We do not have many lizards where I live, so it is always fun to spot one. The lizard that I see most often is the appropriately named Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus). The adults are cool-looking, but they are no match in appearance for the juveniles that sport a brilliantly blue tail.
I spotted this handsome little skink last week while exploring Huntley Meadows Park. The skink was spread out wide on the trunk of a tree in an apparent attempt to warm up in the sunlight. I snapped off a few quick shots with my long telephoto zoom lens before I stealthily moved forward to improve my shooting position. However, as is usually the case, the skink was skittish and disappeared from sight as soon as it detected my presence.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
So beautiful and healthy looking, you even caught its blue eye!
Thanks, Eliza. I am honestly a little perplexed by the bluish color in the eye. I don’t think its eyes are blue–perhaps it is a reflection of the sky, but I am not sure.
Nice Mike! Like the blue tail!
Incredible image, So colorful!!!
Shiny and beautiful colored.
Beautiful colouring!
Handsome indeed, Mike. Such beautiful, almost electric, color.
I’m not crazy about lizards, but that one has great colors.
Thanks, Lulu, for the honesty of your response. I know that a pretty good number of people don’t really like snakes, spiders, and lizards, but I appreciate the fact that you can see some beauty in them nonetheless.
Such an amazing blue. I think that the blue in the eye might have been caused by a nictitating membrane (or “third eyelid”) that helps to protect the eyes of various species, including many lizards.
Thanks, Gary, for the explanation of the blue in the eye. The only times I recall seeing a nictitating membrane have been with birds.