Sagebrush Lizard

It finally warmed up enough to start seeing reptiles in the valley. Several lizards scurried out of sight before Scott found this first one. He blends right with the background. He ran right into my gloved hand (saltbush is very spiny), which allowed for some closer viewing.

This individual is not as strikingly patterned as the next lizard. At first I thought it was a Western Fence Lizard, but it seems to have faint longitudinal stripes. These two publications (Poster & Reptile and Amphibian Guide) from the Great Basin National Park are pretty high quality.

I spotted this guy before he darted off. He was enjoying the sun.

Giving me the eye

View out across the valley to the Snake Range. I have probably taken the same picture every day. It is hard to capture the distance and scale of the valleys and ranges.

US 50, the loneliest road in the US, stretches out into the distance. A very empty place. The Schell Creek Range is off in the distance.