Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: Anthony Darby on March 01, 2011, 11:06:00 PM
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Oh Mark, did you kill it? Last Satuirday when I drove to work at 5.30am I killed 2 rabbits. There were 7 altogether on the side of the road and two just darted out under the wheels. I couldn't have missed them to save myself. I sent a text to Roger who retrieved them. Cain and Teddy finished them last night. :P
On our tour of the northern half of North Island I was amazed at the number of dead possums on the road. One every hundred metres or so in some places. Maybe Martin B. could re-write "101 uses for a dead cat" (them more I see and hear of the decimation of NZ wildlife by feral and domestic cats the more I come to the conclusion that the only good cat is a dead cat) as "101 uses for a dead possum"?
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Anthony,
Don't forget the weasels etc that are doing so much damage there as well. Anything other than bats that is a mammal is introduced in NZ, where there were no ground predators before they came in.... which is why so much has been decimated.
So in your move were you able to bring you animals etc with you? Things like your Chameleons etc?
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Anthony,
Don't forget the weasels etc that are doing so much damage there as well. Anything other than bats that is a mammal is introduced in NZ, where there were no ground predators before they came in.... which is why so much has been decimated.
So in your move were you able to bring you animals etc with you? Things like your Chameleons etc?
Only the dog Paul. All the rest had to stay behind. I would have liked to have brought my tortoises, which would do very well here eating British weeds. Interestingly there is a guy (Marcin Makerewicz from New Jersey - he says) blanket bombing NZ sales sites offering to sell tortoises for import. I think he is a fraud as it can't be done (from what I've found out). He even offers the name of someone who has done so but they won't say what part of NZ they live in - even supposing they are real. I am going to build myself some gecko cages and then apply for a permit to keep and breed NZ geckos. This can be done outside! The NZ green geckos are live bearers and very pretty. I can't bring my tortoises, or even buy a blue tongue skink (a pest species in Auckland - not sure if it is or has the potential to be), yet the pet shops and "Trademe" are full of red-eared terrapins, which is a pest species even in the UK (even though there they can't breed).
I've done my bit for NZ conservation by rearing a couple of dozen monarchs from eggs laid on milkweed plants by passing females. Had to cage them to stop the larvae being eaten by paper wasps.
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One used to be able to buy very tiny turtles in pet shops but I don't know if it's still possible. I wish you luck with your application to raise NZ geckos. We are told it is illegal to keep any native bird/animal in captivity.
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Anthony fantastic shots of the monarch,it has such a large distribution area,is a common sp there,can we have more pics of NZ butterflies please and any hawkmoths,that would make my day.
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One used to be able to buy very tiny turtles in pet shops but I don't know if it's still possible. I wish you luck with your application to raise NZ geckos. We are told it is illegal to keep any native bird/animal in captivity.
Lesley, the pet shops, e.g. Animates, still sell these tiny turtles. In Scotland when they outgrew their owners facilities they were often released. I saw several at the Edinburgh Zoo that had been handed in having been found in the Union canal. At the now defunct Glasgow Zoo they used to over-winter under the ice in an outside pond!
Native lizards can only be kept under license. You need a cage at least 60cm X 60cm X 90cm tall with wire mesh on the outside as a cat screen and mosquito mesh on the inside with a 40mm gap in between these layers.
Dave, I'll try to take more pics. The butterfly life is poor here. I've only seen a couple of yellow admirals (Bassaris itea) and one red (B. gonerilla). Our garden (until Monday) has no nectar (or any other for that matter) flowers in it. Just lemon, tangerine, macadamia, puriri, pohutukawa, magnolia and other trees. I'll try to take pics of the little blue (Zizina labradus), which is common and seems to have benefited from the introduction of leguminous weeds from the UK. A well as dead possums we must have killed dozens of small whites (Pieris rapae) which at times were so common on our journey as to resemble snow! :o The only other butterflies I've seen so far are the Common Copper (Lycaena salustius) at Piha west of Auckland and the Blue Moon (Hypolimna bolina) at Kerikeri.
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Dave, a friend in the UK breeds moths, including hawkmoths. He had this Chinese hawkmoth (Langi zenzeroides) hatch yesterday.
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Managed to track down some "Common Blues" (Zizina labradus) and I had another group of monarch's (Danaus plexippus) emerge.
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I love those last two photos, Anthony. Glad to see you are rapidly getting to know the natives!
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Dave, a friend in the UK breeds moths, including hawkmoths. He had this Chinese hawkmoth (Langi zenzeroides) hatch yesterday.
thats incredible,lovely shots of the butterflies thank you keep them coming and any more hawk-moths i will be a very happy chappy
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The monarchs are not native to NZ but are naturalized by now with large populations in some areas without cold winters. We have them here for a year or two then lose them over a colder winter and it takes another couple of years for them to work down the country again, probably from Nelson where there are a lot. I've heard (not seen) that some trees in Nelson are hung through the winter with thousands of the chrysal (you know what I mean, can't spell it), which in their early stage are a most lovely jade green, with dotting of pure gold. It seems to be the true metal, but I suppose can't be. Stunningly beautiful. The colour changes to blackish as in Anthony's pictures then goes transparent and the orange and black can be seen through, before they hatch. They're a lot bigger than any of our natives and I just love them.
I remember some years ago at a one day cricket match in Christchurch, I was in one of the stands and many monarchs appeared from somewhere and for hours fluttered about among the crowd in my area. Even the radio commentators talked about them. A few people went elsewhere in a hurry but I was thrilled.
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Lesley, the monarch is a real wanderer (wanderer is its Australian name) and is reckoned to have reached New Zealand under its own steam about 1840 and Australia in 1871. It can even cross the Atlantic, reaching the UK in some years. There is a static population in the Canary Islands and it is now found in the Mediterranean area. In New Zealand its main foodplant is Asclepias fruticosa (swan plant) which has large spherical seed pods producing fluffy tufted seeds. No chance of it becoming a pest. "The Warehouse" even sells swan plants with a photo of a monarch on the label. I took a pic of one of the last chrysalids that are still green and some from last week. As Lesley says, jade green with gold spots. The adult is poisonous and distasteful, hence the orange and black stripes. Depending on the food plant, there can be enough poison in one butterfly to kill a starling! Mostly they don't bother, but it is a tough butterfly so a would be predator would drop it before too much damage was done. The local bird ignore any butterflies I release. In New Zealand there are several "swarming sites" where adult butterflies congregate on trees for a few weeks over the cooler winter period.
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couple of Hawk Moths from work last year, for some strange reason I get more variety with the trap at home ???
Privet & Poplar, the first photo I showed to a friend who didn't believe there was a moth that big in the UK ;D
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Richard they are incredible WOW,i found a lime hawk moth chrysalis the other day while doing a garden,as soon as the moth comes out i will take a pic.
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they are amazing, get a few more different ones, Oak, Elephant and Eyed are quite common here, plus Hummingbird sometimes in quite good numbers, they're amazing but very hard to photograph!
will post more pics in the summer when the trap goes out.
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In the southern hemisphere - the beautiful butterflies, but in our area ...
Winter does not want to retreat ... but spring is near :D
Please forgive me - I do not know the English names of birds, so I am latin.
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Great photos, Natalia,
the Bohemian Waxwing, all puffed up with its crest raised looks as if he can look after himself. We don't see these in England. The Fieldfare is is more numerous, but it doesn't usually pose so beautifully to have its picture taken. - Thank you for showing these. :)
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I was out cross-country skiing at the weekend and suddenly I heard a sound that I had been waiting to hear for some 30 years - a Pygmy Owl singing/displaying from the very top of a Norway Spruce tree! Pygmy Owl is tiny, the size of a Bullfinch! Fantastic! This Youtube video is close to what I experienced.....
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbYYm-LFY9s&feature=related[/youtube]
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That's amazing Stephen - and I thought our little owls were cute...
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great shots of Waxwings, seen lots this year due to a big influx.
Male Siskin on my feeder this morning.
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Oh yes we do, Maren. I saw about 50 on Sunday.
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Maren, thank you:)
In our gardens now is not present Bohemian Waxwing - they have departed to the south. Because of summer heat in 2010 of a forage it is not enough.
These photos are made on 200 km to the southwest from my city.
Siskins have not yet arrived to us .
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Pygmy Owl is tiny, the size of a Bullfinch! Fantastic!
sounds like a bullie also
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Pygmy Owl is tiny, the size of a Bullfinch! Fantastic!
sounds like a bullie also
So some claim, although not possible to mistake to my ears...:) Really, it was an owl not a bullfinch, honest!
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Something for those in to birds
http://www.eilatbirdsfestival.com/festival%20packages.html (http://www.eilatbirdsfestival.com/festival%20packages.html)
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[/quote]
The butterfly life is poor here. I've only seen a couple of yellow admirals (Bassaris itea) and one red (B. gonerilla). Our garden (until Monday) has no nectar (or any other for that matter) flowers in it. Just lemon, tangerine, macadamia, puriri, pohutukawa, magnolia and other trees. I'll try to take pics of the little blue (Zizina labradus), which is common and seems to have benefited from the introduction of leguminous weeds from the UK. A well as dead possums we must have killed dozens of small whites (Pieris rapae) which at times were so common on our journey as to resemble snow! :o The only other butterflies I've seen so far are the Common Copper (Lycaena salustius) at Piha west of Auckland and the Blue Moon (Hypolimna bolina) at Kerikeri.
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Anthony,
Red and yellow admirals are common in my garden here in Dunedin. The preferred host plant for the red admiral is the native nettle Urtica ferox which has not gained a lot of popularity as a garden plant despite being the runner up for New Zealand's favourite plant for 2010. Yellow admiral caterpillars are happy on the introduced nettle Urtica urens which I can grow well without any effort on my part. Hebe speciosa and its hybrids are good nectar sources for the adults. According to some authorities there are > 20 species of coppers (Lycaena). The host plant for this genus is Muehlenbeckia of which there are several species M. australis, M. complexa and M axillaris. M. australis is an aggressive native vine naturally found on forest margins and paradoxically becoming increasingly rare in the major urban areas as managers of forest reserves usually remove it. Coppers can be quite common where there is an abundance of Muehlenbeckia. Here is a picture of a local species of copper butterfly - I dont think it has a name yet,
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Nice butterfly, David
Only 6 weeks and swifts will be back from Africa.
somewhere in Europe
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suKbhDkQ1k0&feature=related[/youtube]
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I wish we had better/more reliable summers :( few years ago the borders at work were full of all sorts of butterflies, lots of Hair-streaks that I hadn't seen before, and Clouded Yellows passing through which were the most amazing colour.
last year was bad again but did see the first Silver Washed Fritillary in the garden.
really must get my boss to put some swift boxes up.
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Richard swift boxes are very easy to make and put together. Your local wood yard will cut out what you need
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I'm a whiz with a Jigsaw ;)
have been making Owl boxes for a long time, the problem is my boss is anti putting anything on his properties, I wanted to stick some artificial House Martin nests up but he wasn't keen on them.
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The preferred host plant for the red admiral is the native nettle Urtica ferox which has not gained a lot of popularity as a garden plant despite being the runner up for New Zealand's favourite plant for 2010.
:) Really? How come it's so popular? I think I read once that someone once fell into a bed of this nettle and subsequently died - the stingers are certainly ferocious looking...
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Two mallard have taken up residence in the garden. They have discovered the sunflower seeds I put out.They are very tame and just wander of into the border if we go outside
Do not know whether to be happy or not.
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Two mallard have taken up residence in the garden. They have discovered the sunflower seeds I put out.They are very tame and just wander of into the border if we go outside
Do not know whether to be happy or not.
Suppose it depends how loose they are Tony? :P
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Two mallard have taken up residence in the garden. They have discovered the sunflower seeds I put out.They are very tame and just wander of into the border if we go outside
Do not know whether to be happy or not.
Suppose it depends how loose they are Tony? :P
David the word 'very' springs to mind!!
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We have Mallards regularly wandering about our car park at work.. Waxwings have been seen here too although I haven't been fortunate enough to see them although I did have flocks of fieldfares in my garden during the heavy snow in January. Lovely photos everyone.
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Two mallard have taken up residence in the garden. They have discovered the sunflower seeds I put out.They are very tame and just wander of into the border if we go outside
Do not know whether to be happy or not.
Suppose it depends how loose they are Tony? :P
David the word 'very' springs to mind!!
;D ;D ;D
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Today 2 very brave sand martins, Riparia riparia, were seen in N Ireland
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A few migrants appearing now throughout the UK. Sand Martins, Wheatears ,Chiffchaffs and even a Willow Warbler today in Gloucester.
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The preferred host plant for the red admiral is the native nettle Urtica ferox which has not gained a lot of popularity as a garden plant despite being the runner up for New Zealand's favourite plant for 2010.
:) Really? How come it's so popular? I think I read once that someone once fell into a bed of this nettle and subsequently died - the stingers are certainly ferocious looking...
There has been one recorded human fatality in 1961 from Urtica ferox poisoning. I have had numerous brushes with this plant and have lived to tell the tale. A good hit is quite painful and the effects can last up to about a week. It is very common here on the Otago Peninsula especially as an understory shrub in coastal forest. Most people manage to steer well clear of it except botanists who inevitably blunder into it. The participants in the competition for New Zealand's favourite plant are conservationists, ecologists and persons of that ilk who are interested in preserving native biodiversity rather than the better house and garden set. However I doubt in these risk adverse times, that children will be encouraged to grow indigenous Urtica ferox to raise red admiral butterflies in the same way that swan plants (an exotic) are marketed to feed exotic monarch butterfly caterpillars. I saw both red and yellow admiral butterflies feeding on a Sedum today.
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I can't imagine a nettle being voted as a favourite garden plant
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when the Mrs is giving too much lip
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n8GXVgXp8LY/TX3rtq_zRnI/AAAAAAAAHRQ/SpmgcFdT78k/s1600/image001.jpg (https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n8GXVgXp8LY/TX3rtq_zRnI/AAAAAAAAHRQ/SpmgcFdT78k/s1600/image001.jpg)
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guillemot 'eggs' and a golden eagle 'egg'
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Nearly fell off my perch laughing at those sparrows. Absolutely brilliant.
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Are the replica eggs Mark.I caught a pic of a sparrow hawk feeding today on a ladies garden.
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Yes Davey. I thought others would comment. I was given them today. So real they have blowing holes in them.
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Mark they are very life like,do they do all british bird eggs,yellow hammers are very pretty or the very rare stone curlew,as a kid birds(the feathered kind)butterflies,moths,small mammals was every thing i did,i have a badgers skull in the garage that i bleached for one of my nephews.
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The preferred host plant for the red admiral is the native nettle Urtica ferox which has not gained a lot of popularity as a garden plant despite being the runner up for New Zealand's favourite plant for 2010.
:) Really? How come it's so popular? I think I read once that someone once fell into a bed of this nettle and subsequently died - the stingers are certainly ferocious looking...
Must get an Urtica ferox bush (yet to see one)! I quite fancy rearing the red admiral, although I have heard it is not easy. I have few a large black nylon net cages that would be ideal. Do my bit for conservation as it is heavily parasitised and thus declining. I bought a sedum so ever hopeful of attracting passing butterflies.
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There has been one recorded human fatality in 1961 from Urtica ferox poisoning. I have had numerous brushes with this plant and have lived to tell the tale. A good hit is quite painful and the effects can last up to about a week. It is very common here on the Otago Peninsula especially as an understory shrub in coastal forest. Most people manage to steer well clear of it except botanists who inevitably blunder into it. The participants in the competition for New Zealand's favourite plant are conservationists, ecologists and persons of that ilk who are interested in preserving native biodiversity rather than the better house and garden set. However I doubt in these risk adverse times, that children will be encouraged to grow indigenous Urtica ferox to raise red admiral butterflies in the same way that swan plants (an exotic) are marketed to feed exotic monarch butterfly caterpillars. I saw both red and yellow admiral butterflies feeding on a Sedum today.
The NZ tourist board doesn't do much to warn the tourists though! I remember walking in to some caves on the west coast and the path in to the cave was lined with high Urtica ferox plants hanging over the path. I gingerly edged my way up the path to avoid getting stung. Suddenly an oriental guy came running down the path apparently oblivious to the "danger" - he must have got stung or do you avoid getting stung if brushing the plants at speed? :)
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Saw my first migrants yesterday - Oystercatcher and Starling!
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Took a pic of this Golden Bell-frog (Litoria aurea) on the lawn today. I returned it to its patch of rushes this evening.
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Not sure what these monarchs were doing as they are both male! ::)
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This is the tiniest damsel fly I've every seen - the Gossamer damsel fly (Ischnura aurora). I will try to get a better pic, but it landed on our lounge wall before floating away. It is less than 25mm long.
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Davey Emerald Eggs made them but they have now stopped. There was a series of 100. Those that have them are keeping them. Like snowdrops they sell for stupid money
Stephen do all 'your' starlings come to the UK or maybe Scotland for the winter? Aberdeen has impressive winter roosts
Anthony what has happened to your photography? It's brilliant. The frog and gay butterflies are brilliant
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Anthony what has happened to your photography? It's brilliant. The frog and gay butterflies are brilliant
New lens and something called (at least round here) "sunshine". 8) Not figured out how to reduce the shutter speed and increase the depth of field yet. ::)
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Stephen do all 'your' starlings come to the UK or maybe Scotland for the winter? Aberdeen has impressive winter roosts
Yes, most of our starlings overwinter in the UK, either migrating over the North Sea or via Denmark. A few hang on in the outer coast - it's colder within the Trondheimsfjord area where I live and I don't remember ever seeing a starling in winter.
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The preferred host plant for the red admiral is the native nettle Urtica ferox which has not gained a lot of popularity as a garden plant despite being the runner up for New Zealand's favourite plant for 2010.
:) Really? How come it's so popular? I think I read once that someone once fell into a bed of this nettle and subsequently died - the stingers are certainly ferocious looking...
Must get an Urtica ferox bush (yet to see one)! I quite fancy rearing the red admiral, although I have heard it is not easy. I have few a large black nylon net cages that would be ideal. Do my bit for conservation as it is heavily parasitised and thus declining. I bought a sedum so ever hopeful of attracting passing butterflies.
Anthony,
You can get one from Oratia Native Plant Nursery which is in West Auckland for the trifling sum of $15.00
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60 sand martins are at the Chew Lakes near Bristol
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Swallows in Cork and Waterfrod today.
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A day at the beach and some megafauna
1 The beach. The elongated lump in the middle distance is a Hooker's sea lion.
2. Close up they can be quite cute. (they can also jump up and bite you) Shot with my 60mm macro lens.
3,4, 5,6,7 Posing for the camera. The light coloured one is a juvenile female and is enjoying the attention.
8 Mum is looking about
9 but cannot really be bothered
10 off looking for those interesting visitors. Once we had left she made quite a bit of fuss and headed up the creek away from the beach. when she did not find anything she came back and settled down again
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The blonde seal reminds me of a labrador
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Have you seen this clip? Totally amazing.
http://www.clipjunkie.com/Cuddling-with-an-Elephant-Seal-vid6966.html
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two thoughts
yum fish breath :P
then it takes her head off :o
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The preferred host plant for the red admiral is the native nettle Urtica ferox which has not gained a lot of popularity as a garden plant despite being the runner up for New Zealand's favourite plant for 2010.
:) Really? How come it's so popular? I think I read once that someone once fell into a bed of this nettle and subsequently died - the stingers are certainly ferocious looking...
Must get an Urtica ferox bush (yet to see one)! I quite fancy rearing the red admiral, although I have heard it is not easy. I have few a large black nylon net cages that would be ideal. Do my bit for conservation as it is heavily parasitised and thus declining. I bought a sedum so ever hopeful of attracting passing butterflies.
Anthony,
You can get one from Oratia Native Plant Nursery which is in West Auckland for the trifling sum of $15.00
I'll pay them a visit. Thanks David.
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Went to Oratia Native Plant Nursery this morning and bought three nettles: two Urtica ferox and one U. australis. The last came complete with caterpillers - probably the Yellow Admiral (Bassaris itea).
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Antony,
It seems you got a good deal. Were the caterpillars part of the package?
I have some more pictures - this time NZ fur seals. The Hooker's sea lions like the sandy beaches but the fur seals prefer rock platforms.
1. Coastal scenery.
2. Rocky point frequented by seals. There are dozens there but you cant see them in the photo.
3.Another rocky point also with seals There is a single animal on the beach if you look closely.
4. Seals on the beach. There are another two seals on the rocks behind.
5,6,7,8,9,10 In the heart of the seal colony. There are numerous young pups. They use the big rock pools for swimming and playing.
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I encountered this fellow when I went to put the cat out last night. The cat is a bit of a wuss and was not keen to go out and defend her patch. I was watching an Australian TV show called Animal Rescue. A bloke came home after a holiday and found his house trashed (by a possum) They found the culprit sitting in the shower and the SPCA lady came, captured it and took it to the vet (the poor thing was emotionally exhausted after doing over the house). After checking it over and giving it a good feed they took it back and released in the same blokes back yard so it could do the same thing again. Our Aussie mates have not yet learnt the virtues of possum fur/merino socks. I give them as gifts to my Aussie friends hoping they will get the message.
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I encountered this fellow when I went to put the cat out last night.
Looks a very well fed specimen - I'm not surprised your cat was nervous, she probably thought he would have her for dessert.
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Whilst I was at the nursery this morning, Bev (Davidson) brought in a dead Morepork (Ninox novaeseelandiae), a road casualty and New Zealands only native owl. I didn't realise how small they were.
Here are my stinging nettles, and another pics green bell-frog taken at night and monarchs on my swan plant (Asclepias fruticosa).
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Anthony your sooo lucky,are there any skipper or swallowtails over there?
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Here's a few from last weekend when I went to visit an old mate who moved up to Barton on Humber
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5254/5523489154_94d746f1a6.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/e-bygum/5523489154/)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5292/5523497504_e0c4b2678c.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/e-bygum/5523497504/)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5060/5523492546_43d6655381.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/e-bygum/5523492546/)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5291/5526642269_7d5b93688f.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/e-bygum/5526642269/)
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Crumbs, Nick.... does you pal keep these? Most unusual to see Adders out this early up here, for sure.
We call them Multipliers..... :-X
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no they were totally wild. We saw 3 but as many as 7 had been reported earlier on that week. They are all males and they were in a lovely sheltered southern facing sandy bank. I think that one hadn't long moulted as his colours and markings were pin sharp. On of the others looked dull in comparison. I spent about 3 hours photographing them and watching them - It was brilliant they were the first I've seen for 25+ years - it is thought that they are extinct here in Warwickshire now - very sad but who knows there maybe some hanging on somewhere.
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Wow, that was even better, then.
Lovely pix. 8)
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Stunning Nick last adder i saw was at Otterburn in Northumberland
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Anthony your sooo lucky,are there any skipper or swallowtails over there?
Alas, no skippers or swallowtails, although there is plenty of fennel for the latter and I'm surprised some of the Aussie citrus feeding spp. haven't jumped the ditch.
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Today I saw bees for the first time this year. I think it must be spring now, finally ;D
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Lovely photo. We haven't seen any bees out and about yet, but Darren did encounter a very LARGE wasp which had been overwintering in the utility room. It was a little annoyed as it couldn't find the way out through the closed window and door. :-X
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The first swallow of the year has been seen in N Ireland and what a stunning day to be seen
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One of the best things of living here in Norway is the cross-country skiing. I've had a winter holiday this last week and the weather has been perfect for skiing in the local area offtrack (until the weather changed earlier this week). Here's a clip from a trip to Skarpåsen (literally sharp hill) an area with some nice old Pine and Spruce trees and some interesting birds too (Three-toed Woodpecker, Great Grey Shrike, Pygmy Owl, Capercaillie etc) and there's a Black Grouse lek also. By the way, it's not easy skiing with ski poles in one hand and camera in the other...
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KCQ7rq0BE0&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
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For most of the track there had only been one person ahead of you, was that Mrs S. who was waiting at the end with a flask of tea and a sandwich? ;)
Super video!
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If only....
I was following myself :)
...and I was waiting for me at the end with a flask of tea and a sandwich...
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Very thoughtful of you, Stephen!
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These two butterflies have been enjoying the very warm day here. It's been difficult to get long video footage. If I moved suddenly they flew off with him chasing her
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-T0NaxSgfg[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cral2tf_bBs[/youtube]
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Stephen are you following someone elses tracks?
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Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs singing today, quite a few butterflies, bats & very noisy Little Owls this morning, dodging frogs and toads with the mowers today, spring has sprung ;D
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Stephen are you following someone elses tracks?
See above, I was following myself ;) These are the tracks I made on my way up to the top...
Nice to see the Tortoiseshells! Difficult to believe with the storm still ranging that it's only 2-3 weeks before they (and Chiffchaffs) are seen here!
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The nest box in the garden is now home to a pair of wrens,(Troglodytes troglodytes). They managed to take up occupancy before the robin got there. Although there was a squabble a couple of days ago with the robin evicting the wren and attacking it on the ground. The wren escaped and within a couple of minutes carried on building. I haven't seen the robin near since. The wrens don't seem to care if I am around and just continue about their business.
A couple of peacock butterflies have been hanging around the garden for a few days. This one is a little damaged.
Photos;
Arriving with moss for a comfortable lining.
About to enter.
Looking out before departure
Close up
Peacock butterfly.
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Is anyone planning to put up swift nest boxes this year? This week I was told the latest figure for the decline in Scotland is a scary -60% :'(. I have added 3 boxes to my colony. ::)
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Graham super shots love the Peacock.
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Went to my local reservoir today and saw several Sand Martins but was very surprised to see a House Martin amongst them. This is my earliest sighting ever of this species. Was scanning frantically to see a Swallow to make it a trio but had to rush off to work. Will try again for Swallow in the morning.
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A swift has been seen in Wales
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Wow thats early.
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Must have got there fast!
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definitely early. So far the species is unknown. Alpine swifts sometimes over shoot but with it's white belly it would be easily identified
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But Pallid Swifts can be more tricky to identify.
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I agree.
Waiting for swifts to return from migration is the same as waiting for a baby to be born. Both take 9 months.
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Bramblings under my feeders this morning
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Triturus alpestris in the early morning.
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is that a newt?
Today 100s of swifts were on the move from Africa in to southern Spain
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Triturus alpestris in the early morning.
lovely alpine newt,i have never seen this newt in the wild.
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Triturus alpestris in the early morning.
lovely alpine newt,i have never seen this newt in the wild.
There are colonies in the UK where it does rather well.
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is that a newt?
Today 100s of swifts were on the move from Africa in to southern Spain
Yes Mark, it's an newt.
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We are currently haveing to walk the lawns and move any Oil beetles, as we just found out they are becoming rare :( . I wouldnt run over any of them by choice anyway :).
So we are just making sure we dont squish them ;D They are quite big and easy to spot. i will post a pic later.
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BBC link to Oil Beetle article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9434000/9434963.stm
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I've never seen one
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me neither, look like big beasties, Frogs and Toads are currently slowing my mowing down.
had a lovely display from 2 Red Kites today, hoping they set up home here now they've been roosting near the gardens for a week or so.
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I've seen oil beetles in Glen Etive. They are big beasties, and my memory says over an inch, but perhaps not? I would have said March was a bit early for them?
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We always see them here in March (Dorset) They are a bit bigger than an inch. You can help noticing them as they go about their lives on the lawns and rough grass.
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WOW Emma they are incredible,is there an explanation why they are called oil beetles?i would love find them in my garden,fantastic thank you for posting.
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Wow indeed! :o I suppose things happen much earlier in Dorset? You are lucky to have such a problem. They release an oily fluid which smells when they are disturbed.
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Anthony i take it oil beetles are rare in the uk?
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Emma have look at this http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1369791/UKs-oil-beetle-Buglife-wants-seek-remaining-species.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
They are rare,as rare as hens teeth,or rocking horse manure.Sorry Anthony did a little research they are incredible beetles there life cycle is incredible,Emma you are so lucky.
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http://www.buglife.org.uk/getinvolved/surveys/Oil+Beetle+Hunt/Oil+Beetle+hunt+-+Life+Cycle
I've never seen them either.... and at the size they are it shouldn't be hard to spot them!
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Ive always assumed everyone had them. Just of of those insects who turns up this time of year ,bit like may bugs.
Looked up years ago in my bug book to find what they were ,and really didn't think much more about them. Always moved them out of the way of the mower.
We have two work experience lads here at the moment and one of them found one and wanted to know a bi more about them so i googled them and came up with that bug life survey ( which i have filled in and sent off).
We are being extra careful not to run them over now we know they are so rare. I have seen at least 20 in the last 5 days. Mostly the very fat females.
The oil not only smells and (I'm guessing )tastes bad, it is also so caustic, hence the gloves.
They are big buggers :o
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Never saw these beetles, very interesting.
Yesterday, I watched two dippers fishing at Mount Usher Gardens. An uncommon sight.
Paddy
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Attracting bumblebees to nest
Has anyone had bumblebees nest in the garden? Today I saw that most queens in the garden are collecting pollen which means I have failed again to get a queen bee to nest in my garden. I have two potential nest sites. One is a half buried clay pot on its side with the drainage hole at soil level. The other is a bought bumblebee nest box. Every year I see queens searching for nest sites. Following advice on the internet I have done four things that have failed
1. Catch and imprison a queen in the box for a few days. Each time I unplug the hole they come out and fly away
2. Get a smelly mouse nest from the pet shop and put it inside because "queens love the smell of a mouse. It failed.
3. Make a mouse tunnel using a piece of water pump hose. It doesn't work.
4. Plant flowers in the garden. I have and it doesn't work
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Attracting bumblebees to nest
Has anyone had bumblebees nest in the garden? Today I saw that most queens in the garden are collecting pollen which means I have failed again to get a queen bee to nest in my garden. I have two potential nest sites. One is a half buried clay pot on its side with the drainage hole at soil level. The other is a bought bumblebee nest box. Every year I see queens searching for nest sites. Following advice on the internet I have done four things that have failed
1. Catch and imprison a queen in the box for a few days. Each time I unplug the hole they come out and fly away
2. Get a smelly mouse nest from the pet shop and put it inside because "queens love the smell of a mouse. It failed.
3. Make a mouse tunnel using a piece of water pump hose. It doesn't work.
4. Plant flowers in the garden. I have and it doesn't work
The bees here just nest in mouse holes or blue tit nest boxes. I have found them in a ball of moss before now, almost trod on them.
Maybe get more mice ?
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Never saw these beetles, very interesting.
Yesterday, I watched two dippers fishing at Mount Usher Gardens. An uncommon sight.
Paddy
We have had dippers on our stretch of the river Allen before now. Wonderful birds to watch. We also have swans,kingfishers, herons,water rails,moorhens, little egrets,ducks,tufted ducks ,teal. plus an otter,trout,grayling. Water voles, Water shrews, stoats, rabbits, hares, fallow deer ( these thankfully stay in the water meadows and don't come into the garden.
We also still have the native white clawed crayfish ;D