No Cause for Alarm

    A pair of wrens made a nest in the watering can in my greenhouse not long ago.  Four little ones hatched and are doing fine.  Here, one would think, the little birds would be relatively safe from any marauding cat or other predator.  Each time I enter the greenhouse, they hunker down quietly in the nest.  Mama and Papa Wren have been quite the busy little birds for the past week or so as they are feeding four hungry little birds.  The baby wrens are now fully feathered and are close to leaving the nest which undoubtedly is a nerve-wracking time for the parents.

    This afternoon late, I heard Mama Wren causing quite the ruckus behind the greenhouse.  I figured that Ms. Nycto, the young cat, might be the cause of the uproar since she stays out back.  The cats cannot enter the greenhouse so I decided that I needed to investigate the cause of Mama's angst.  As I neared the greenhouse, Ms. Nycto was no where in sight.  Hmmm?  Perhaps another snake was near.  Not long ago, I had to pull one from the mockingbird nest and, if any predator could enter the greenhouse, it would be a snake.  I eased open the door and peered among the plants to see if I spied a slithering snake.  Nope. No snake and Mama Wren suddenly had no interest in whatever had alarmed her earlier.

  Checking the greenhouse a bit further, I think I found the cause of her alarm.  A nice sized Five-lined Skink had moved into the area!  Under the Begonia, I found this beauty!  Perhaps Mama Wren thought the lizard was a snake at first sight and was a bit unnerved.  I don't think this guy would have been any cause for alarm as he was hunting for bugs not birds.  The lizard can stay in the green house as far as I am concerned.  He really is quite the stunning ornament!