Wildlife January 2012

[jomowi]

A wildlife drama unfolded itself before my eyes at the RBGE today.  A swan which must have taken off from the pond flew low in front of me and failed to make enough height to clear the roof of the Orchid & Cycad house next to the Palm house.  The actual impact was out of my line of vision, but I heard the crash.  Help was summoned, and staff turned up to examine the situation.  We stood watching and after about 5 minutes, the stunned bird came round and proceeded to untangle itself from the supporting wires of the roof frame .  I don’t think the glass was broken as the wires must have absorbed some of the impact.  The swan leaned over the edge and I thought it was going to be trapped by its feet, but fortunately it came clear and crash landed on the grass.  Although a little dazed, it seemed none the worse for the ordeal, though I did wonder whether it might have suffered wing damage until it eventually tested them by flexing them open and shut. It was last seen waddling back towards the pond.

I also saw a couple of goldcrests in my wanderings.  The alpine house was looking colourful mainly with crocus, cyclamen and narcissus.  There are still areas closed off waiting to be cleared from the damage caused by the recent gales.

[angie]

Hi Maureen

See you got to RBGE then. I am jealous. Glad the swan wasn't hurt, such a beautiful bird. Sometimes they fly across the road down from me and how they manage to miss the cars I do not know.
My garden is full of Robins and all they seem to do is chase each other all day. They must use so much energy up. I suppose it keeps them warm in these cold days.

Angie 

[Anthony Darby]

We have praying mantids all over the garden at the moment. The springbok mantis can be brown or green. Here are my emperor gum caterpillars now and a male moth that hatched this week from last year's cocoons. My cage of swan plant eventually produced 26 pupae, mostly attached to the roof of the cage. I'll release the butterflies when they emerge in a week or two.

[angie]

Anthony thats lovely pictures. You must be in your element over there with all those praying mantis. I think I would prefer to have them rather than mice. How warm is it there at the moment, looks nice and sunny.

Angie 

[Anthony Darby]

Anthony thats lovely pictures. You must be in your element over there with all those praying mantis. I think I would prefer to have them rather than mice. How warm is it there at the moment, looks nice and sunny.

Angie 

Unusually cool for the time of year Angie. I think it would have struggled to reach 25^oC today, even though it was sunny, and evenings are a cold 16^oC. Eating our paella outside this evening should have been timed earlier - 6 o'clock, rather that 7! Lucy had goose pimples on her arm and it was only 7.50, by which time we were onto our fruit platter!

[angie]

Anthony thats lovely pictures. You must be in your element over there with all those praying mantis. I think I would prefer to have them rather than mice. How warm is it there at the moment, looks nice and sunny.

Angie 

Unusually cool for the time of year Angie. I think it would have struggled to reach 25^oC today, even though it was sunny, and evenings are a cold 16^oC. Eating our paella outside this evening should have been timed earlier - 6 o'clock, rather that 7! Lucy had goose pimples on her arm and it was only 7.50, by which time we were onto our fruit platter!

Sounds good to me, not the goose pimples off course  . That's what I would like to be able to do, just sit out in a evening without a jumper on. I have been watching TV in the morning and people are trying a week in Australia or New Zealand it all looks so lovely. I wish I wasn't as so old as I am, I would be packing my suitcase otherwise. 

Angie 

[Lesley Cox]

Some wonderfully welcome rain today here. Roger has been keeping an eye on the gauge and already we have 27mm and still falling.

[Michael J Campbell]

Mark,there is a snow white Blackbird (Turdus merula) visiting  in a garden in Dublin, was on the  6 o'clock news tonight.

[RichardW]

once saw a pure white House Martin, the others were very aggressive & drove it way.

had a nice surprise this pm when I saw what I thought was a Siskin on my feeders but was a Redpoll.

[maggiepie]

Saw this through the computer room window yesterday while I was reading the news.
Haven't seen her since last Summer and was sure someone had shot her.

[Maggi Young]

I love to see a good looking girl properly dressed for the snow 

She is a stunner... my local Fox would just love her.....  he doesn't see many wild women so near the city! though I haven't seen him in a while

[mark smyth]

wow what a moth!

I've seen photos of the albino blackbird on bird forums - wow http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0126/blackbird.html I believe it should be rescued and put in to a breeding proramme. Sooner than later a sparrowhawk will get it but fingers crossed ...

[RichardW]

forgot to add saw two Ravens again today, they've been regular visitors for the last year or so & luckily haven't been blasted out of the sky by game keepers, it is weird seeing them in Hertfordshire but someone was telling me recently they've been spreading quite fast for a few years like the Red Kites, birding friend in the village keeps missing them though I'm not sure how...

[mark smyth]

Richard Ravens are recolonising large cities and towns. I see them most days. Last Sunday two were playing above my house

[RichardW]

they are amazing birds and it's great to see things like that making a come back.

I didn't realise until recently how much of a vocal range they have, some of the noises are very odd & the distance their voice carries is extraordinary.