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Author Topic: Re: Wildlife November 2009  (Read 11436 times)

mark smyth

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Re: Wildlife November 2009
« on: November 02, 2009, 04:49:21 PM »
This is terrible. How can a stadium full of people cheer for someone who killed a bat
http://deadspin.com/5394558/argentina-tops-transylvania-in-batsketball
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When the swifts arrive empty the green house

All photos taken with a Canon 900T and 230

Roma

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Re: Wildlife November 2009
« Reply #1 on: November 02, 2009, 11:05:25 PM »
Can anyone tell me what the insect is in my Crocus caspius flower?
Roma Fiddes, near Aberdeen in north East Scotland.

Anthony Darby

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Re: Wildlife November 2009
« Reply #2 on: November 02, 2009, 11:11:53 PM »
It's one of the plume moths Roma.
Anthony Darby, Auckland, New Zealand.
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Gerdk

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Re: Wildlife November 2009
« Reply #3 on: November 03, 2009, 06:32:11 AM »
It's one of the plume moths Roma.

In German ' Geistchen ' =  little ghost

Gerd
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Germany

Paul T

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Re: Wildlife November 2009
« Reply #4 on: November 03, 2009, 10:36:09 AM »
Howdy All,

A couple of photos of a bird I happened upon on the bus trip I went on on the weekend (to an iris nursery and rare plant nursery..... predictable, aren't I?  ;D).  I'd never seen these before and had to come home and work out what they were.  They were a group of at least 3 adult Blue Faced Honeyeaters (this is their official name, just clarifying that after the discussion a while back on honeyeaters as a term we use here.... this one has it as part of it's name) caring for 2 dependent young.  They were way up in the trees and I just had my usual pocket camera, so I was pleased to get any pics at all.  They were all keeping a careful eye on me as you can see from the example of the bird in the pic.  They were perhaps 30cm long or so, so a reasonable sized bird.  The references say 240-300mm when I looked them up, so I was fairly right in what I was thinking they looked, size-wise.

It was nice to see something different, in fact something I'd never even heard of before.   8)

There was also a Willie Wagtail (a member of the fantail family) having a bit of a bath in a pool under a tap in the park.

Please click on the pic for a larger version.
« Last Edit: November 03, 2009, 11:09:06 AM by Paul T »
Cheers.

Paul T.
Canberra, Australia.
Min winter temp -8 or -9°C. Max summer temp 40°C. Thankfully, maybe once or twice a year only.

Ragged Robin

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Re: Wildlife November 2009
« Reply #5 on: November 03, 2009, 11:13:42 AM »
Very exiting to spot new birds and they are smart aren't they?  What sort of things do they eat, is there a special flower they prefer, Paul?  Willy wagtails are some of my favourite birds - we have a smaller version!
Valais, Switzerland - 1,200 metres - Continental climate - rocks and moraine

Paul T

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Re: Wildlife November 2009
« Reply #6 on: November 03, 2009, 11:20:41 AM »
Robin,

No idea as to the specific dietary habits of the birds unfortunately, but they eat insects as well as drink nectar etc.  I saw the carers carrying beakfuls of insects etc to the babies.
Cheers.

Paul T.
Canberra, Australia.
Min winter temp -8 or -9°C. Max summer temp 40°C. Thankfully, maybe once or twice a year only.

Paul T

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Re: Wildlife November 2009
« Reply #7 on: November 03, 2009, 11:23:54 AM »
Here's a couple of pics of a hoverfly I found on an iris the other day when I went to photograph it.  I detoured a bit and took a few pics of the hoverfly (they usually don't seem to sit still for long enough to photograph) before it flew off, then went back to photographing the irises.  ;D

I have no idea of exact ID, just that it is a hoverfly as it only has one pair of wings.  You can see so much more detail with the pics on a computer than you can see on the insect when you're looking at it in person.  ;)

Enjoy.

Please click on the pic for a larger version.
Cheers.

Paul T.
Canberra, Australia.
Min winter temp -8 or -9°C. Max summer temp 40°C. Thankfully, maybe once or twice a year only.

angie

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Re: Wildlife November 2009
« Reply #8 on: November 03, 2009, 11:50:12 AM »
Paul

Amazing pictures of a the hoverfly 8). I took my laptop through to show my mum ( who is housebound ) your pictures and she couldn't believe that a photo could show so much detail,she was amazed,  she said its changed days when she was young they coloured in the photos, Thanks for sharing.

Angie :)
Angie T.
....just outside Aberdeen in North East Scotland

ranunculus

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Re: Wildlife November 2009
« Reply #9 on: November 03, 2009, 11:59:05 AM »
Superb detail Paul ... very impressed!  :)
Cliff Booker
Behind a camera in Whitworth. Lancashire. England.

mark smyth

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Re: Wildlife November 2009
« Reply #10 on: November 03, 2009, 12:25:55 PM »
According to my 'Photographic Guide to Birds of Australia' the 13 honeyeaters belong to the Manorina, Meliphaga, Lichenostomas and Entomyzon famalies. Pauls bird belongs to the last one. The food of only one is described - fruit, nectar and insects
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

Ragged Robin

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Re: Wildlife November 2009
« Reply #11 on: November 03, 2009, 03:38:18 PM »
Superb detail Paul ... very impressed!  :)

Like Cliff I think these are superb photos of a hoverfly, Paul - the detail is so clear on the wings and head, just incredible  8)
Valais, Switzerland - 1,200 metres - Continental climate - rocks and moraine

Lesley Cox

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Re: Wildlife November 2009
« Reply #12 on: November 03, 2009, 08:34:11 PM »
What flower is the hoverfly on Paul?
Lesley Cox - near Dunedin, lower east coast, South Island of New Zealand - Zone 9

mark smyth

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Re: Wildlife November 2009
« Reply #13 on: November 03, 2009, 09:03:13 PM »
well done Paul
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

Paul T

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Re: Wildlife November 2009
« Reply #14 on: November 03, 2009, 09:31:31 PM »
Thanks all.  Glad you enjoyed the pics.  8)

I was just amazed that the little blighter sat still for me for long enough to photograph it. ;)

Mark,

Fruit, nectar and insects fits many of the honeyeaters, although the smaller types such as Eastern Spinebills I think the nectar content would be far higher than the others.  I have no idea whether they go for fruit at all, but if so probably only to lap at the juice of damaged fruit etc.  I'm really not sure.

Lesley,

It's on an Iris...... Iris 'Lotus Land' to be precise.  I lovely soft apricot-pink shade, with lovely ruffling.  This one was in my garden at home here (not many flowering this year for some reason, unfortunately), but I have taken so many pics of irises over the weekend between here, my friends place, and the iris nursery we visited on the bus trip.
« Last Edit: November 03, 2009, 09:34:47 PM by Paul T »
Cheers.

Paul T.
Canberra, Australia.
Min winter temp -8 or -9°C. Max summer temp 40°C. Thankfully, maybe once or twice a year only.

 


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