Camera Critters #276

I’ve gone to an area near where I live which I call “Lizard Lands” a number of times lately.  Each time I was unable to find a reptile of any type.

A couple of days ago, I found out why…a feral cat is hanging out in the area. 

So, I decided to walk the other side of the canyon and guess what I found!



It’s a juvenile Side-blotched Lizard.  It stuck around long enough for me to get a couple of photos and then it disappeared into the rocks.

Lucky for it, the cat hasn’t found his hiding place.

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critters #263

If you know me at all, you know I really enjoy photographing the lizards around central Oregon…or anywhere else I travel.

Of the three more prominent species in this area, the Side-blotched Lizard is the most colorful.  It gets its name from a very dark blue area located just behind the front leg.  It is hard to see in this image, but believe me, it is there.



Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critters #254

It was Feb. 14, 2013…Valentine’s Day…and one of the loves of my life appeared.  It was earliest I had seen any of these wonderful creatures.

It was a juvenile Side-blotched Lizard.  This critter wasn’t but about three inches long from nose to tip of tail, but it was still a nice find for me.



The Side-blotched Lizard is common in my area, but normally I only see the reptiles with orange spots on them.  This little fellow appears to have blue spots along the back, but also what appears orange on its sides.  It would be interesting if it was blue on top, orange on the sides, but I think it will develop one spot color as it matures.



Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critters #231

This has not been a good year for my favorite subjects…lizards.

They are probably out there, but due to health reasons, I haven’t chased them much this summer.

However, earlier this summer, I was able to get a lizard in my viewfinder.  It’s a Side-blotched Lizard, common along the Dry Canyon Trail.



Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critter #103

Spring is definitely on the way to the high desert of central Oregon...I think. I woke this morning and looked out my window and saw this.

However, last Saturday and again on Wednesday, the temperatures in the area soared to well over 60...and I was out with camera in hand.

I decided to go to the dry canyon and follow the trail until I saw something cool to image. Along the way, I saw a number of butterflies go by...but they were late for something as they didn't stop and pose...just kept going.

However, I got to the rocks, and after scanning the larger ones, noticed some movement. I smiled and rushed over and found some of my favorite subject lounging in the hot sun...lizards!

This week, I present the Common Side-blotched Lizard of the northwest.

Next week, if nothing better shows up, I'll present the other species of lizard I came across during my photo safaris.

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Camera Critters #53

My area of the Pacific Northwest finally hit the 70 degree mark this past week. It made for a couple of days of good safaris.

Some of the nicer things I came across during the safaris were sure-fire signs of Spring.

The first was a Western Meadowlark singing away at the top of a Juniper Tree along the Dry Canyon Trail in Redmond, Oregon. Note the gorgeous blue sky of the High Desert. It reminds me of something, somewhere, but I can't put a finger on it.

Not far from the meadowlark, I watched a Side-blotched Lizard. For some reason, I only see them during the Spring. We have a couple of other lizards which take over their territory during the Summers.

Finally, and not really a sign of Spring to me, I came across a couple of Crows. One stuck around and watched me try to climb the sandy hillside I where from the top, I would be able to get a good shot of his partner. But I no more than got reached the top, when the target Crow flew off...so I turned around and took a picture of the one left behind. I swear I could hear him laughing at me every time I slipped on the way up the hillside.

Well, at least Spring sprung for a couple of days on the High Desert.

I hope you enjoyed my post this week. If you would like to see more Camera Critters, just drop by the website here run by Misty Dawn and then join in the fun with an entry of your own.