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Author Topic: Wildlife October 2009  (Read 30353 times)

Anthony Darby

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Re: Wildlife October 2009
« Reply #60 on: October 09, 2009, 08:06:57 AM »
Trying to find a suitable spot to burrow under the ground for pupation? Many caterpillars disperse at this time.
Anthony Darby, Auckland, New Zealand.
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Hristo

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Re: Wildlife October 2009
« Reply #61 on: October 09, 2009, 08:59:58 AM »
True Anthony but not sure that will get many laughs!! ;)
Hristo passed away, after a long illness, on 11th November 2018. His support of SRGC was  much appreciated.

Ragged Robin

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Re: Wildlife October 2009
« Reply #62 on: October 09, 2009, 09:11:41 AM »
This spider thought a suitable spot was right here! (attached to the gate one side and the wall the other)
Valais, Switzerland - 1,200 metres - Continental climate - rocks and moraine

Anthony Darby

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Re: Wildlife October 2009
« Reply #63 on: October 09, 2009, 09:21:24 AM »
I am with the majority, Etta is a total doll! Anthony, does her 'partner' look the same or are there male/female differences?

Here are pics of Etta and Sundance. She is 12 cm from snout to vent; he is 18 cm and big with it! Compared with the pygmies, they are giants!
Anthony Darby, Auckland, New Zealand.
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Anthony Darby

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Re: Wildlife October 2009
« Reply #64 on: October 09, 2009, 12:10:54 PM »
This spider thought a suitable spot was right here! (attached to the gate one side and the wall the other)
Meta segamentata.
« Last Edit: October 10, 2009, 06:16:50 PM by Anthony Darby »
Anthony Darby, Auckland, New Zealand.
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http://www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk/Choir/The-Choir.html

Ragged Robin

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Re: Wildlife October 2009
« Reply #65 on: October 10, 2009, 05:28:09 PM »
Anthony your photos of Etta and Sundance are so magical with that colouring and marking and it's wonderful to see them in close up climbing  :D

Thanks for your ID, the spider 'Meta segamentata' is extraordinary in that it has four long legs and four short - is there a reason for that?

Anyway the spider was just in the way on the gate but the following evidence is more annoying as the fox dug up bulbs just planted, then left a calling card but with Jazzy around maybe has bitten off more than he can chew!  The fox photo was taken in the summer.
Valais, Switzerland - 1,200 metres - Continental climate - rocks and moraine

mark smyth

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Re: Wildlife October 2009
« Reply #66 on: October 10, 2009, 06:09:05 PM »
Robin your fox looks like it is half way through the moult. Did you have bone meal in with your bulbs?
Antrim, Northern Ireland Z8
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Anthony Darby

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Re: Wildlife October 2009
« Reply #67 on: October 10, 2009, 06:17:17 PM »


Thanks for your ID, the spider 'Meta segamentata' is extraordinary in that it has four long legs and four short - is there a reason for that?



The front legs are designed to enable the spider to run down a thread easily and deal with prey. The rear legs are anchors, or are used to draw silk from their spinnerets
Anthony Darby, Auckland, New Zealand.
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http://www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk/Choir/The-Choir.html

Ragged Robin

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Re: Wildlife October 2009
« Reply #68 on: October 10, 2009, 06:34:13 PM »
Robin your fox looks like it is half way through the moult. Did you have bone meal in with your bulbs?

Mark the photo of the fox was taken in the summer, I haven't had problems with them digging bulbs out before but the one that is visiting at the moment definitely thinks this is his patch - he is pooing everywhere!  I had no idea that foxes ate bulbs - the one taken was Muscari golden fragrance planted by my rockery - no added bonemeal just freshly dug soil  ???
Valais, Switzerland - 1,200 metres - Continental climate - rocks and moraine

Ragged Robin

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Re: Wildlife October 2009
« Reply #69 on: October 10, 2009, 06:39:03 PM »
We saw Autumn Watch last night - it is so exuberant and full of interesting facts and sightings of wildlife.  We enjoyed the Red Deer Rut scenes which were quite amazing - and the mouse who got stuck in the birdfeeder after eating too much like Winnie the Pooh  ;D
Valais, Switzerland - 1,200 metres - Continental climate - rocks and moraine

mark smyth

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Re: Wildlife October 2009
« Reply #70 on: October 10, 2009, 07:04:39 PM »
Yes it's a fanstaic programme. It's on for the next 6 weeks. Normally it would run for 8 days .
Antrim, Northern Ireland Z8
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When the swifts arrive empty the green house

All photos taken with a Canon 900T and 230

Maggi Young

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Re: Wildlife October 2009
« Reply #71 on: October 10, 2009, 07:12:26 PM »
Re : AutumnWatch on BBC- I did not see this but I heard on the Radio that there had been a tragedy among the rutting stags on Mull , which are featured in the programme, when one was killed the other day.
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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mark smyth

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Re: Wildlife October 2009
« Reply #72 on: October 10, 2009, 07:33:10 PM »
Titus. He fell off a small cliff while fighting. It's repeated tonight
http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8291000/8291710.stm
« Last Edit: October 10, 2009, 07:35:33 PM by mark smyth »
Antrim, Northern Ireland Z8
www.snowdropinfo.com / www.marksgardenplants.com / www.saveourswifts.co.uk

When the swifts arrive empty the green house

All photos taken with a Canon 900T and 230

mark smyth

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Re: Wildlife October 2009
« Reply #73 on: October 10, 2009, 07:42:46 PM »
you have missed the repeat
Antrim, Northern Ireland Z8
www.snowdropinfo.com / www.marksgardenplants.com / www.saveourswifts.co.uk

When the swifts arrive empty the green house

All photos taken with a Canon 900T and 230

Olga Bondareva

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Re: Wildlife October 2009
« Reply #74 on: October 11, 2009, 04:57:54 PM »
Hello!

Robin
I wonder foxes eat bulbs! May be it was looking for mouses?

Olga Bondareva, Moscow, Zone 3

 


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