were cute and the small ones were happy to be handled it seemed. Diane

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  50. Diane29 July 2011 at 19:44

    Cuisine de Provence, I have never seen them before and if it had not been for Susan's blog I would never have known what they were. Diane

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  51. Diane29 July 2011 at 19:44

    Peggy I thought that sky was quite special :-) Diane

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  52. Diane29 July 2011 at 19:46

    lostpastremembered we have so many lizards in the garden I am surprised that we ever see any bugs!! Diane

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  53. Diane29 July 2011 at 19:48

    Rosebud Collection, I found a whole nest of mice in the centre of our compost heap earlier this year. Forgot to take any photos though, bet they were nice and warm! Diane

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  54. Diane29 July 2011 at 19:49

    Pam I also hope they hatch but moving them may not have done them much good! Diane

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  55. Diane29 July 2011 at 19:50

    Olga glad to have made your day :-), I also thought that they were very cute. Take care Diane

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  56. Diane29 July 2011 at 19:52

    chcmichel I am surprised that you have not got lizards around the house. The scorpions you can keep, though I don't think the ones here are as bad as the ones in Africa. Diane

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  57. Amanda29 July 2011 at 20:03

    The first time I saw lizard eggs was on Susan's blog too. Even Lucie has never seen any, which is really amazing. I like the sound hoopoes make.
    You know that when you don't hear them anymore, cold weather is on its way.

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  58. Anonymous29 July 2011 at 20:38

    Love those little eggs - the lizard was pretty cute too! Super photos as always :))
    Mary

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  59. Diane29 July 2011 at 21:03

    Nadege I was also surprised when Lucie said she had never seen lizard eggs. Thank goodness for Susan's post or I would never have recognised them! I have seen several hoopoes around in the past couple of weeks, perhaps the rain we have had brought them out as the ground was softer for them to dig. Have a good weekend Diane

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  60. Diane29 July 2011 at 21:05

    Mary Mum's Kitchen, yea those little eggs are kinda cute. Enjoy the weekend, Diane

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  61. Ellie29 July 2011 at 21:32

    Just found your blog. Very interesting post with great pics. Especially like the last one of the night sky.
    Saw that you once lived in Rhodesia, I lived there when was around 8 - some 40 years ago. We only stayed there about 18 months but left an abiding memory for me.

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  62. Ellie29 July 2011 at 22:19

    Just found your pages on Rhodesia - very interesting reading. I used to live there when I was around 8 years old in the the early 1970's. I loved it there and would love to go back but like you say not really feasable. Have become a new follower.

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  63. Vera30 July 2011 at 08:17

    I love the lizards which live here, although there are not so many now the house and barns are being sorted out. But I love to see the scuttling about, and well done you for doing your best with those eggs. Hope you are well, and hope you have a lovely weekend.

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  64. Diane30 July 2011 at 09:29

    Hi Ellie, thanks for the visit and following my blog. I still have many friend left in (Rhodesia) Zimbabwe, and although life has improved a bit since it changed to the $ it is still not easy for them. I don't think I would now like to go back, I have such good memories that I do not want to spoil them!
    Thanks for the kind comments.
    Take care and have a good weekend. Diane

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  65. Diane30 July 2011 at 09:31

    Vera, I am sure the lizards will return when the barns are sorted and life is a bit quieter for them. Have a great weekend, take care, Diane

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  66. Noushka30 July 2011 at 14:24

    Hello Diane!
    Very interesting!
    Pics N2 & N3 are a young Newt!
    Lizards are great prey for the Smooth snake... you will see on the 1rst of August on my blog! A great little snake to have around, totally harmless and useful around a garden!!
    I can see your is full of life!
    Well done!
    Cheers, Diane!

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  67. Gloria Baker30 July 2011 at 19:27

    Diane what lovely and amazing pictires you always have, xxgloria

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  68. Diane30 July 2011 at 20:57

    Noushka I am surprised as I thought that newts only bred in water. There is no water around us and the garden is as dry as a bone. I have seen the odd snake here but not often. I am quite happy to have them around. Take care Diane xx

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  69. Diane30 July 2011 at 21:00

    Gloria thanks for your visit and your comments. I wonder how much i really miss around our garden as I am not that observant. These photos were just luck!! Diane

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  70. Vagabonde31 July 2011 at 00:15

    I came to look at your last few posts – all very interesting. The mackerel recipe sounds delicious. The bugs are pretty – from afar. I would have liked to witness the Nuits Romanes. Do you know what they are? They are not nuits romantiques, but “romanes.” They take from the “Art Roman” which is the period between 1030 and the XII century and which happened in France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Portugal at the same time (http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_roman.) The Akubra hat is very handsome – but we don’t need it here as we get some good soaking with our thunderstorms. I like your little lizards – we have many different kinds in our yard too.

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  71. Christine's Pantry31 July 2011 at 06:41

    It's always a pleasure to visit your blog. Great post.

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  72. Diane31 July 2011 at 10:36

    Vagabonde when I looked up Nuits Romane in my dictionary my first thoughts were that it came from the Art Roman. When I put the web site on to translate because my French was not good enough to cope, it came up with Romantic Nights. OK I know the translators are not much good, but usually you can get the gist of it. They shows were very romantic type shows so I went along with the translation! Have a good Sunday. Diane

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  73. Diane31 July 2011 at 10:36

    Christine's pantry, Thanks for the comments have a great day. Diane

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  74. Gaelyn1 August 2011 at 07:31

    The little lizards are so cute and help keep bugs down. Sure hope the eggs make it. Love the sky!

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  75. Diane1 August 2011 at 10:36

    Thanks Gaelyn I also thought that sky was pretty spectacular. Diane

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  76. Chubskulit Rose2 August 2011 at 15:17

    Wow, nice find Diane. I used to find those eggs when I was still in the Philippines as we have so many of those there. But when I came here, I have never seen one. Love the sunset shot.

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  77. Diane2 August 2011 at 19:26

    chubskulit yep I also took a fancy to that sunset photo :-) Diane

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  78. Suz3 August 2011 at 20:18

    Well the lizard population in France will thank you for saving them. Love your recipe for the wings! It was so nice seeing the "pebbles" finished. I'm sure you are getting some ideas for their use in your terrace. Hope the rain continues a bit for your garden. I would have to put the hat away today as we have had rain, rain rain. Cheers!

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  79. Unknown10 August 2011 at 00:14

    Wow, what a great website. I would love to retire in France! I saw your website on Cate Can Cook and I am so pleased I came over for a look!

    What a gorgeous little lizard, and eggs too!!

    You have done so much travel I am in awe!

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  80. Diane10 August 2011 at 09:10

    Gourmet Getaways, Thank you so much for your visit and very kind comments. It is so mice when I know how much people appreciate my blog. Hope to see you back sometime. Tried to check and see if you have a blog but there appears to be no lead from your post. Take care Diane

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  81. Unknown14 August 2011 at 17:08

    Lizard eggs? WOW! What a find. Lovely little creatures.

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  82. Diane14 August 2011 at 17:18

    JM it was quite a find those eggs, I was over the moon. Diane

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