Wildlife December 2011

[Anthony Darby]

Do mantises prey on stick insects? Or vice versa? Or do stick insects eat vegetation?

The NZ one, even if all green, would probably kick the springbok one into touch! (Don't want to talk about the cricket. I've cried enough this year. )

Yes, the NZ mantis would have easily dispatched the smaller springbok. When they are both adult it would be a different story! Stick insects eat vegetation. I think they would move too slowly to be of interest to a mantis?

Cricket! Usual batting collapse. Usually happens to England, but now I'm in New Zealand! Ross Taylor should have referred the gloved catch, but the an honest batsman would have walked! I was impressed with Ricky Ponting walking before being given LBW.

I think the linnet is the only species not introduced to New Zealand. I came across a chap 'liming' for songbirds on Zakynthos a few years ago. I hung around, so he packed up and went away.

On Friday I watched a kingfisher on one of those calm, halcyon days.

[Anthony Darby]

I've often said when my ship comes in I'll be at the airport. Well, when New Zealand's ship came in, guess where I was?

[Lesley Cox]

Which ship do you mean? The cricket maybe?

[Anthony Darby]

Which ship do you mean? The cricket maybe?

Most definitely. I watched it until 2.40, when I had to collect Lucy from Howick and then head off to Auckland airlport. Timing perfect as I wasn't in the car park long enough to need to pay! Just goes to show you it's not over until...........!

[Lesley Cox]

I was certianly very pleased. I've cried enough this year. Teddy would be 3 on Wednesday.

[Anthony Darby]

I'll be thinking of you on Wednesday Lesley.

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks Anthony. I'm not usually of a sentimental turn of mind but these flowers were given to me on Saturday, for Teddy and I've bedded the jar they're in down into a layer of peastraw over him. They are roses, sweet peas, Alstroemerias and some Alchemilla and the bunch smells wonderful. Put out on Saturday, it is still in good condition even through the heat and high winds we've had over recent days. Later on I'll plant something special there.

[ArnoldT]

Twenty feet from my front door.

Twenty minutes from Times Square

[Armin]

Incredible Arnold,
great shot.

[Paddy Tobin]

Goodness, Arnold, that's incredible. Such an urban situation.
Paddy

[David Nicholson]

Venison in the freezer Arnold?

[ArnoldT]

Still here.

[Anthony Darby]

Gosh! Is it lost or do deer frequently become bolder, wandering into housing areas during the winter?

[ArnoldT]

Anthony:

They're seen all year in these parts.  I walked down my driveway and it picked up the head had a look then went back to eating a shrub.

[Lori S.]

Gosh! Is it lost or do deer frequently become bolder, wandering into housing areas during the winter?

What better place to live than where the only "predator" is cars?  Unfortunately, the same lack of predators exists through large areas of North America, and hence, there is a huge overpopulation of deer in many of those areas too.