While I have seen Anoles eat insects bigger than their heads, a lot of what they consume is invisible to the human eye. Chewing is what gives it away.
Good for them eating no-see-ums on my patio!
They’ve got to do a lot of foraging to survive.
While the Tiny Tree Frog was sitting on a Curcumin leaf this also very small Carolina Anole was on patrol.
He was more adventurous than the frog, and was actively seeking food.
He covered a lot of territory, up and down and spent some time just hanging out.
I was busy watching for dragonflies when a bigger movement in a stand of cattails caught my eye.
He flashed his dewlap, looking for a mate or protecting his terrratory.
When Ted called out “get your camera, there’s a snake on the patio” I grabbed my gear that had the Tamron 180mm lens attached and went as far as the screened in porch. I’m sure I’ve mentioned I’m not really a snake fan. But it was back yard nature so I wanted to see.
By this time the snake had left the patio and zipped up a Crepe Myrtle. I waited for Ted to spot it and we were pretty sure it was a harmless Ribbon Snake, then I ventured out the porch door.
He was wrapped back on himself, lifted his head for a look around then stayed still for several minutes.
With the fixed 180mm lens I couldn’t get far enough back with a clear view to take him all in (ugg). A little breeze was moving a branch from a neighboring tree in and out of the frame.
A tighter crop after he had moved his head just a tad:
Standing on the porch with the door open I got a little different view, but still didn’t get his full tail.
About 20 minutes later we watched him slowly exit the tree and head back into the woods. Where I would like him to stay!
With my interest in dragonflies and following Mike Powell’s blog (MichaelQPowell.com/)Â Ted was sure I needed the Tamron 180mm macro lens.
Who was I to argue? He found a used one for sale and it arrived today.
One of my first subjects was a very young Anole on our patio.
This is my first non-image stabilized lens and it will require some practice.
At first I thought this was some kind of debris, then realized it was moving towards me, and at a pretty good clip.
I expected he would be heading for the sand dunes behind me: tortoises don’t swim.
Instead he made a turn and continued on at the water’s edge.
Talbot Islands State Parks, Florida
April 27, 2021
The gopher tortoise is one of five North American tortoise species and is the only tortoise naturally found east of the Mississippi River. Its range includes the southeastern Coastal Plain from southeastern Louisiana east to southern South Carolina, and south to Florida. ~ Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Alligators get around
Aren’t too particular about where they stop
Dry land is sometimes the best spot
These images were taken in the same tidal inlet as my post All Stacked Up, Alligator Mother and Young.
It is probably the same family as mother Alligators are very territorial.
The tide was in and the juvenile Alligators were having some swim practice.
I didn’t see mamma, but you can be sure she wasn’t far off as the youngsters explored.
This last fellow was working on his “just floating” pose.
I saw this little ( 2 or 3 inch / 5-8 cm) Skink land, and am not sure if he jumped or fell. Whichever it was I think the result stunned him. He stayed in this awkward position for 15 or 20 seconds before leaping off into the interior of the plant.
Young Carolina Anoles have been a steady source of entertainment on our patio and porch this summer as they figure out how to get around and find lunch.
Potted plants seem like a jungle around these little fellows, which are not as big around as a pencil when they first hatch.
The adults are either hiding from the heat or have become lunch for a passing bird.
