Brian Churches took this great shot of a huge Flesh Fly (probably Sarcophaga carnaria) sitting on a medium sized Lizard while out on the trail yesterday. These flies are only attracted to dead or decaying matter and this Lizard certainly does not look like it falls into either category.
My only thought is that on a chilly afternoon this sunning lizard was actually warmer than the surrounding wood and the fly thought that would pinch some of that glow for itself... on the other hand they could just be good friends....
12-10-14
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer
Blimey. I'd never heard of a flesh fly before, never mind seen one. What a great photo of both it and the lizard.
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.