Subject: [Tweeters] Off-topic Lizards
Date: Oct 9 08:26:32 2005
From: hrudkaj mary - hrudkajm at hotmail.com


Living in north Mason County I too have found Western Fence Lizards in my
yard as well as Northern Alligator lizards. I'm on a ridge above the Tahuya
River, about 0.4 miles, and about two miles up-river from the Hood Canal
shoreline. I've seen the fence lizard as early as April. A field guide
says they can sometimes be found mid-winter on mild days and that they mate
in early spring which may account for their being out and about so early in
the year. The one I photographed was a male just beginning to regrow its
tail.

The area I live in is somewhat open, residential clearing in the
subdivision, as well as some cutting for commercial timber. This area has
an abundance of mountain quail as well as lizards. So when you find an area
conducive for fence lizards keep you eyes open for quail as well.

On a more birdy note: Two turkey vultures lazily sailed south at high noon a
couple days ago, their wings in the typical dihedral position. Amazingly at
sunset, the clouds toward the last bits of colorful sky looked like the
vultures I had seen earlier in the day. But some of the biggest vultures
imaginable, more teradactyl size.

Keep those binoculars handy....

Mary Hrudkaj
hrudkajm at hotmail.com
N. Mason County/Belfair