Wildlife Autumn 2007 (spring wildlife Down Under)

[mark smyth]

Looks like a Black-tailed Godwit to me. Limosa limosa

[Lesley Cox]

So long at both ends then

[Anthony Darby]

Just had my rabies and yellow fever jags this afternoon. Arms a wee bit sore. Hope to be able to take pics in Trinidad, so watch this space.

[mark smyth]

A bit of a coincidence here after seeing Cliff's possible Godwit. This morning I received an email showing the migration route of a tagged Godwit.

[Andrew]

A couple of butterflies enjoying the weekend sunshine.



A Comma Polygonia c-album



and Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta.

[Maggi Young]

Your butterflies are as obliging as Cliff's bird, in posing for the camera, Andrew.

That is some migration pattern for the Godwit, isn't it?  I didn't realise they were that busy.

[Maggi Young]

This little wader, about the size of a starling, snapped yesterday at Aberdeen beach:



I know I should know what it is, but one of you will tell me!

[Anthony Darby]

A comma turned up in Dunblane last year but not many Red Admirals made it this fare north this year. Commas are residents and their distribution had shrunk to the county of Herefordshire by the end of the 19th century. They have been spreading outwards ever since.

[Anthony Darby]

Looks like a Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)?

[ranunculus]

A few more from the U.S. .... Monterey and Vegas....the large cats were 'on display' as part of a resident magic act at one of the casinos. Unfortunately the mesh caging is quite clearly visible as grey ghosting over the entirity of the images, but was totally unavoidable....the poor creatures were immaculately maintained, but still seemed so very sad.
The birds, frog and otters formed part of a series of superb living displays at Monterey aquarium.....
The squirrel and the chipmunk were spotted in Yosemite and Zion N.P. respectively....
...And Lesley....these ARE extras to those posted from June...not lucky enough to have two trips in one lifetime.....(unless Maggi is paying)?

[Rob]

Great photos Cliff, I wish my squirrel was as good!

[mark smyth]

bird 3 is a female Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicaria. She attracts mates, lays eggs and leaves him to it
bird 6 looks like a Turnstone going out of breeding colours

Googling Phalaropes it seems the grey one is the red-necked and the red one is the Grey. A bit Irish I think

[Lesley Cox]

Brilliant pictures from everyone, thanks so much.

Yes Cliff, it's impossible to imagine any sort of a smile breaking out on that poor lion's face. Just that gentle, accepting, long-suffering. How tragic. what possible justification could there be for keeping such animals at a casino, magic act or not?

Cute froggie though.

[Anthony Darby]

The tree frog is very like a White's treefrog (Litoria caerulia), but it is Australian, and although widely kept in captivity the Americans have enough of their own without importing any more?

[Thomas Huber]

Found this on a hiking tour yesterday - Anthony can you tell me how it looks when adult?
The red thing on the right side is a tail, not a horn