Mariton: Other Interesting Sightings

by Tim Burris, Preserve Manager

Five-lined Skink

We aren’t just birders on our Tuesday Bird Walks.  We find time to admire flowers, butterflies and other things.  Bill spotted this skink slinking around the rocks.  Fortunately I took a photo.  (Usually I just marvel at the sighting and never think about the camera.)  It took some time with the guides back in the office, but this is an older Five-lined Skink.  The Audubon Guide says that the lines fade, and they become a uniform color as this species ages.  It matches other photos I was able to find and the range maps.

Fringed Polygala by Carole Mebus.

We found the lovely Fringed Polygala (Polygala paucifolia) on our walk this past Tuesday.  As usual, Carole was willing to lay on the wet ground to get a good photo.