Camera Critters #282

This Great Basin Fence Lizard is nicely showing off its blue coat.  Although this image was taken during the mating season, it is still a beautiful critter.

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Camera Critters #269

Say hello to my little friend!



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.



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Camera Critters #206

By this time of the year in the past, I have been able to photograph lizards sunning on the heat retaining lava rocks of the area.

But for the last couple of years, March weather hasn’t been that good and the lizards, along with most non-mammalian critters, haven’t appeared until late April, and in some cases, early May. And this March is looking to be similar to the Marches of the last couple of years, with bad weather predicted to the end of the month.

This image of a Great Basin Fence Lizard was taken four years ago. It is possible this lizard is a Western Fence Lizard. However, range maps show the subspecies Great Basin Fence Lizard in this area, which is a fatter, and darker lizard. This individual was found along the walls of the dry canyon in town. In an area where there is a lot of rock from the slowly eroding basaltic columns, three species of lizards live.

One can also find Side-blotched Lizards and Sagebrush Lizards living among the rocks of the canyon.

I really had no interest in photographing lizard when I imaged my first one. However, after taking a couple photographs and seeing what great subjects they are, I can not pass by and ignore one.

Considering the weather I will have for a couple of weeks, I’ll dig into my archives of past images and hopefully show everyone a lizard shot they haven’t seen before.

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Camera Critter #126

A little more than three years ago, I spent some time in San Antonio visiting my brother and friends.

I had lived in San Antonio for four years or so during my Air Force career and one of the things I remember most from those days were the lizards. Not knowing what they were, I called them chameleons.

However, on my last trip there, I knew they were actually called Green Anoles. One of the reasons I called them chameleons, was they had color-changing abilities. I only remember two colors and those two colors are shown below.

Both critters are Green Anoles, but they are also known as the Carolina Anole, American Anole and Red-throated Anole…though I wasn’t able to photograph the critter flashing its red throat.

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

Camera Critter #104

Last week, I introduced everyone to the local lizards known as the Common Side-blotched Lizard. This week, it's the Great Basin Fence Lizard, a subspecies of the Western Fence Lizard.

This was the species of lizard which got me interested in them. Every time I wandered the badlands in the area of the airport looking for 'other critters,' I would see these little guys and one day, I took a good look at one and you know what? I liked what I saw.

All of these lizards (including the one's from last week) were photographed along the Dry Canyon Trail. It's a popular place for people to walk and enjoy nature. I meet a lot of people during the walks and sometimes I get into conversations. On a safari walk a couple of weeks ago, I ran into a gentleman who noticed I was photographing the Side-blotched Lizards. As we talked, he mentioned that I needed to be careful around 'those lizards' as they are dangerous. He went on to tell me they were baby Gila Monsters (see last week's post here). I tried to explain what they really were, but he insisted since he had lived in Arizona and saw them all the time.

Well, if the Side-blotch Lizard is Gila Monster, then the Great Basin Fence Lizard must be a baby Komodo Dragon...at least that's the joke I have going with the wonderful host of this meme. Just look at the critter in the image above. He could easily pass as a dragon!

But the best thing going for the fence lizards is their undersides. The males (and to a lesser extent, the females) have a wonderful blue color on their throats and bellies. When I saw this gal peek over the top of a nearby rock, I mumbled, "Raise up and show me your throat."

Well, as can be seen in the next photo, she did just that. The color isn't as gorgeous as that of a male, but it still looks nice.

And then I my wait brought me this fellow shown below. This critter slowly crawled up the side of the rock, noticed me, stopped, evidently decided I was no threat and came out in the open and posed for this image.

There is another species of lizard common to my area and someday soon, I'll do my best to get some images of them. They are known as Sagebrush Lizards. They resemble the fence lizards, but are marked in a different way making them easy to tell from the other lizards here. They are also a lot more skittish.

Misty Dawn's Camera Critter Meme is a great way to see critters from all over the world. Go to the homepage here, then join the fun and post your own critter.

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.

Misty Dawn's Camera Critters is a great to see critters of all kinds. Go to the homepage here and check out more. Then, join the fun and post your own Camera Critter.

Camera Critters #63

As most people who have read my posts here know, I love shooting the local lizards. So once again, it's time for the four-legged, prehistoric looking critters I love so much.

I noticed this Great Basin Fence Lizard sunning on the rocks about 12 feet above in a rocky area of the Dry Canyon Trail in Redmond. He was kind enough to strike a pose for me.


This Great Basin Fence Lizard decided to stop and say hi to me...either that or he was trying to figure out what that big, long black thing sticking out of my head was.


And finally, one of the better looking reptiles in the Dry Canyon is the Side-blotched Lizard.

Misty Dawn's Camera Critter Meme is a great way to see critters of all types. Go to the Meme homepage here and check out more entries. Then join the fun and let the world see your critters!

Camera Critters #58

I love shooting the local reptile population. I'd probably love shooting these critters anywhere I was, but at least on the high desert, I know I can find them and I know they love having their photo taken...most of the time. 8v)

Moments after this photo was taken, this Great Basin Fence Lizard dove for the cover of a hole somewhere...which happens often after I a get a shot or two. I didn't notice it at the time, but he actually waved bye to me before disappearing.


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Camera Critter Meme #30

Lizards!

For some, it brings a shudder of the body...for others, an admiration of nature.

I'm in the second camp. At one time, I wandered the high desert areas and saw lizards and just walked on by. I was after birds...then it was birds and butterflies...finally birds, butterflies and dragonflies. Now, I shoot anything and everything which flies or crawls around on more than two legs.

And lizards have become my absolute favorite subject.

I can't pass by one and not try to sneak up and got that perfect photo. Not only are they gorgeous creatures, some even know how to pose for the camera. Since I have started shooting the lizards around me, I have learned a few things.

First, if it's too cool, they run.

Second, if it's too hot, they run.

Third, if the temperature is just right, they pose.

So, enjoy some of my favorite lizard shots.

Juvenile Northern Sagebrush Lizard

Juvenile Western Fence Lizard

Plateau Striped Whiptail

Western Fence Lizard

Side-blotched Lizard

Sagebrush Lizard and Western Fence Lizard

Western Fence Lizard

Western Fence Lizard

Western Fence Lizard

Western Fence Lizard

And my current favorite favorite lizard shot, a very cooperative model who let me get closer and closer, until finally, he'd had enough and was gone.

Western Fence Lizard

Lizards in the high desert area of central Oregon are, as you can see, gorgeous creatures. Some have a brilliant blue underside, some don't. Some are well marked, some aren't. But they are all the perfect subject for Misty Dawn's Camera Critter Meme. Click on the meme name and check out other posts. Then join the fun.