I saw a likely looking road cutting through some prime habitat in Aransas county and decided to take the plunge. Sunny, partly cloudy, in the 80's at 5:45 p.m. and what to my wondering eyes should appear...hah! I knew it but didn't expect this guy, a meahl worm out in the swamp between the oaks and cacti. Looks as if he was heading downhill for a drink before a night out on the town. A few yards later I saw some flippable a.c. so I get out and see motion, a lizard, one I've never noticed here before. Looks like a speckled earless to me but the range map says no, I have Texas, southern spot tail, or keeled earless lizards to choose from. The speckled or male keeled look the closest to me, I don't know lizards too well but the tail wasn't longer than head and body, Chrish, help me out. The yellow doesn't show well in the pics but it had a lot on the forward part of the body, and I couldn't catch it to see tail spots. It wasn't holding its' tail high or waving it so I am clueless, but it gets my herp of the day! Last wasn't a herp but a cool looking hawk hunting over a pond on the side of the road. Don't remember seeing one of these recently either and, again, Chrish, if you please! Small hawk with a long tail in flight. Also seen was a tarantula guarding her egg sac and too many to count med gecks, and a couple of great plains narrowmouth toads under a/c.
Todd Hughes
