Long-nosed Leopard Lizard

[wfeller]

Gambelia wislizenii
http://aeve.com/1tpf/1-post-lvm/600-leopard-lizard-c0499.jpg

I'm starting to favor these lizards over the Chuckwalla. They exhibit "freeze behavior", when threatened, meaning they just stop and don't move hoping you haven't seen them. I spent about three minutes shooting this one from my truck window. I was sure that if I opened the door to try to get some better shots, it'd bolt.

http://digital-desert.com/wildlife/long-nosed-leopard-lizard.html

[Harryb]

Good capture :thumb I've discovered that a car makes an excellent "blind". For some reason subjects don't feel threatened when you are in a car and let you get clkoser than you can on foot.

[wfeller]

Good capture :thumb I've discovered that a car makes an excellent "blind". For some reason subjects don't feel threatened when you are in a car and let you get clkoser than you can on foot.

Thank you. I agree. I think that it's because a vehicle doesn't have an animal form and doesn't represent a predator. I had trouble for years getting shots of jackrabbits. Even if I were quite as a fishfart, I couldn't get within 20 feet before they bolted. About a year ago I was cruising along a dirt road in Arizona one morning and creeped right by about half a dozen munching away on some tasty whatever-it-is they eat. I shut off the truck and photographed them until I got bored :) I've learned not to drive more than 10mph, but when you're 30 miles out and want a real cup of coffee, that rule of thumb goes right out the window.

Another trick I've learned (at least for lizards) is to check the tops of rocks on brisk, yet sunny mornings in the spring. Their metabolism makes them more tolerant.

[EarthDog]

Cool. I saw one of these outside my office building last week. Big handsome lizards (relatively speaking). Of course, I didn't have my camera, at the time :rolleyes

[nrmdisk]

Cute little guy...nice and sharp, great detail.

[wfeller]

Cool. I saw one of these outside my office building last week. Big handsome lizards (relatively speaking). Of course, I didn't have my camera, at the time :rolleyes

Thank you. Not much around here anymore. Have to drive out aways.

[wfeller]

Cute little guy...nice and sharp, great detail.

Thanks. I always wonder how they taste. Not a chance there's a bacon flavor I suppose.

[EarthDog]

Thank you. Not much around here anymore. Have to drive out aways.

Hmm. You must be more "downtown" than I am. I'm up in North Scottsdale.

[wfeller]

Hmm. You must be more "downtown" than I am. I'm up in North Scottsdale.

I'm over in the Mojave between San Bernardino and Barstow.