The old rock water feature in our backyard will one day be restored and incorporated into the lanai, but until then it serves as a favourite hangout for many fascinating critters.
Anatole the Brown Anole lizard loves baking in the sun. I crept outside to do a photo shoot with him, and at first he didn’t seem notice me.
After the first few photos, I think the beep of my camera alerted him to the presence of a ‘rival’ for his territory. He started furiously bobbing his head up and down and also did a few push-ups, as if to say,”Hey you!Β This is my spot, and I’m busy working on my tan. Just back off now.”
When that little display of bad temper didn’t work, he flashed his psychedelic-orange dewlap at me. “How’s this for intimidating? I hope you’re suitably impressed. Now just get lost!” Okay, I’d got my photos, so I left him in peace to continue his siesta in the Florida sunshine.
If you have any ‘Mundane Monday’ photos, pop over to Jithin at ‘Photrablogger’ and join in the fun.Β I’m also linking to Jude’s Garden Photography Challenge which is looking for close-ups and macros this month.
Today I’m taking some time off from sawdust sweeping to go gallivanting with a couple of girlfriends. We’ll have lunch and do a bit of shopping. Hope you’re all in for a great week.
I love this little guy! He’s beautiful.
Me too. His little face is so adorable. π
Oh my! What a visitor.
Thanks, Jacqueline. π
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That is a lovely colorful visitor. The shallow depth of field in the pictures makes it stands out. Lovely captures.
Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed seeing this. π
My pleasure π
That last photo is awesome, what a cool, colorful critter! π
Yes, he was really showing off. π
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Woah! I’ve never seen a lizard swallow a strawberry whole before!
Hehehe……so that’s what it was. π
These are fabulous photos!
Thanks, Amy. Glad you liked them. π
Is that where it can store food? π It does look like it stored a watermelon on it. Ahihihih π
Haha. It’s a bit small for a watermelon, but I do see a resemblance. π
What a little poser and I’m sure he thought he had scared you with that display.
Haha Yes, I was petrified. π
What great photos – especially the one with the fiery dewlap. I was suitably terrified by Anatole’s display and will scurry away as soon as I have finished my comment. π
Hahaha Thanks, Elaine. π
Very impressive, Great you could capture that so well. Amazing!
Thanks, Ute. Glad you enjoyed. π
Oh, you really got him riled up! LOL It’s a good thing you went shopping! Hope you had a wonderful time with your friends and found lots of great prices.
Thanks, Patti. Yes we did have a great time shopping even though there were no bargains to be had. π
Oh I just LOVE it when they show their colors! Ours are bright green and their colorful neck is bright pink. How sweet that he so connected with you Sylvia. Maybe he was really flirting!!
Hahaha That certainly hadn’t occurred to me, Tina. π We also get the bright green ones. https://anotherday2paradise.wordpress.com/2016/04/14/garden-photography-challenge-the-aliens-have-landed/
Oh, Sylvia you are such a tease! That poor little lizard never stood a chance against you and your camera. Well done for provoking such a display. I hope you learned your lesson and scurried away π
Hahaha Well, I didn’t learn my lesson because today I had another one begging to also be photographed. π
They have obviously passed it on that if they come to your garden they will become famous!
Wonderful Anatole… Quite “Hipster”.
Thanks so much, Brian. π
De rien.
π
Nice picture and nice story around this. I like it but are you sure that he did that to scare you? He might see a nice lady trying to take picture of him and wanted to show off that he also likes you π
Yes, you could be right about that, YC. Males are like that aren’t they? π
π
I love lizards and, sadly, I haven’t seen a one this year in the desert…a topic I address tomorrow in my poem for dVerse.
Thanks, Victoria. I’ll look out for your poem. π
I really like that you get to know your critters who are your outdoor neighbors, Sylvia. I adored the new word for the day: “dewlap.” I think that is a really cool word but you were so patient to capture such a handsome “devil!”
Yes it’s a lovely word. I love it too. π I can stand for ages waiting for the right moment to click the shutter. xx
Great shot fainting creature:)
Thanks so much. π
Spectacular dewlap! Anything but mundane.
Thanks Anabel. I’ll tell him you said so. π
I quite agree. Mundane he is NOT.
Never seen before such a special colored dewlap.
Me too, Marylou. It was quite a shock to see this. π
What a show-off!
Exactly so. π
I like the idea that as you walked away he was cockily thinking “The ol’ dewlap, works every time…”
Hehehe Yes, typical male. π
I wish you a nice new week.
Thanks, Marco. You too. π
I agree with Tilly, Sylvia, most definitely not a mundane set of photos!
Thanks so much, Tom. Glad you enjoyed. π
You give new meaning to the word mundane – spectacular!!! As always…
Thanks, Rebecca. I really love the wildlife here. π xx
What a transformation, bet he’s quite the guy on a night out!
Hahaha. Yes, the life and soul with his party tricks. π
Adorable little guy, Sylvia π
Thanks Tahira. π
wow! great shots Sylvia! he sure has a temper π
Haha. Yes, I wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of him. π
Mooi foto’s soos gewoonlik
Thanks, Tina. Always something to photograph here. π
Lovely photographs. What’s that orange piece in the third photo?
Thanks, Indira, It’s called a ‘dewlap’ and is a thin section of skin beneath his chin which he can control using his thyroid apparatus. π
Thanks dear.
Fascinating little critter… luv the photos
Thanks bulldog. It’s so lovely to see your friendly face again. π
Your area is an endless source of splendid models for your photo-catwalk , I see!
Didn’t know that orange under-chin was called dewlap!
Thanks for this beautiful share, Sylvia
Thanks so much for your lovely comment, Anna. It makes me very happy to know that you enjoy my photos. π
As someone who lives in what is a dull country for wildlife, this was anything but mundane!
Haha Thanks, Tilly. All I’ve seen when I visit my mom-in-law are a few rabbits and maybe a fox if I’m lucky. Definitely no exotica. π
Superb shots. Never seen a lizard like this before.
Seems like you have a whole host of varied fauna in the new place.
Thanks so much, Ark. It’s a paradise for unusual fauna, and they do sometimes seem to play to the camera. π
What a tough guy!
Oh yeah! All of a sudden, “No more Mr. Nice Guy.” π
that orange dewlap is amazing, great shots…
Thanks, Vicky. Glad you enjoyed seeing him. π
What a cute fellow, excellent captured… π
Thanks, Drake. π
che rabbia Sylvia, le lucertole che abitano il mio giardino roccioso sono Γ¨ vero, molto piΓΉ lucenti e verdi, ma non hanno quel magnifico sottogola arancione!
spero che la tua passeggiata con le amiche sia stata molto piacevole, e così ti auguro per il resto della settimana xx
Great shots of this little fellow!! Have a great time.
Thanks, Mary. We did have lots of fun, and I did some shopping. π
Hmm I have something like that under my chin but thank goodness it’s not orange!!
ha ha ha molto divertente!
Ha! I wonder if you can also control it to draw it back in when you want to. π
Wow look at him being a showoff in the last photo. Nothing mundane about that! Have a lovely time with your friends. π
Thanks, Sue. We did have fun together. Yes, Anatole is a bit of an exhibitionist isn’t he? π
oh wow nature and it’s way to signal their emotions huh! quite the little critter π
Yes he is, Andy. We all have our tantrums. π
Indeed! maybe I should have a traffic paddle you show my tantrum π
π
I never knew that was called a “dewlap,” Sylvia. I’ve always called it the “hangy thing.” π Great shots!
Thanks, Jill. That’s funny. You can learn something new every day on my blog. π
beautiful pictures. See These beautiful animals much too seldom at my place.
Thanks so much, Anandrahasya. π
love to watch these fellows…lol…wow he certainly puffed up, his way of saying enough with the photos. π
Haha Exactly so, Heather. He really gave me my marching orders. π
for such little guys they certainly defend themselves well! π
Ooh, Anatole means business! Hope you have a great time away from sawdust…….
Yes, he’s obviously a guy not to be messed with. π― I had a lot of fun with my friends.
I sure enjoyed your anole photos, Sylvia — especially when he displayed his stunning dewlap. Have a great day with your friends~~
Thanks so much, Jet. We did have fun. π