Wildlife January 2013

[mark smyth]

Lucky you Richard. You can keep them coming by putting out groats and wheat

[Martinr]

You can keep them coming by putting out groats

Crikey, fussy eaters or what....won't they touch more up to date coins

[RichardW]

Lucky you Richard. You can keep them coming by putting out groats and wheat

Main problem is the 6+ pheasants that gobble up everything first thing, plus numerous pigeons, have a ground feeder cover but only robins and dunnocks will use it, need to rig up something more finch friendly that the food hoovers can't get to.

[mark smyth]

A sheep wire cage would be easy.

What kind of pigeons?

[Anthony Darby]

I planted a dozen sunflowers in the spring. These are now nearly 9' tall and the first ones are being raided for seeds by a family of greenfinches.

[arillady]

Very impressive height. There is some along a boundary fence nearby and I was only thinking yesterday that they would be ruined if a flock of white cockatoos or galahs came visiting.

[RichardW]

A sheep wire cage would be easy.

What kind of pigeons?

Woodies, and lots of them! Can get plenty of wheat from the farm but the more food I put on the floor the more hoovers arrive, looking at making a hanging feeder table that the big stuff will have trouble landing on.

[Anthony Darby]

Here's some pics of the greenfinches at my sunflowers. We have monarchs in the garden all the time and there is a swan plant in amongst the roses and sunflowers, so they are egg laying.

[Anthony Darby]

Here are a couple taken through the lounge window. The monarch emerged this morning from a chrysalis I glued to an outside wall light as it had stuck itself to the handle of a swingball bat and the children wanted to play.

[Anthony Darby]

Anyone know whet there beetles, seen sheltering en mass from the sun in the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

[ronm]

Its Chauliognathus lugubris, Anthony. The Plague Soldier Beetle.

Aptly named I'd say, going by your pictures. 

[Maggi Young]

It seems these large gathering of beetles  are for "social" purposes.......  
Not knowing these beetles, I'd have feared they'd be foliage munchers, but it appears they are beneficial beasties :  "Every spring I marvel at the numbers of insects devoured by soldier beetles.  They’re real troopers in the war on damaging insect in my landscape......."
http://www.wildworldofpests.com/?p=231

[ronm]

It seems these large gathering of beetles  are for "social" purposes.......  
Not knowing these beetles, I'd have feared they'd be foliage munchers, but it appears they are beneficial beasties :  "Every spring I marvel at the numbers of insects devoured by soldier beetles.  They’re real troopers in the war on damaging insect in my landscape......."

Some soldier beetles, in the adult and larval forms, are major consumers of other insects. Indeed, the larvae of this species live in the soil and feed on soft bodied invertebrates, however the adults feed on pollen and nectar.

[mark smyth]

Stonechats - miserable day, driving rain and low light

Redshank pulling a ....?

[ronm]

These British soldier beetles feeds on Aphids etc. in the adult stage, and slugs, snails, their eggs etc.  in its larval stage. Very much the 'good guys', 

How many people have squished them as a ' Lily Beetle' I wonder, 

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/red-soldier-beetle

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/red-headed-cardinal-beetle