Repairing the porch. Lots of noise and commotion. It brought out something I’ve not seen before. A Broad-headed Skink (Plestiodon laticeps). A male during breeding season, with orange-red head that is puffed up which gives it the name “broad-headed.” I’ve seen lots of these skinks before, smaller ones, younger ones. Cute little ones just a couple inches long.
As a youngster, they have a distinctive bright blue tail. That blue fades as the skink matures. They also lose those stripes, at least the male does. The female’s stripes become more subtle.
But to see this big guy, this mature male, thirteen inches long, scampering around with such a bright color and no stripes. Quite a wonderful surprise.