Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: GordonT on January 05, 2014, 07:10:19 PM
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3rd time trying with photos should be a charm!
The temperature here has risen dramatically, from the -20 C morning late last week, to + 5 C today, and the birds have come out in force. A pair of Northern Cardinals discovered the seeds clinging to Euonymus alatus next to the house this morning, and were doing their best to strip the plant bare. This photo of the male will expand.
[attach=1]
His mate was patrolling the ground beneath the shrub, consuming all that the wind had stripped from the branches above. The glass in our windows is over 100 years old, so the image sharpness is less than I had wished. Northern Cardinals have been expanding their winter range northward over the past thirty years or so. Sightings were rare in the 1970s or so, but they are now commonly seen in many parts of Atlantic Canada.
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Grumpy; one of the seven dwarves: a clan of Long-tailed Tits that visit our garden regularly over winter.
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3814/11842472754_d8231abbdb_o.jpg)
And here is Bashful:
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3756/11842338453_4e9ab97807_o.jpg)
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Lovely pictures of long tailed tits, Steve.
I haven't been taking squirrel pics for a while, but I cleaned my windows recently so was able to get this one looking my way.
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Blue Tit
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5451/7091882081_6af4d3ed60_z_d.jpg)
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Ladybird on Clematis cirrhosa leaf today. Is it spring already?
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It would probably drown here :P
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It's cold, wet and the skies are too dark to take decent images so here is a garden image from last year.
Wasn't sure whether to post it here or in the Snowdrop thread but as I haven't a clue about Snowdrops I think here is best.
The Treecreeper and the Snowdrop
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Hello Steve stunning pictures does this mean that you are getting excited about snowdrops?, cheers Ian the Christie kind
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Hi Ian,
It's still Crocus and orchids that do it for me!
I struggle to see the attraction of Snowdrops .........is that blasphemy? :o
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I struggle to see the attraction of Snowdrops .........is that blasphemy? :o
Now treecreepers are another matter entirely ;) ;D
Really wonderful bird images Steve. They are so crisp.
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Thinking about getting an infra-red wildlife camera here. When we went to bed 2 nights ago there was a Muntjac barking somewhere just outside. Its mate, or maybe challenger, was answering from further up the road. With 12 pheasants pottering about the garden today I am getting worried about my spring flowers surviving for long.
Maybe I should be thinking about something else with nightsights and getting a bigger freezer ;-)
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Just love that picture of that long tailed tit 8)
Angie :)
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Hi Steve, I am sure you will visit Cyril soon then the snowdrop madness will take over, cheers Ian
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Grumpy; one of the seven dwarves: a clan of Long-tailed Tits that visit our garden regularly over winter.
Just found this super video of Long Tails gathering to roost :
Long-tailed Tits gathering to roost (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiOIYxp85GQ#)
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Lovely video, Maggi. Long tailed tits are my favourite bird. They never squabble when visiting the bird table unlike the other tits, but just get on with the feeding. Rather different at roosting time - a bit of shoving to make sure you get into the middle for maximum warmth! I presume there is some swapping of place during the night to that the ones on the outside get a turn in the middle?
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Fantastic video! I love it when they fluff up and look like the classic pink lollipop. It reminded me of the children's song 'There were 6 in the bed and the little one said......"
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This sat on the fence for over an hour, just waiting for me to come back from my walk. It even stayed there while I got the camera and went back outside to take the picture.
[attachimg=1][attachimg=2]
No wonder we do not see any small birds when doing the RSPB count!
The white streaks are rain, by the way, it was persisting down.
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Great piece of video on the LTTs Maggi!
Nice Sparrowhawk images Palustris!
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..............and why we have so many thrushes, blackbirds, mynahs, starlings, sparrows, goldfinches, chaffinches and the occasional native bird in our gardens, and very few insects, except flies. A cicada just needs to start calling and there's a rush of birds in its direction. The only raptor I see is the occasional Australasian harrier.
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Wildlife - or pest.........
Experts at Glasgow's Botanic Gardens battle to save rare plants from being devoured by stick insects
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/experts-glasgows-botanic-gardens-battle-3127481 (http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/experts-glasgows-botanic-gardens-battle-3127481)
Makes a change from greenfly, I suppose.....
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Wildlife - or pest.........
Experts at Glasgow's Botanic Gardens battle to save rare plants from being devoured by stick insects
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/experts-glasgows-botanic-gardens-battle-3127481 (http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/experts-glasgows-botanic-gardens-battle-3127481)
Makes a change from greenfly, I suppose.....
What they need is one of these:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6521824557_a29d98b782_z.jpg)
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The stick insects in the Kibble Palace is not news as they have been there for years. I've even seen them there. The ones I saw were the Indian stick insect, Carausius morosus, not the Australian one in the photo, unless the description in the text is wrong. Stick insects are nocturnal, so I would suspect totally invisible to chameleons which hunt moving prey during the day.
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Looking out our window today, we noticed “stuff” scattered all over the snow. I was puzzled for a moment or two until I recognized some Pigeon feathers. A moment later we realized the litterbug was still in the yard.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
This Peregrine Falcon had its fill of Pigeon before a second one swooped in to grab a morsel or two. The photos of the pair were too blurred to be of any value… Drat!!!
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Lovely pics Gordon. Peregrine is a stunning bird., occasionally spotted here too
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Hello All, I know this is not wildlife or Is it? found this growing amongst my Trilliums yesterday have no idea where it came fro maybe something from outer space??, cheers Ian the Christie kind
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If that were under the sea it would surely be wildlife, Ian - it looks like it is just about to slither off.......
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Ladybird sunning itself on a Phlomis leaf.
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Ladybird sunning itself on a Phlomis leaf.
Is it just me, or do others think that lazing of a sunny Phlomis leaf is the equivalent of snuggling in flannel sheets?
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Hi Maggie yes it is weird has anyone any ideas what it is??, cheers Ian the Christie kind
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Hello All, I know this is not wildlife or Is it? found this growing amongst my Trilliums yesterday have no idea where it came fro maybe something from outer space??, cheers Ian the Christie kind
Hi Ian,
You can get help with identifying fungi from the Scottish Fungi group: https://sites.google.com/site/scottishfungi/ (https://sites.google.com/site/scottishfungi/)
Matt
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fab fungus there! I found an Oak Beauty in the moth trap this morning.
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Lovely pics Gordon. Peregrine is a stunning bird., occasionally spotted here too
Thank you Matt, they aren't all that common in Nova Scotia. There was a re-introduction scheme about twenty or so years ago, that seems to have done well, although Peregrines are still an "at risk" species.
Someone who was looking at our photos noticed that "our" bird appeared to have leg bands. We haven't been able to read the bands but learned that the bird was banded somewhere in the eastern United States.
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fab fungus there! I found an Oak Beauty in the moth trap this morning.
Nice male. Quite early. I did once have one in the trap in Callander in April, but that would have been 40 years ago, and I never saw another. The fungus could be Laccaria amethystina.
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The fungus could be Laccaria amethystina.
I was going to suggest that - Amethyst Deceiver, but on steroids!
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Does anyone think it might be a wood blewit (Clitocybe nuda, aka Lepista nuda or Tricholoma nudum)?
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Does anyone think it might be a wood blewit (Clitocybe nuda, aka Lepista nuda or Tricholoma nudum)?
Wrong colour I think.
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Hello, thanks for the suggestions so far but I do not think any are correct keep looking, cheers Ian the Christie kind
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Looks a bit like an old umbrella someone has chucked in the garden to me!
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Hi Ian,
I've consulted with a fungus boffin I know, sending him your pic and he's replied with the following advice. Hope this helps:
"Hmm...interesting. Definitely a mushroom. I think it is most likely Wood Blewit (Lepista nuda). Hard to tell for sure though without the specimen. Wood Blewit starts off purple then turns brownish and paler with age, which I think I can see in the photo. It also grows fairly frequently in gardens. It should have finished fruiting in early winter, but this year has been so mild lots of autumn fungi are popping up here and there. Perhaps a cold snap messed up this mushroom's development?"
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You'll notice that the wood blewit should uniform crowded gills. This doesn't, but then it is quite variable: www.naturephoto-cz.com/wood-blewit-photo-12801.html (http://www.naturephoto-cz.com/wood-blewit-photo-12801.html)
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Here's a job I fancy - well, in another life. http://butterfly-conservation.org/56/jobs.html (http://butterfly-conservation.org/56/jobs.html)
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You'll notice that the wood blewit should uniform crowded gills. This doesn't, but then it is quite variable: http://www.naturephoto-cz.com/lepista-nuda-photo_lat-12801.html (http://www.naturephoto-cz.com/lepista-nuda-photo_lat-12801.html.)
Link doesn't work, Anthony.
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Copy and paste annoyingly added http:// to the URL so I removed it. Should work now.
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Can anyone identify this little fellow?
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Not an old lady in a fur coat who has fallen over, I take it?
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Not unless she is very, very small....
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How disappointing - maybe a Ruby Tiger Moth Phragmatobia fuliginosa , then? Lots of examples: https://www.google.com/search?q=Phragmatobia+fuliginosa+caterpillar&client=firefox-a&hs=LNH&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=fLUkU5n2E4LRhAfg1YH4Bw&ved=0CCMQsAQ&biw=1137&bih=693&dpr=0.9 (https://www.google.com/search?q=Phragmatobia+fuliginosa+caterpillar&client=firefox-a&hs=LNH&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=fLUkU5n2E4LRhAfg1YH4Bw&ved=0CCMQsAQ&biw=1137&bih=693&dpr=0.9)
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my guess would be it's a member of the Tiger moth family, Arctiinae. Not sure but it looks a bit like a muslin moth.
http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=3463 (http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=3463)
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the Ruby tiger was the other one I was thinking about :)
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May have to relocate this ♀ springbok mantis (Miomantis caffra) as I have finally monarch caterpillars on my swan plants and this is a voracious predator of these.
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High drama!
A white crab spider (Thomisus onustus), lurking in one of my peonies, has grabbed hold of a bee and killed it.
This spider is an endangered species in Germany, so I suppose I should be glad it has found its way into my garden.
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High drama!
A white crab spider (Thomisus onustus), lurking in one of my peonies, has grabbed hold of a bee and killed it.
Crikey- a killer pearl !! :o
Imagine how much killing could be done by a whole pearl necklace..... ::) ;)
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;D ;D ;D
There are some ladies, to whom I would gladly present such a lovely necklace befitting their character...
What I find amazing is that these crab spiders can actually adapt their colour to the flower they lurk in.
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We spotted this ruffed grouse in full display mode from the kitchen window. I went out and made my way through deep snow to where I thought he was heading. He didn't seem perturbed by me at all, though he was quite aware. He just kept walking towards me, displaying the whole time.
A surprise visitor to our bird feeders was an albino purple finch. It only stayed for one day.
Our son has a picture of a normal male here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamuudsen/300939435/in/photolist-sAoNX-811n8-gzH2u-9Qw6kQ-fyx2bp (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamuudsen/300939435/in/photolist-sAoNX-811n8-gzH2u-9Qw6kQ-fyx2bp)
Spring hasn't yet arrived in northern Ontario, although within the week the snow should be gone. It is very late this year.
-Rob
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I do admire a fellow who takes a pride in his appearance - The ruffled grouse fits the bill - he must win the best-dressed award, surely?
The albino finch is a beauty- thanks for the link to the "regular" version - so many great photos there - your whole family are terrific photographers 8)
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Lovely image of this impressive grouse!!!
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Wow, Rob, what a wonderful experience (and gorgeous photos!). Were there female grouse anywhere around? Or was he just practicing?
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Bolinopsis, I don't think there were any females around at the time. My speculation is that the bird was frustrated by our late spring and his raging hormones. - Rob
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Frustrating, indeed. I hope for you and the grouse that it thaws soon!
Your flickr photos are treat. What an amazing amount of wildlife you have! (But I also liked Christopher Lloyd with his Dachshund...)
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Just emptied a pot of bulbs and out popped a ball, rubbery and made up of tiny whitish eggs. They look like they might be snail eggs but no sign of a snail in the vicinity. The ball is the size of a table tennis ball, so it is quite big really. Not had this happen before and never noticed how rubbery they are en mass. Amazing. So I'm off to put my foot on them...
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We have Pheasants in the garden most days, not entirely plant friendly, but colourful and largely ignore me if I do the same to them. Just walk past a few feet away, and the males often "chunter" as they walk. Some nights they roost in the trees at the bottom of the garden, with the hen in the tree and the cock on the power line above. How he keeps his balance all night, particularly when it is windy, amazes me. The trees are wild plum, 30 years old.
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I caught this pair of Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) in clasp, having a rest.
http://youtu.be/aE8Ybogpu-g
(http://youtu.be/aE8Ybogpu-g)
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This fly was on the windowsill of the hotel I was staying at in Kendal. Does anyone have an idea what it is? It was over an inch in length.
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This fly was on the windowsill of the hotel I was staying at in Kendal. Does anyone have an idea what it is? It was over an inch in length.
It's not clear enough to positively identify, Chris, but with that banding on the abdomen and the wing venation, I'd say it's a hoverfly.
Chris
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That size, it would have to be Tabanus sudeticus, one of the huge horse flies of upland Britain.
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Having both your replies I thought I'd look on specialist web sites and found one that was dedicated to hover flies. The web site owner, Chris Webster sends me this reply:
Hi Christine
This does look very like a Hoverfly, but in fact it's a Horsefly.
At over an inch long it's the biggest species, Tabanus sudeticus, and certainly
they can be found in the Lake District.
A recent book calls it the Dark Giant Horsefly, but till I saw that I
hadn't known it had an English name, just the Latin one.
I think your photo is of a male, with the eyes touching each other, and
they are quite harmless, as only the females bite.
Best wishes..
Chris W.
So you were quite right Anthony!
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Here's a short video I took of a Large Red Slug ( Arion ater though some may say Arion rufus) I found in one of my mixing buckets under a greenhouse bench. Unusual I thought in itself as I've never seen this species in the garden before.
I'd like to point out that these videos are all Maggi's fault but I was delighted with the footage I took.
Yes it's a slug but for years I've been trying to get a decent shot of the tiny parasitic white mites that run very rapidly over the slugs skin. Finally here they are, just keep an eye on the slugs rear end. Once you see one you'll spot the rest
http://youtu.be/2xrxvTfRnK0 (http://youtu.be/2xrxvTfRnK0)
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A slug in HD - yuck! Fred- I deny everything! Starting with the assertion that it's not my slug! ;D ;D ;D
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But did you see the mites?
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But did you see the mites?
I had my eyes closed........
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but yes, I saw the mites - only slightly less revolting than the slug
[attachimg=1]
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Just to raise the tone a little after the Horse Fly and Slug (amazing how Latin binomials give such things a respectability) here's something I can't quite identify in Elizabeth Cairn's garden in Kent! :) The plants are rather wonderful too, and I will feature them in my next Kent Diary on the AGS site, along with Roger Platts' garden which we visited a few days ago.
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Is it woodcock?
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Or is it plastic?
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Plaster of Parus! :o
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Oh Spare us! ;D
(Sparras)
cheers
fermi
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Many people have the early morning experience of startling a bunny when they go for a morning walk.
This morning when I started my car this grass-muncher bounded out of our garden and headed up the hill!
Apologies for the quality of the pic - he was moving pretty quick,
cheers
fermi
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This does look very like a Hoverfly, but in fact it's a Horsefly.
Good call, Anthony. :)
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Do they eat your plants Fermi?
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Do they eat your plants Fermi?
Hi Chris,
the kangaroos tend to only eat grass but their big feet and tails can really flatten plants! We once lost a newly planted Pecan tree when a 'roo jumped a fence and landed right on top it!
Wallabies can be a lot more destructive and eat a wider range of plants but so far we haven't had them come into the garden,
cheers
fermi
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Ladybird larva (7 Spot)
Ladybird pupa
Not sure what this one is - a different Ladybird?
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Filming wildlife . Ok I need to get a wireless camera if possible. Not sure how much distance they would cover. and if they are any good. Can anyone give me some advice on what to buy.
Yesterday two badgers were fighting right outside my gate. I thought they were going to murder each other. Then last night my secretive Pine martins were back. I have only seen these a few times so it would be nice to try and capture them. Saying this once I get a camera up and running they will disappear. Lets hope not.
Angie :)
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Angie, put up an easy to climb small bird table and leave out some bread smothered with peanut butter and strawberry jam -few Pine Martens can resist! ;)
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Angie, put up an easy to climb small bird table and leave out some bread smothered with peanut butter and strawberry jam -few Pine Martens can resist! ;)
Thanks Steve will give that a try. I know my American friend also likes peanut butter with jam, never tried it myself though ;D
Angie :)
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Thanks Steve will give that a try. I know my American friend also likes peanut butter with jam, never tried it myself though ;D
Angie :)
It's very tasty, Angela! ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Angie, put up an easy to climb small bird table and leave out some bread smothered with peanut butter and strawberry jam -few Pine Martens can resist! ;)
We once stayed at a B&B near Glencoe where the preferred bird table food of the resident pine martens was half-coated digestive biscuits! They even brought the youngsters along to share in the feasts.
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It's very tasty, Angela! ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D
Maggi might just give it a try ;D It was about this time last year that I first saw the Pine Martens just when the strawberries were ready.
Maureen I am not sharing my chocolate digestives ;D
Angie :)
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My son likes peanut butter and jam on toast too.
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Swallows have successfully nested in our byre for (as far as I'm aware) the first time and two recently fledged youngsters are trying out their wings within the safety of the roof space.
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There are two predators after this fly. Which one is your money on?
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3846/14399958707_26d5af07f8_z.jpg)
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There are two predators after this fly. Which one is your money on?
Germany 8) Oh, sorry, wrong bet - getting World Cup Fever! :D
TWO predators? May be dim but only see one, the spider - though that seems to have the face of an alien on its body..... ::) :-\
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I think the action is playing out on a pitcher plant Maggi.
I half expect Ray Winston's sonsie face to appear and invite an online bet as to whether the spider or the pitcher will score first! I'm clearly watching too much World Cup Fitba'!
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Aha! The penny drops - very good - and very well spotted, Steve - I had thought it might be the maquette for a new bio-dome........ ;) ;) ;D
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Darlingtonia californica Maggi, I have one or two ;D
This was a few of them in May
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2898/14005580558_1fcca2d99e_o.jpg)
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Yea, just a few, eh? ;D
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I'd collected a few (not very big) stones for edging the path and had just dropped one when I spotted this moth. It was very lucky I did not drop the stone on it or stand on it.
Garden Tiger Moth
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Very handsome - along the lines of a well-dressed flying teddy bear :D
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Unbelievable Fred! :o
AGCBC seed sprouted immediately on live sphagnum under lights last February. When the pitchers got about 1.5cm tall they appeared to have black inside the pitcher at the base. The black worked up to the top until they were all kaput. Any suggestions? I feel once they sprouted I should have moved them under lights in the cold (+5c) room as friends suggested they need cold bogs to thrive and yet you have them in a frame.
Cleaning up after a 40 hour bout with Hurricane Arthur. Awfully early for a hurricane. Hope Maggiepie in New Brunswick has fared ok as they were to get 10"+ of rain with the wind. We are dry and got not a drop. 200,000 without power. Hurricane Arthur, Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiAxBENFPo4#ws)
johnw
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John, I've never seen the problem you've described in my plants. It's from the base up so obviously something down at the roots.
On temperatures, please don't believe everything you'll read. I was recording root temperatures of up to 38C (100F) in May. I have 30 thermometers in the Darlingtonia house both digital and analogue, I think I can stand my ground on that one.
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Was pointed in the direction of these critters by Nhu Nguyen of the PBS - they are moth caterpillars but not like the sort most of us are used to seeing. They're more like jewelled jellies - be sure to wath the video - when you see the beastie from the side with its little legs going full speed it is most amusing - and it's always good to be able to get a laugh at a leaf chomper, I reckon.
"Jewel caterpillars are brightly coloured moth larvae tipped in disposable gumdrop spines."
http://sciencealert.com.au/features/20140207-25802.html#.U7nYkKsvN7F.twitter (http://sciencealert.com.au/features/20140207-25802.html#.U7nYkKsvN7F.twitter)
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Head to Fabr’s article at Scientific American for more information and images of these incredible insects, and here's a video of a little jewel caterpillar making its way across some screwdrivers:
The problem there Maggi is how much faith can you place in people who don't know the difference between screwdrivers and jack plugs. I'd like to see them putting screws in with those .
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:D ;D ;D ;D Quite so Fred - I noticed that -if the critter hadn't been so cute I'd have spent 2.14 seconds just waiting for the screwdrivers!
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Still extremely windy, and there has been flooding north of Auckland, but this male monarch is resting up on my money plant. I decided to tag it. Due to the wind I had to fasten the bin lid down with the side clips, only to find a Springbok mantis (Miomantis caffra) ootheca attached to the underside of one of the clips. I suppose it's as good a place as any to deposit your eggs.
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I think this is one for Anthony.
These fine chaps are knocking 7 bells out of this rose. I haven't seen one move yet though, they're playing statues.
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I'll hazard a guess at sawfly larvae (? Large Rose Sawfly, Argae pagana)
But I'm prepared to be proved wrong....... ;)
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I'll hazard a guess at sawfly larvae (? Large Rose Sawfly, Argae pagana)
But I'm prepared to be proved wrong....... ;)
I agree.
Knowing what species the sawfly larvae is feeding on is very useful as a large number of this taxon are host-specific.
Chris
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........ a large number of this taxon are host-specific.
Otherwise known as b****y fussy eaters....... :P
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This Speckled Wood butterfly paid a brief visit to my garden this morning. I was amazed it was still there when I came back with the camera and sat long enough for me to photograph it.
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Otherwise known as b****y fussy eaters....... :P
... and voracious with it. Your demolition of a Victoria sponge would have looked slow. :P
Chris
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Knowing what species the sawfly larvae is feeding on is very useful as a large number of this taxon are host-specific.
Chris
They're feeding on Rosa rubrifolia ( I believe).
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This Speckled Wood butterfly paid a brief visit to my garden this morning. I was amazed it was still there when I came back with the camera and sat long enough for me to photograph it.
Roma, speckled woods are very territorial and will fight off all comers. The resident always wins and quickly drives off any visitors to his territory. It has been shown that if two butterflies have been conned into "thinking" they are the resident, battles will last a long time until one eventually gives in and flies off.
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Not in the garden but in the kitchen, this moth was trying to merge with the kitchen counter.
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Not in the garden but in the kitchen, this moth was trying to merge with the kitchen counter.
Barred yellow (Cidaria fulvata). Book says "in gardens, hedges, and other scrubby places". Your kitchen must be clean - a scrubby place, John, or is your garden not scrubby enough? ;D
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Not sure if this has been already posted.
http://wallythekat.tripod.com/A_Pages/AA-Videos-YOU-Tube/Crow-Einstein.html (http://wallythekat.tripod.com/A_Pages/AA-Videos-YOU-Tube/Crow-Einstein.html)
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An amazing crow 8)
Thanks for posting Arnold.
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Not found in too many of our gardens - probably something for which to be thankful :P
[attachimg=1]
The ballbearing tree hopper - Bocydium globulare - yes, really!
http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2010/11/26/the-surreal-treehoppers/ (http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2010/11/26/the-surreal-treehoppers/)
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Hope you enjoyed my previous link to weird critters - here's a stylish beast- with a fully coordinated outfit -who, judging by his name and size, can do a lot of damage - tho' I read they prefer dead wood.
Rosalia funebris (Banded Alder Borer)
[attachimg=1]
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Astounding ornamentation on the "ballbearing" tree hopper... nature has a sense of humour!
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Astounding ornamentation on the "ballbearing" tree hopper... nature has a sense of humour!
Either that or nature works by committee!!!
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The ball bearing tree hopper looks like it has some complicated aerial to make it radio controlled!
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The ball bearing tree hopper looks like it has some complicated aerial to make it radio controlled!
;D Hadn't thought of that! It might be a satellite receiver, too - a spy bug! :o
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I like the alder borer. Presumably it's the larva that is found in dead wood. Here's a link to the dead wood stage. https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5269/5627626894_f8a9838e5a_z.jpg
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I like the alder borer. Presumably it's the larva that is found in dead wood. Here's a link to the dead wood stage. https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5269/5627626894_f8a9838e5a_z.jpg
You got me there!! Now, of course, you're responsible for an onslaught of Doris Day songs - it's you own fault!
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
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;D ;D ;D
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Ian will be after your blood - once I get started on my Doris Day repertoire I can go on for days - drives him absolutely crazy. :-X ::) :P ( Guess that makes me a DD borer...... :o )
Seems the alder borer's habit of favouring dead wood means it is not regarded as much of a pest but the adults eat flowers, I read.
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Ian will be after your blood - once I get started on my Doris Day repertoire I can go on for days - drives him absolutely crazy. :-X ::) :P ( Guess that makes me a DD borer...... :o )
Seems the alder borer's habit of favouring dead wood means it is not regarded as much of a pest but the adults eat flowers, I read.
Whip crack away!
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Roma, speckled woods are very territorial and will fight off all comers.
I think the butterfly I saw in the garden was just passing through but I did see a territorial dispute in the wood behind the house yesterday. I wandered off to the far end off the usual paths. The deer tracks do not take into account low branches and fallen trees so I was struggling to get back to the well used path. I saw a Speckled Wood sitting on a fern in a patch of sunlight. Another came into the area and was seen off. At one point the intruder was on the ground, wings folded tight in a submissive or 'playing dead' position while the other butterfly was beating his wings strongly and darting at him as if attacking. I do not think there was any physical contact but I would have been intimidated if he was my size.
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They are fascinating butterflies Roma. In the 19th century they were found in central Scotland. The race from the borders south is different from the north of Scotland form, which has much paler markings. This was the form found further north 150 years ago.
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Not my garden, but at the top of the road bordering the public pavement. Had to scrape the car this morning, but spotted these introduced Australian rainbow skinks at lunch time today. There was an even smaller one, but it vanished as I approached.
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Large green caterpillar - should I be worried?
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It's the caterpillar of the elephant hawk moth: http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=1991
Either you have a 'wild' garden, or there is a patch of rosebay willow herb nearby, which it will have been feeding on. So no need to worry about it devouring precious garden plants. It is likely that it wandered into your garden in search of a site in which to pupate - I presume it was found under the bark you've photographed it on, which would be an ideal pupation site.
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Thanks Matt; well, there are wild bits....
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Large elephant hawk moth caterpillars are also found on fuchsia.
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A lovely video Maggi. How come one had to face the other way? He seemed to have a longer tail too.
Just noticed the video was on page 1 of this thread ???
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A lovely video Maggi. How come one had to face the other way? He seemed to have a longer tail too.
Just noticed the video was on page 1 of this thread ???
Well, you know, Pat, there's always one..... :D ;)
I did wonder if he felt he got more heat for his head from the bodies of his pals than from their heads. His tail looked longer because the tails of the others (pointed in the direction of the camera) seemed short because of the fore-shortening effect of the camera.
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They are also found on fuchsia.
I have those. Do they feed on any genus in the Onagraceae? I have evening primrose (Oenothera sp.) in the garden too.
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A bee-beetle : http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/ourwork/b/scotland/archive/2014/07/29/bee-beetle-bonanza.aspx (http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/ourwork/b/scotland/archive/2014/07/29/bee-beetle-bonanza.aspx)
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I have those. Do they feed on any genus in the Onagraceae? I have evening primrose (Oenothera sp.) in the garden too.
Although Rosebay Willowherb is their main and preferred food-plant, they also feed on many other species, not necessarily restricted to one family. In a well balanced wildlife-friendly garden you will have several caterpillar species with suitable predators.
The time to worry is when you get the colonial feeders: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2195935/The-hungry-caterpillars-Thousands-moth-larvae-weave-giant-web-shrubbery-protect-importantly-food-predators.html (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2195935/The-hungry-caterpillars-Thousands-moth-larvae-weave-giant-web-shrubbery-protect-importantly-food-predators.html) ::)
Chris
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The time to worry is when you get the colonial feeders: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2195935/The-hungry-caterpillars-Thousands-moth-larvae-weave-giant-web-shrubbery-protect-importantly-food-predators.html (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2195935/The-hungry-caterpillars-Thousands-moth-larvae-weave-giant-web-shrubbery-protect-importantly-food-predators.html) ::)
Chris
Eeeek!
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I have those. Do they feed on any genus in the Onagraceae? I have evening primrose (Oenothera sp.) in the garden too.
P M B Allan ("Larval Foodplants ") doesn't include evening primrose, but does include bedstraws, rose, Virginia creeper, Boston ivy and impatiens as other foodplants.
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Usually it is Forumists who terrify me with "bug" pictures but today this is self-inflicted :
"The World's largest aquatic insect, a species of Dobsonfly, has been found in China."
That's the good news - since it means unlikely to be found in a garden anywhere near me!
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
There are other photos here : http://edition.cnn.com/2014/07/22/world/asia/giant-insect-china/index.html (http://edition.cnn.com/2014/07/22/world/asia/giant-insect-china/index.html)
[attachimg=3]
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Glad we don't have them flying around here. The occasional close encounter with a flying wood wasp is scary enough.
A more welcome visitor Small Tortoiseshell butterfly. I counted five on this Origanum laevigatum yesterday. This is the only 'butterfly magnet' I have flowering just now.
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Usually it is Forumists who terrify me with "bug" pictures but today this is self-inflicted :
"The World's largest aquatic insect, a species of Dobsonfly, has been found in China."
That's the good news - since it means unlikely to be found in a garden anywhere near me!
Straight from the age of dinosaurs. An amazing insect.
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Wow Maggi, I would be filling in my ponds if I had anything like that hovering over my pond ;D
Angie :)
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Green plant hopper (Siphanta acuta), an immigrant from Australia, on my Epidendron ibaguense today. The springbok mantis (Miomantis caffra), an immigrant from South Africa, was photographed on the 2nd of August when the weather was very warm.
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More butterflies appearing just as the weather gets cold and wet. I saw three peacock butterflies on Friday and a Red Admiral on Saturday. I have seen the Small Copper in the garden a few times. I saw three in the ponies field on Friday but did not have the camera. Camera with me on Saturday but only one with three wings and a bit windy for a decent picture. I got a blurry picture of one today but the camera battery gave up just as a second one appeared and the two posed together. Will try again another day if we get some sun and not too much wind.
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Roma, it's lovely to see your pics of the small copper. We get migratory Peacock and Red Admiral here during the summer months, which may raise summer broods to augment our small number of resident breeding butterflies that complete all of their lifecycle here (only about 10 species I think), but no small copper. Thank you :)
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A friend and lurker here had Peacock butterflies in her garden this past week. She suspects Ian Young or Ian Christie of a huge prank......
Apparently there are two other populations in Canada, one in Québec and one in southern Ontario. Fantastic looking butterflies!
johnw
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You have peacock butterflies in Canada John?
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You have peacock butterflies in Canada John?
https://ca.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/butterfly_obs/conversations/topics/2837
(https://ca.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/butterfly_obs/conversations/topics/2837)
Was news to me too.
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Apparently so, we'll see if any reappear next year. Documented here:
http://novascotiabutterflies.ca/ss.cgi?s=eupe (http://novascotiabutterflies.ca/ss.cgi?s=eupe)
johnw
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Grey wagtail seen from my kitchen window this morning
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Sorry a terrible photograph ... but look who I saw peeping out from our dilapidated Dutch barn.
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I love owls - can't tell you how long its been since I saw a Barn Owl :'(
Beautiful creatures. I hope yours has a large family, Lisa!
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I love owls - can't tell you how long its been since I saw a Barn Owl :'(
Beautiful creatures. I hope yours has a large family, Lisa!
I'm afraid Maggi that he is our only resident Barn Owl :( though I have seen a Short-eared Owl hunting in the day.
The Barn Owl is one of the main reasons we moved here and when we did move in he moved out for a while! I think we were starting to use the outbuildings that hadn't been in use for years that he used. Anyway he is used to us now and I've had a few special close encounters with him when I've gone in for my wheelbarrow in one of the Byres. We were worried that our Vole obsessed cat was talking all his food resources but a local reassured me that we have probably 2,000 round the property so there's nothing to worry about!
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This is both "garden" and "wildlife" for sure ......
[attachimg=1]
From this site (http://www.lostateminor.com/2014/08/27/sleepy-chick-probably-cutest-hedge-weve-ever-laid-eyes/) :D
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Sorry a terrible photograph ... but look who I saw peeping out from our dilapidated Dutch barn.
I'd get a nest box or two in there asap
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I'd get a nest box or two in there asap
Please don't worry Mark
There are many places in the farm for nesting :) and we have a double floored stable where pellets have also been found Though the thing is if only he could find a mate! The Barn Owl population round here according to a local has dropped dramatically in recent years (as well as with other birds of prey). As you don't need any form of planning permission for farm buildings farmers are just pulling down there old barns, stables and byres as they can't afford them to be upgraded. We are also in this position with one byre as the roof is about to fall in ...
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This is both "garden" and "wildlife" for sure ......
From the look of that bird's stomach it seems to be sleeping off the effects of a large meal. There will be no seeds left in the area!
Here's one for Maggi. ;)
A garden spider (Araneus diadematus) with her 'finger on the trigger' (the spider, not Maggi!)