wildlife

[ashley]

Thanks Ian; unfortunately they're more often seen dead than alive.
Small beer compared to the many great things you show us from your local patch.  That Scotch Argus for example, or Saussurea alpina which also clings on in Irish mountains but I've yet to find it.

[ian mcdonald]

Ashley, the Saussurea usually prefers damp ground, often in the shadow of boulders or in the open where there is running water. It seems to be loosing ground as far as numbers of plants go. Where I,ve seen it, it favours granite areas.

[fermi de Sousa]

I see what you've done there, Ashley.
First facing it one way and then the other 
cheers
fermi

[Gail]

I saw a few at The Stone Pit at Holt on Saturday but sadly they don't visit me...

Having said that the silver-washed don't visit me, look what I found in my garden!

[Yann]

in the wetlands odonates are numerous this year, i guess the wet and cold climate in northern area of the country extended the reproduction period.

[Yann]

I had the chance to spend 5 weeks in the Alps from Mercantour, passing by Ecrins, Valgaudemar, Devoluy and terminating in Hautes Alpes.
I've tons of photos i'll sort during the long winter's nights and post later in the forum.

Here're a few ones from the Devoluy where i like to return and return each summer. Surrounded by the the pic de Bure the small village of Rabou.

From last week and still many plants to watch despite warm weather.

[Yann]

Climbing was the master word of these holidays, 23 mountains pass, 21053m D+, 18417m D- cumulated, one pair of shoes destroyed in the Combe de Mai (Bure) 

[ian mcdonald]

Great views Yann. Some of the plants look familiar over here.

[Tristan_He]

Sigh. Absolutely beautiful Yann!

Is that Allium narcissiflorum?

[Yann]

yes, i let you imagine the scent with the wind.

[cohan]

Ashley- the mossy gall is interesting! Shrews are fascinating animals- they are around here, but not often seen.

Yann, lovely places!

[Gail]

Went to Therfield Heath, next to Royston golf course, today to see the Adonis blue, which were suitably obliging despite the somewhat showery weather;




Some of the butterflies we saw had red ?mites on them. Does anyone know what they are/how harmful they are to the butterflies?

[ian mcdonald]

Gail, a search on the web suggests the mites are Trombidium breei and are said to be harmless to the butterfly.

[Gail]

Thanks Ian and that is a relief - they are quite big in comparison to the butterfly...

[ashley]

Gosh those Adonis blues are rather stunning Gail

Interesting & rather enormous mites.  It's surprising if they don't exact some toll on their hosts, directly by feeding on the butterfly's body fluid but also as possible vectors of viral infections.  Of course parasite/host relationships tend to be optimized by evolution for long-term survival of both.