Another First Today - Black Billed Magpie

[TheNevadanStig]

Have seen a few of these around but never got a decent shot at one. Pretty striking bird. Not as cool as the owls, but another one to knock off the checklist!

119 by TheNevadanStig, on Flickr


And a bonus shot of a lizard of some sort:
086 by TheNevadanStig, on Flickr

 

[Raj_55555]

That lizard looks prehistoric. I'd love to know the species, nicely taken.

 

[TheNevadanStig]

That lizard looks prehistoric. I'd love to know the species, nicely taken.

I honestly have no idea. They are pretty small, black, and had short wide tails. That's all about I could tell ya.

 

[wyogirl]

I have been chasing magpies with no luck for a year now! Great shot.

 

[BillM]

Nice shots Stig, you have an AMAZING variety of wildlife to offer up :thumbup:

 

[baturn]

Great shots! Magpies seem to know when you are carrying a camera. The only time they will let me get close is if the background or foreground suck or the light is impossible.

 

[TheNevadanStig]

That lizard looks prehistoric. I'd love to know the species, nicely taken.

I did some more research Raj, and I believe it's a western fence lizard (usually called a blue-belly). I have only seen them in brown before, but apparently they can be black as well.

 

[robbins.photo]

Just a wild guess but it looks like it might be a Sceloporus grammicus.

 

[nzmacro]

What a tail and gorgeous blue, amazing and nothing like our blackbirds at all. Those are stunning Jason. Nice shot on the lizard as well, great textures and details again in that. Nicely seen and taken.

All the best and and love what you have up there, great to see thanks.

Danny.

 

[danielklaer]

Great work on both subjects Jason.

 

[Raj_55555]

Just a wild guess but it looks like it might be a Sceloporus grammicus.

Robbins looks spot on, it looks like a female version of that! But they are of the same genus so can't say for sure. An amazingly beautiful creature nevertheless!