Critters

Some pictures of the critters who have been making their home in my yard...

Green Anole

Another green anole

Agriope Spider (aka Charlotte)

Praying Mantis

And a few that you have a search for -

A Mediterranean Gecko - He's hidden by the compost - but you can see his head, body and a leg - he's located just a little above and to the right of the largish stick thingy on the lower left portion.

A green anole - you can make out his head and eye hanging on the main stem - just under a leaf.

Wordless Wednesday: Anole

Anole

The first anole of the season - this one is shown on the fence that the passionvine is growing on.

Wee Baby Anole

The other day I went out to water my plants and there was a wee baby anole on my Thai Pepper plant.

In order to give an idea of size, I've tried to take photos with something one could compare to - here the little anole hanging onto a "medium" size tomato cage.

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 1/25
Aperture Value: 4.97 EV (f/5.6)
ISO Speed: 100
Flash: No
Metering Mode: Pattern
Exposure Program: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 70.00 mm
Post Processing: GIMP - Hue +10, Saturation +10, Unsharp Mask, Border

And here he is on top of the cage with a few of the pinky-long Thai peppers.

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 1/25
Aperture Value: 4.97 EV (f/5.6)
ISO Speed: 100
Flash: No
Metering Mode: Pattern
Exposure Program: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 70.00 mm
Post Processing: GIMP - Saturation +10, Unsharp Mask

Lizard

Right before we left for Washington State, Shawn and I saw a lizard a lizard hanging out on our deck, all flashing his dewlap. Then we saw this guy, also flashing his dewlap but hanging out on our deck chair. And then he held still for a photo.

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 1/640
Aperture Value: 4.97 EV (f/5.6)
ISO Speed: 400
Flash: No
Metering Mode: Pattern
Exposure Program: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 70.00 mm
Post Processing: GIMP - Saturation +10, Border


He ran off, returned to his normal green, and paused long enough for me to get another. The fact that I used a 70mm lens means that I was within a foot and a half or so of him, so he was mighty tame.

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 1/2500
Aperture Value: 4.97 EV (f/5.6)
ISO Speed: 400
Flash: No
Metering Mode: Pattern
Exposure Program: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 70.00 mm
Post Processing: GIMP - Saturation +20, Hue -7, Border

Foliage Follow Up March '10

graptopetalum from Bob at "Gardening at Draco"

Little Lizard Friend by some succulents (also from Bob)

Operation: Rescue Lizard

So we've been working on a TV stand (which you can see stories about on my blog Here), and on Sunday, when Shawn pulled the pieces back in, there must have been a little anole lizard on one of them because when I went out to throw some trash away, there was this TINY little lizard sitting on top of one of the boards. And I mean tiny. From tip of nose to tip of tail he was no bigger than my pinky finger (about 2").

I briefly thought about getting my camera, but quickly decided against it as both of my cats were lounging in the driveway and I didn't think I'd be able to take pictures without one of them coming over to investigate. So, instead I went inside and got a glass and a piece of junk mail (I was hoping to do the whole catch it under the glass, slide the cardboard trick). Of course, things didn't go as planned. The little bugger kept running away from me (duh). and so finally I decided to set the glass down, and hope the little guy ran into it as I tried to coral him with the piece of mail. Now THAT worked. He jumped up on the glass (instead of going in it), but at least I was able to pick him up and take him over to the devil plant area without him trying to get away from me.

Thankfully neither of the cats came over to see what I was doing over in the berm, and so, now I've got another friendly garden creature eating more of those obnoxious bugs that do nothing but destroy my plants. Awesome.

Chicks Dig Scars

Finally got a picture of an anole inflating his dewlap. This picture was taken about a week after the last picture, and I question if it's the same anole. Watches me, but isn't overly concerned about me and is willing to hang around while I figure out my camera, most anoles are like leprechauns--you blink and they're gone.

Also, I see this picture, and for whatever reason I get that "It's tough out here for a pimp" song stuck in my head. I think it's because this guy has a scar that goes across his 'nose' and causes a perma-sneer.

Hello down there!

This little guy (actually, he's one of the bigger Anoles I've seen) was watching me and the cat (I.V.) from his perch atop the trellis.

Green Anole

various pictures of the Anole I found in the yard today...

This one is actually a really bad photo...but I just call it 'Artsy'. And really, I probably should have cropped all of them...meh, I'm lazy.