This big pile of rocks has been in one spot since we moved in.
It ended up covered over with tall grass and wild tamarind and it was evidently a great place for lizards to hang their hats. We took away some of their security measures when we cleared the brush.
Sorry lizard dude. Daisy and Scratchy (the dogs) were not the only ones to notice this interesting development. Every morning since we cleared the brush, we have four or five visitors in our yard, perched on the wall or the rock pile and surveying the land.
I think that these are cattle egrets. They are loving the new and improved access to insects and lizards in our yard.
Of course I got my ID from the Incomplete Guide to the Wildlife of Saint Martin, which also mentions that these birds are more successful at hunting when near a large animal. Do dogs count? 
My dogs would certainly like to hunt these birds - I am glad to say that so far they are having no luck at all.
5 comments:
They are cattle egrets, and the one with the orangish areas is in its breeding plumage. I am pretty sure that cattle egrets mostly use large herbivores to increase their hunting success, for obvious reasons. I have also seen them congregating at the edge of a brushfire and following where workers are clearing the vegetation on the roadside. The dog has caught a ground lizard, which is the one most impacted by the mongoose because it can't climb trees to escape.
Hi Mark: Thanks for the expanded info :)
I didn't realize the ground lizards could not climb - there are lots of them in my yard (and occasionally in my house) and I have seen one or two eating other lizards before. It is always interesting to watch them.
Wonderfull fotos, greeting from Belgium
Hi Jess!! :)
Hi retriever, thanks for commenting!
Hi gibber B-) <<<<testing new emoticons
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