Collard Lizard

First a big Thank You to the new countries visiting our Blog:  Estonia, Malta, Botswana, Ghana, Moldova, Uruguay, and Aruba. 

Returning to the series on my alphabetical list of "5" Star Photos we come to the Collard Lizard. Initially, this was a "4" Star Photo. It became a "5" Star Photo over a period of time. Let me explain. Christine and I were hiking in Sabino Canyon, Arizona (Rattlesnake Trail) when we first moved to Tucson in 2002. We came across this Collard Lizard who was sunbathing on a warm rock. He let me take several photos -- never moving. Finally, we walked around him and continued our journey. Admittedly, he is strikingly beautiful, but I assumed we would see them wherever we hiked. I also assumed this was his regular coloration. Wrong in both cases. This is not the most common lizard in Southern Arizona. And, this is a "breeding" coloration not his normal coloration. Truth be told, I have not seen another Collard Lizard this "colorful" since. So, an upgrade to "5" seem in order.

Collard Lizard, Sabino Canyon, Arizona

Lizards - Part II

Lizards react -- or don't react -- to humans in a variety of ways. Some, like the Zebra Tailed Lizard, run away so quickly it's very difficult to photograph them. Others, like the Desert Grassland Whiptail, will run ahead of you five to ten feet then stop. If you continue, they'll run another 5-10 feet. They will continue to run straight ahead of you, not thinking it might be easier for them to "get away" by running into the brush along the side of the trail. The Desert Spiny Lizard will stand still and do "push ups." It looks like they are trying to "flex" their muscles to scare you away. I suspect it has more to do with taking in more air to pump themselves up and appear larger. Then, of course, there is the Gila Monster that will walk -- ever so slowly away from you. And, there is the Collard Lizard like the one in the first photo that seemed perfectly content to sunbathe on a rock not moving an inch.

Collard Lizard (Sabino Canyon, Arizona)

Crevice Spiny Lizard (Wupaki National Monument, Arizona)

Desert Grassland Whiptail (The Azure Gate)

Desert Spiny Lizard (The Azure Gate)

Desert Spiny Lizard (Sweetwater Wetlands)

Still Miller Canyon

Part of my reason for hiking up Miller Canyon was to find the Spotted Owls that I have seen before in the canyon. No luck this time, though. Another reason was that if I got up high enough I might find a Black Bear. And, although I did get high enough, no luck with that either. I have estimated my North American "bear" encounters at between 350 and 400, with nearly 100 decent photos of different Black Bears, and 20 different Grizzly Bears. (you can search my blog for some of those photos). But, it has been a year and a half since I have seen a bear in the wild. I miss that. Arizona does not have a high population of bears, but there are some in all of our southern mountain ranges.  They are just hard to find. I have had more luck in northern Arizona (the mother and two cubs I photographed a year and a half ago). Arizona does have a high population of lizards -- and jackrabbits. Those I did see on this latest excursion. So that is what I have today. First, a Collard Lizard, and then a Black Tail Jackrabbit:

Collard Lizard

Black Tail Jackrabbit

It's Time for Lizards

With the hot weather comes the lizards. The first is the Collard Lizard taken in Sabino Canyon. This is the least common of the three shown. He turns this wonderful blue and yellow color during his breeding season. The second is the Desert Spiny Lizard which we seem to have a lot of around here. We have one that spends most of his day in our carport. He acts as if he owns the place as he stares us down when we want to pass by. He also does "pushups" to show us how tough he is. Then a little smaller is the Greater Earless Lizard also taken here on the property. We had a baby one year that used to like to sit on the arm of an outdoor rocker we had on the porch.

Sabino Canyon Collard Lizard

The list of animals we have seen in Sabino Canyon includes: skunk, deer, bobcat, coyote, javelina, desert grey fox, squirrels, rabbits, gila monster, rattlesnake, and probably seven or eight different kinds of lizards. None more beautiful than this Collard Lizard. Christine and I were hiking rattlesnake trail, when near the top of the rocky foothill was this 14 inch liazrd (in the photo). Christine describes him as a "jewel box." I can't think of a better description. He was sunbathing and enjoying it too much to move. He let me take several photographs, after which we both told him how pretty he was and thanked him for allowing us to view. I love seeing and photographing moose -- no doubt about it. But, this was a treat. Collard lizards aren't abundant like many of the smaller varieties. And, when seen they are not usually in their breeding color like this one.