My twig was in fact a tree lizard of the Calotes family, one of about 35 Calotes species found in South Asia. So, I had seen a tree lizard, not earth shattering by any means, except this lizard is seldom seen and almost never found in inhabited areas. I have watched my friend for many months; she always suns herself in the same spot on the same tree at about the same time of day. She disappears for a few days at a time but always returns. How do I know it’s the same lizard? She is missing her left rear foot as you can see in. She has recently shed her skin, similar to some snakes, and is a slightly lighter color now. She can disappear in the blink of an eye and with the natural camouflage is almost impossible to spot. I never would have seen her but for her tail sticking out from the trunk of the tree.

A note of interest here, like many creatures that are susceptible to predators of one sort or another, my friend watches my eyes. I can get no closer than about 6 feet normally, however, with a camera in front of my eyes I can get to within a couple of feet. This is fairly common and a neat point to remember when you are trying to photograph wild life. This doesn’t always work but it has enough times for me to mention it, move slow with the camera up in front of your eyes and you’ll see a difference.

Another time I noted a small section of a banana leaf was curled in a peculiar way. Sort of like you would roll a newspaper into a funnel or a trumpet. I cut the leaf out and found the caterpillar of the Hesperiidea (Skipper) family. This caterpillar has the ability to cut a leaf in such a way as to let it roll into itself to provide the caterpillar with protection and food at the same time. It does this several times during its growth cycle and finally builds a closed one for its pupa stage.

One day cutting the grass I noted a weed with a broad flat leaf that had some circles cut in it. Turns out that a moth larvae/caterpillar was doing the work. Inside a conical type shell was a small creature that was having his dinner on the leaf. I’m not sure which family this one belongs to but I believe it’s a moth versus a butterfly.

I have two small boroughs near some ornamental rocks in one corner of the yard. I had first thought they might be home to snakes but that didn’t make much sense as there were always toads around when it rains and snakes are the greatest form of population control for frogs and toads. I basically forgot about them until one evening I was watering the grass and talking with a neighbor. Being distracted I let the water run quite a while in one area of the lawn and out of the ground came a toad. A boroughing toad????? Yep another creature that lives in my garden.

I don’t have any butterflies that lay eggs or build pupa but several come to eat specific plants and to sleep in specific plants on occasion. It turns out that each specie of butterfly has a specific plant for breeding, eating, sleeping etc. A plant for egg laying must provide the food source for the caterpillar when he emerges from the egg. Another plant will provide the food for the adult butterfly and yet another will probably provide the sleeping spot for the butterfly.

Another evening as I was watering I disturbed a small yellow (Lemon Migrant) butterfly from a sleeping position. It returned time and again to the same leaf to rest. This occurred over a period of some twenty minutes. It turns out that behind the leaf it had chosen was a dead leaf identical in color to the butterfly. A predator would be confused by the two “leaves” and would have gone hunting for easier prey.

These are some of the residents of my backyard. Look around and you will find some of your own I’m sure. Once you get to know your yard/garden the occupants will show themselves. I believe, if you’re an ex-pat, you will find a considerable amount of ‘new’ or even exotic critters within your area.  It isn’t always necessary to travel to that distant National Park or reserve to view some of the local wildlife. 

Be observant of changes and when you hear yourself wondering “what’s different with that today?” check it out.