The American Five-lined Skink (AKA blue-tailed skink) is one of the most common lizards in the eastern U.S., but sightings in my neighborhood are pretty rare, so I was surprised to open my front door today and see this guy (gal?) standing outside my door.  I went back in and grabbed my camera and when I returned, I found this skink to be pretty camera shy as he ran up a tree in my front lawn. Eventually he seemed to get used to me and came back down the tree as I snapped photo after photo.  In fact he soon ignored me completely and went about his business of catching a meal, which he did and even carried back to my front door.

Now, below, doesn’t he look like he can’t wait to dig in to his meal?…which he did, right on my ‘Welcome’ mat!