Only a handful of shots from yesterday, from the front walk at Walkabout Estates.
In going past one of the butterfly bushes, I noticed a sudden movement from the leaves, which is the best telltale if you notice it and pay attention. Eventually, I saw further activity as an adult Carolina anole (Anolis carolinensis) became evident, slinking up the branches. I did a few frames, but it seemed clear that the anole wanted to bask, so I went in search of other subjects.
On passing back through, I saw another flash of movement, this time from the vinca leaves under the Japanese maple that was immediately adjacent to the butterfly bush – and the anole saw it too, craning its head over to watch beneath.
It took a little wait and a small change in position, but eventually I saw who the culprit was this time: the juvenile five-lined skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) that lives in that area, who came up onto its favorite stump to bask.
I could get them both in the frame but nowhere near having both in focus, no matter what aperture I used – there’s a limit, especially when working close to a subject. As for the skink, between my movements and likely noticing the anole on the branch above, it soon decided to go under cover again, and the anole relaxed and settled itself in more comfortably for a nap in the sun.
The anole clearly knew that I was close, and in fact I was gently disturbing the other branches of the same bush as I was leaning in for a clear and photogenic angle, but it wasn’t too concerned as long as I moved slowly, so I managed a cute portrait. “This is a nice branch…”
After nightfall, I was on patrol, trying not to disturb the rabbit again (and succeeding – it’s surprisingly mellow,) when I came across what was likely the same anole, this time fast asleep on the diamond spire gardenia bush (Gardenia hybrid ‘Leefive’ PPIP) about a meter from that butterfly bush. The tiny juvenile anoles sleeping on the same bush have produced two of the cutest photos that I have of them, but I hadn’t seen an adult using it until last night. And the position was curious, but couldn’t be passed up.
Yep, it’s sleeping on one cluster of leaves, with its head pillowed on another across the gap, from a different branch even. Look carefully into the shadows beneath, right by the front toes you can see easily, and you’ll find the toes on the other foot almost lost in shadow.
Now, you know what’s amusing? While I was getting these frames, the flash unit slipped on the flexible arm that holds it, swinging down and hitting the top of the branch that the anole was sleeping on, causing that to swing back and forth gently, away from the other where the head is resting. You’d think that a) the anole’s head would suddenly drop downward, and b) that it would awaken and bolt for cover, but neither happened. Its head stayed put in midair before coming back to rest against the leaf as the oscillating branch died down, and the anole simply opened its eye for a moment, puzzled, but didn’t otherwise move. Way more luck than I deserved.
But oh no, while we’re here we’re going in close on that head, because this is the best part of these little guys.
The entire head of this anole is 12mm or less, so figure out for yourself how tiny those scales get, especially around the eyes. And the color palette is great! I’m glad that these guys got established in the yard after we moved here – not from any efforts of mine, save for ensuring that there was a variety of plants for them, but they appeared all on their own. And I’m taking advantage of that…