I spotted this juvenile five-lined skink during an August 28 nature walk in Arkansas. Its bright blue tail immediately caught my attention as it rested on a fallen log.
I had only a short time to photograph it before it disappeared into a crevice.
Spotting a Juvenile Five-lined Skink
I was walking through the Ouachita Mountains and checking a pile of old logs. Prairie lizards often rested on the bark, so I was watching for them.
This time, a streak of bright blue stood out against the weathered wood. A juvenile five-lined skink had taken the place of the prairie lizards I expected to find.
These small lizards are common in my part of the Ouachita Mountains. However, I rarely get such a close opportunity to photograph one.
The skink’s blue tail contrasted sharply with the brown bark. Nearby foliage added more natural context without distracting from the small reptile.
I also photographed a similar young skink for my post about a Sunning Juvenile Five-lined Skink.
Photographing the Blue-tailed Skink
I needed to work quickly because the skink could vanish into the log at any moment. I photographed it handheld with my Fujifilm X-T3 and Canon 100–400mm lens.
I used the lens at 400mm to fill more of the frame without moving closer. My shutter speed was 1/1000 second, which helped freeze any sudden movement.
The aperture was f/5.6, and I raised the ISO to 1600. Those settings gave me the shutter speed needed for a sharp handheld photograph.
I kept the processing light afterward. I wanted to preserve the natural colors of the skink, log, and surrounding vegetation.
A Quick Ouachita Mountains Encounter
The juvenile five-lined skink soon slipped into a crevice and disappeared. I was glad I had reacted quickly enough to capture the photograph.
Encounters like this are one reason I watch every log, branch, and patch of vegetation while walking. A small flash of color can reveal wildlife I might otherwise miss.