I've always seen the lizard-skewered-on-barbwire pictures in the bird books but never saw any real shrike crime scenes until last year I found a honey bee pierced by a yellow starthistle thorn (photo here) and thought maybe the workings of a pygmy shrike? CUTE lizard.
That photo of a blue-footed millipede wrapped around a barb-wire fence with its head speared on the spike - that is major scary commentary on the viscousness of nature. I keep coming back to look at it in amazement.
@Cindy: I TOTALLY remember that picture that you got 'cause it's so stunning. I'd never seen anything like that. Maybe that's what shrikes or other birds did before the age of barbed wire?
@Cindy re: centipede. I totally agree. If I ever read or hear someone talk about how kind or forgiving nature it, I am struck, and wonder (silently): "How much have you been paying attention?" Mercy is not in her vocabulary. You may luck out, you may not. Nature doesn't really care. I still love it. =) But it's probably unrequited. =)
Well I know your mystery animal is some type of Gecko, but which one I am not sure. Did you find it in SW United States?
ReplyDeleteWe found this guy in California, San Joaquin valley, generally speaking. Specifically, Contra Costa County. =)
ReplyDeleteI've always seen the lizard-skewered-on-barbwire pictures in the bird books but never saw any real shrike crime scenes until last year I found a honey bee pierced by a yellow starthistle thorn (photo here) and thought maybe the workings of a pygmy shrike? CUTE lizard.
ReplyDeleteThat photo of a blue-footed millipede wrapped around a barb-wire fence with its head speared on the spike - that is major scary commentary on the viscousness of nature. I keep coming back to look at it in amazement.
ReplyDelete@Cindy: I TOTALLY remember that picture that you got 'cause it's so stunning. I'd never seen anything like that. Maybe that's what shrikes or other birds did before the age of barbed wire?
ReplyDeleteWould our little mystery gecko be the Desert Banded Gecko?
ReplyDeleteOkay, so here's a hint: It's NOT native to the U.S. It's here, in places, but not native....
ReplyDelete@Cindy re: centipede. I totally agree. If I ever read or hear someone talk about how kind or forgiving nature it, I am struck, and wonder (silently): "How much have you been paying attention?" Mercy is not in her vocabulary. You may luck out, you may not. Nature doesn't really care. I still love it. =) But it's probably unrequited. =)
ReplyDeleteWhat that shrike did with that centipede is a work of art.
ReplyDeleteshrikes are crazy! cool shots..that centipede one is gnarly!
ReplyDelete