Long-nosed Leopard Lizard

wfellerwfeller Registered Users Posts: 2,625 Major grins
edited October 22, 2008 in Wildlife
Gambelia wislizenii
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
Anybody can do it.

Comments

  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited October 21, 2008
    Good capture thumb.gif 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.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • wfellerwfeller Registered Users Posts: 2,625 Major grins
    edited October 21, 2008
    Harryb wrote:
    Good capture thumb.gif 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.
    Anybody can do it.
  • EarthDogEarthDog Registered Users Posts: 123 Major grins
    edited October 21, 2008
    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 rolleyes1.gif
    Once upon a time, they all lived happily ever after.
  • nrmdisknrmdisk Registered Users Posts: 182 Major grins
    edited October 21, 2008
    Cute little guy...nice and sharp, great detail.
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  • wfellerwfeller Registered Users Posts: 2,625 Major grins
    edited October 22, 2008
    EarthDog wrote:
    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 rolleyes1.gif

    Thank you. Not much around here anymore. Have to drive out aways.
    Anybody can do it.
  • wfellerwfeller Registered Users Posts: 2,625 Major grins
    edited October 22, 2008
    nrmdisk wrote:
    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.
    Anybody can do it.
  • EarthDogEarthDog Registered Users Posts: 123 Major grins
    edited October 22, 2008
    wfeller wrote:
    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.
    Once upon a time, they all lived happily ever after.
  • wfellerwfeller Registered Users Posts: 2,625 Major grins
    edited October 22, 2008
    EarthDog wrote:
    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.
    Anybody can do it.
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