wildlife

[Hoy]

. . . or this one. (Also last summer)

An Ammophila sabulosa feeding the offspring.
I watched the wasp flew away and came back dragging the larvae. In a few minutes  she had dug the hole. She went in first, then she came up grabbed the larvae and dragged it down. Then she sealed the hole. It was impossible to find if you didn't know exactly where it was.

[Roma]

Fascinating pictures, Trond.
It was only about 10 or 11C here yesterday but the sunshine brought out the insects on the ivy.  All sorts of flies and hoverflies, one Red Admiral butterfly and even a wasp.

[Anthony Darby]

I would rather have any of these! Boloria selene probably.
In lack of butterflies now I show this one from last summer.

Not Argynnis aglaja?

[Hoy]

Not Argynnis aglaja?

Anthony,
You are right of course. Argynnis aglaja it is!

[Anthony Darby]

I've been catching bulb flies with my spring-framed butterfly net. The green geckos go daft when they see them. Normally ambush predators, they become active hunters at the sight of a bulb fly. I've even had two fight over a fly!

[mark smyth]

30 million song birds are killed every year in and around the Med - Why!?

Emptying the skies Activists brush with the law and the mafia in their bid to rescue songbirds from ending up on European dinner tables.
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/witness/2014/11/emptying-skies-201411681814511798.html

[Hoy]

Seen a flying whale? Picture: Karl-Otto Jacobsen
Read the story here (Norwegian):
http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/utrolige-historier/sjekk-karl-ottos-49-hval-blinkskudd/a/23336516/

[Anthony Darby]

This red-billed gull (Chroicocephalus scopulinus) came to watch our 1st XI boys in an away match in a howling gale on Saturday. Looking for lunch, to be provided by the away team, which never appeared. The young thrush crashed into our lounge window and I found it on its back. That was two hours ago. Seems to be okay now.

[Natalia]

Last Saturday - black grouses early in the morning.

[Stan da Prato]

Some snaps from a seal counting trip last weekend to Inchkeith in the Firth of Forth.

[Stan da Prato]

now a series showing the different ages of pups on the beach from newborn to c. three weeks when they moult out of the white and go to sea  to fend for themselves

[Anthony Darby]

Can't see this having much effect, but it will be nice to have another species of butterfly to look for. Now they just need some swallowtails to tackle the fennel plants that pop up in unkempt grassy places. http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/about/news/media-releases/new-butterfly-introduced-to-tackle-problematic-weed#.VGwlbpr3t9M.facebook

[angie]

Have been stuck in the house for days, bad back again. Thought I would go out for a walk and caught this wee chap sound asleep.

Angie 

[Maggi Young]

Sorry to hear your back is troubling you again , Angela - weather is so grotty oyu' ve probably been as well keeping inside in the warm.

That field of yours is a lovely quiet spot for the roe deer to have a snooze.

[Uli Lessnow]

The flying whale and the seals are    brilliant.
I can only show a flying visitor in the front garden.The sparrowhawk was
sitting at the hedge and waited till I fetched my camera.
Uli