Wildlife March 2013

[Anthony Darby]

After lunch we went to look at the pitfall traps set at the back of the far end of beach for shore skinks. These were first spotted two years ago when all the rats etc. had been eradicated. The population has increased rapidly. The youngster was newly born. We found several of the huge seashore earwigs (Anisolabis littorea), which are about twice as big as the biggest earwigs I've ever seen in Scotland!

[mark smyth]

There's a Walrus on A Scottish beach
http://northronbirdobs.blogspot.co.uk/

[Maggi Young]

 

There's a Walrus on A Scottish beach
http://northronbirdobs.blogspot.co.uk/

Good grief, Mark, can't a person nip down to the beach for a quiet swim without arousing all this fuss? 

[Roma]

First saw this chap (if it's the same one) around the end of 2009.  He spent a lot of time in the ponies' field for the next few months and had at least one lady friend.  Only saw him occasionally for the last two years but he has been her more often in the last few weeks.  I caught him going to bed tonight.  The light was poor and I was using the zoom on a small hand held camera so the quality is not good.  I hope some day he will stand still long enough in the sunshine to get a picture of his beautiful iridescent blue and green plumage.  To call him black is not really accurate.

[Anthony Darby]

These dark pheasants are lovely. I remember seeing some at Camperdown Park in Dundee.

[Anthony Darby]

Spotted this female stick insect (Clitarchus hookeri) on a kanuka bush about 100 metres from the house. They are not common and quite often there's a male in attendance.

[scatigaz]

Sand Martin yesterday and a few Wheatears today in southern England/Wales. Spring creeping up on us. Lovely. This can only mmean one thing - snow next week lol.

[angie]

Good grief, Mark, can't a person nip down to the beach for a quiet swim without arousing all this fuss? 

Love that Maggi 

Angie 

[Anthony Darby]

This turned up on my Facebook feed. "No, this isn't photoshopped. This is a cardinal "gynandromorph” - an animal that exhibits both female and male sexual characteristics. As different sexes are differently coloured, each half of the bird is a different shade" is what accompanied it. I have only come across bilateral gynandromorphs in butterflies and even used the term in an essay in my higher English exam many moons ago.

[Anthony Darby]

Vivienne felt this http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/auckland-rattled-earthquakes-5371015

[Anthony Darby]

Been here with AS ("acromyrmex") collecting leaf cutting ants. http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/habitat/918662-new-zoo-displays-commercial-project-24.html I hope the programme comes out world wide in Discovery Channel.

[Anthony Darby]

I'm hoping my yellow female Auckland green gecko (Naultinus elegans) will produce twins next month. The black tongue and blue mouth is quite evident in the third photo. I've added a fourth showing the mouth and tongue close up. I have joined a reptile forum, but it would appear I need to have a URL for any pictures I post. 

[Maggi Young]

She is very lovely, Anthony- looks in fine fettle.  Are twins the usual number of young for these geckos?

[Anthony Darby]

Yes. She may only have one as it's her first time?

[Helen Johnstone]

Does anyone have any tips for discouraging badgers in your garden.  I have had one trashing my garden all winter and no doubt because of this week's cold weather he is back digging large holes in the border looking for tulips.  I come down in the morning to find bits of plant all over the place.  It now looks like he has found his way to the patio where I have pots of tulips which I thought might be safe.