Birds without Feathers

That's basically what a reptile is, right? OK, OK - I realize there are a lot more differences between reptiles and birds than just feathers. There are wings, and then that whole endotherm/ectotherm thing ("warm blooded" and "cold blooded") But really, there are a lot of similarities, too, and so when I found the following reptiles at Wildacres last month, I was drawn to them, as if to a flightless bird.

This Five-lined Skink was quite the character. He hung around the studio doorway regularly, and posed for many photos. His blue tail means he is a juvenile. As an adult, he will lose that color. (I don't really know his gender.)


There was also a Broad-headed Skink, who did not approve of my attempts to photograph him. Every time I took aim, he skittered underneath a clump of poison ivy. Too bad, dude - you missed your fifteen minutes of fame.

While I was on skink patrol, quietly waiting to bag the broad-headed, this fine fellow appeared. He seemed to be heading toward my skinks when he saw me.


I pointed the camera lens at a spot on the other side of the post, waiting to snatch another picture as he continued along the deck edge, but he didn't appear. Seems he changed his mind about skink for lunch, and instead turned and shimmied down the deck supports to the forest floor, in search of a less-crowded diner.