Wildlife August 2011

[mark smyth]

     Mark, i see you have been doing a little twitching lately. Just wondered if you went for the Semipalmated Sandpiper at Castlerock Today?

Gary I got a text telling me about it and the marsh harrier. Castlerock is about an hour north from my house so there was no guarantee it would be there. The harrier is the same but south east from me. If the sandpiper is reported tomorrow I might go.

Did you see it on the nibirding blog?

[scatigaz]

Mark, I check out Birdguides every day which covers the British Isles. If there is anything within a reasonable distance i often go for it. I used to set off anywhere in the country at one time but keep it more local these days.

[fermi de Sousa]

... during a short foray from the hotel after a day confiend to bed with food poisoning. .
.
.
4. Edible Frog, Lausanne Botanic Garden (in their one an only pond)

Peter, I hesitate to ask how you knew it was edible, especially in view of you having the food poisoning before taking the pic!
cheers
fermi

[mark smyth]

Gary I cant afford to go too far these days but did go to see the Hobby three times

The third bat on the forum in a week. It's a Soprano pipistrelle trapped by my massive fingers. This is the UKs most common bat and the one most likely to be seen flying in a garden, entering a house or getting stuck in ladies hair.

Photo taken by Phil Heron

[Peter Maguire]

I hesitate to ask how you knew it was edible, especially in view of you having the food poisoning before taking the pic!

Only going by the common name  - should have called it by it's Sunday name Rana esculenta

It didn't actually look edible, being a hideous shade of blue-green. I thought it was a badly painted plastic child's toy until it moved.

[annew]

Cute, Mark!

[mark smyth]

I am? Thanks

[Anthony Darby]

 

[arillady]

It was fascinating watching this over loaded bee this afternoon. He inspected each flower slowly but thoroughly - acting like an overloaded plane. He came peeping out looking like a child with ice cream all over his face - he even took time to lie on his back to collect the pollen. NOW I understand why there is no pollen when I want it.
Looks like we don't need the middle eastern bees to pollinate. This is the first year that I have really noticed the bees in the aril flowers.

[mark smyth]

I was out looking for bats last night and heard Robins, European type, singing and ticking. A sure sign autumn is coming

[Lesley Cox]

Lucky, lucky bee to have such a collecting ground.