Wildlife June 2011

[mark smyth]

any time I try to watch singing frogs they stop or jump away

[Anthony Darby]

I remember listening to singing frogs at a restaurant in Jamaica. The waiter told me they were crickets. He'd clearly never seen them singing either.

[Stephenb]

Mark: Saw my first swifts from home today, but I'm going away for a few days now... 

[mark smyth]

There will be plenty of time when you get back. On your return play it loud all day if you can or early morning, lunch, late eveing and last few hours before dark

[mark smyth]

I was taken tonight to a secret location to see three species of birds. Two would be a tick/first for me.

As soon as we arrived we had stunning views of a whinchat Saxicola rubetra with a beakfull of food for chicks http://birdguides.com/iris/pictures.asp?mode=search&sp=130140&rty=0&r=1&v=0&off=306274 a couple of meters away. We then saw it's mate on a post. The link shows one of the birds I saw

We had given up on the second bird which would have been a first for me - the male I have never seen. Just as we were about to leave one came literally floating by. A male hen harrier Circus cyaneus http://birdguides.com/iris/pictures.asp?mode=search&sp=30083&rty=0&r=1&v=0&off=296616

The long-eared owl didnt show

[daveyp1970]

Could somebody I.d this insect for me it was on the bottom of one of my pots,i think it's a fly larva of some sort.

[mark smyth]

looks like a hoverfly larva

[ranunculus]

On a hosta ...

[Anthony Darby]

Could somebody I.d this insect for me it was on the bottom of one of my pots,i think it's a fly larva of some sort.

You don't have any oak trees nearby Davey? Looks very like a hairstreak larva? If it's not slightly furry it won't be. How big was it?

[jandals]

Hope nobody minds but since I have never posted pictures before a little practice run would be nice . Not too many flowers here at the moment so I will try some wildlife pics taken earlier this year . Both are introduced animals to New Zealand and both do significant damage to our flora and fauna  . Alien vs Predator

[jandals]

That's what practicing is for . Now I will try the other four pictures after I have had a wee think . What a ning nong

[jandals]

OK . Second attempt . Everything is so hard you have an IQ less than ambient room temperature

[ranunculus]

OK . Second attempt . Everything is so hard you have an IQ less than ambient room temperature

It is winter there Steve!       Congratulations on posting the first of many images ... NZ buttercups next please?

[jandals]

Just for you Cliff . Taken in mid summer . I think T00lie might have shown this already . Promise to do more buttercups this season

[ranunculus]

Very, very nice ... thanks mate!