Wildlife March 2011

[Gail]

Have you seen this clip? Totally amazing.

http://www.clipjunkie.com/Cuddling-with-an-Elephant-Seal-vid6966.html

[mark smyth]

two thoughts
yum fish breath  
then it takes her head off  

[Anthony Darby]

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.

[Anthony Darby]

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).

[David Lyttle]

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.

[David Lyttle]

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.

[Gail]

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.

[Anthony Darby]

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).

[daveyp1970]

Anthony your sooo lucky,are there any skipper or swallowtails over there?

[Nick_the_grief]

Here's a few from last weekend when I went to visit an old mate who moved up to Barton on Humber

[Maggi Young]

Crumbs, Nick.... does you pal keep these? Most unusual to see Adders out this early up here, for sure.

We call them Multipliers.....

[Nick_the_grief]

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.

[Maggi Young]

Wow, that was even better, then.
Lovely pix.

[daveyp1970]

Stunning Nick last adder i saw was at Otterburn in Northumberland

[Anthony Darby]

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.