Finding one skink in the open is always a welcome sight. This skink duo made my May morning at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge even better.
Skink Duo at a Familiar Refuge Log
I photographed the pair on May 23, 2023, at 8:27 in the morning. They appeared at a familiar spot where I often look for skinks.
Both lizards had slender bodies and pale stripes running along their backs. Those markings made me think they were five-lined skinks.
Broad-headed skinks can look similar, especially when they are young. A photograph may not show every scale detail needed for a certain identification. I consider these two likely five-lined skinks rather than making a firm claim.
The weathered wood and nearby cover make this a productive place to watch them. Skinks can quickly slip into holes, cracks, and loose material when disturbed.
I had photographed another unusual visitor at this location earlier. That encounter became my post, Skink Covered In Wet Sawdust.
Photographing Two Skinks in Morning Light
Getting both skinks visible at the same time was the main challenge. These quick lizards rarely remain exposed for long.
I used my Canon EOS R5 with the Canon RF 100-500mm lens. The 400mm focal length gave me a close view of the pair.
A shutter speed of 1/800 second helped handle any sudden movement. The f/8 aperture also provided useful depth for two subjects.
Camera settings:
- Camera: Canon EOS R5
- Lens: Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
- Focal length: 400mm
- Aperture: f/8
- Shutter speed: 1/800 second
- ISO: 640, Auto
- Exposure compensation: +0.3
- Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma
- Date: May 23, 2023
- Time: 8:27 a.m.
Most skink encounters end almost as soon as they begin. This pair stayed visible long enough for me to photograph them together.
The encounter also rewarded my habit of checking familiar wildlife spots. A small log can produce a different story on every visit.