Wildlife in the garden - Spring and what is this bird?
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Peter Insole
Western Thunderer
Going back to the moth on the door: It is indeed a Poplar Hawk.
Here is one I reared from a caterpillar that had been presented to me in a box, having been "rescued" from a felled tree several years ago.
A magnificent creature, although not perhaps the prettiest of the "Hawks" ?!
Pete.
Here is one I reared from a caterpillar that had been presented to me in a box, having been "rescued" from a felled tree several years ago.
A magnificent creature, although not perhaps the prettiest of the "Hawks" ?!
Pete.
Peter Insole
Western Thunderer
Yes Bazzmund! The Privet Hawk even comes with lovely, long eyelashes too.
Lashes just out of focus in the last shot !
It is very sad that the term "common" can no longer be applied to any of our butterfly and moth species.
Pete.
Lashes just out of focus in the last shot !
It is very sad that the term "common" can no longer be applied to any of our butterfly and moth species.
Pete.
Bazzmund
Active Member
We had a recently hatched moth with black and red wings that was hanging around our doorstep while it's wings were hardening so the mrs scooped it up and put it onto the flowers. A few days later it was happily flying around our doorway having found an easy source of nectar. It knows my mrs is a mug for a sob story now 
oldravendale
Western Thunderer
Thanks Peter. I'm actually quite proud that I eventually identified it properly. Also my use of the term "common" is a comparative one. As you say, sadly none of the butterflies or moths are common now although we see quite a few which I put down to living in the country. We've also had a quite reasonable display of damsel flies to our new wildlife pond, common blues and small reds and another I've not seen previously and remains unidentified but has a black and white body. We usually have Emperor dragonflies too, but I've not seen any yet this year, but we have Broad Bodied Libellula instead, again a rare visitor to this garden. All are laying eggs so the tadpoles had better watch out next year.
We used to see a lot of maybugs too, but haven't seen any for at least five years.
We raised a moth from a caterpillar many years ago, in fact so long ago I can't remember the species. Once it had hatched and the wings had hardened we took it out to the garden in its tank while I explained to Steph and his sister that the right thing to do was let it return to the wild. We removed the lid, the moth flew out of the tank and a blue tit swept down out of the clear sky and caught it. Ho hum. Such is life. Fortunately I was between the kids and the moth so as far as they were concerned it had escaped......
Brian
We used to see a lot of maybugs too, but haven't seen any for at least five years.
We raised a moth from a caterpillar many years ago, in fact so long ago I can't remember the species. Once it had hatched and the wings had hardened we took it out to the garden in its tank while I explained to Steph and his sister that the right thing to do was let it return to the wild. We removed the lid, the moth flew out of the tank and a blue tit swept down out of the clear sky and caught it. Ho hum. Such is life. Fortunately I was between the kids and the moth so as far as they were concerned it had escaped......
Brian
Steph Dale
Western Thunderer
Osgood
Western Thunderer
I grew up in a household full of insects, from Victorian butterfly collections acquired from junk shops (after they'd become unpopular) to all manner of live species.
One evening my brother excitedly announced he'd just found two Old Ladies locked in a cupboard under the stairs and a Footman in the hall.
One evening my brother excitedly announced he'd just found two Old Ladies locked in a cupboard under the stairs and a Footman in the hall.
Osgood
Western Thunderer
Panic at Camp O just now - watching a mother escorting her 6 ducklings through the garden she selected a route taking them right into the little owls' parlour (their home being a tree also used as a look-out tower by the kestrel).
She got spooked by a sudden movement that turned out to be a little owl (arrowed) coming in to land from stage right on the far side of a ditch:
She headed for deep cover, escorting the little ones down into the ditch, but then went out the other side, unaware that the owl was just taking off:
It is possible the owl had just grabbed a small fury snack as it seemed oblivious to the convoy at that point.
We then intervened as escorts, not wishing to witness the little owl grab a duckling take-away (they have good hunting at present).
Fortunately the owl held off (probably busy with its catch), allowing the wary mother to reach the shelter of a larger ditch with all her young:
She got spooked by a sudden movement that turned out to be a little owl (arrowed) coming in to land from stage right on the far side of a ditch:
She headed for deep cover, escorting the little ones down into the ditch, but then went out the other side, unaware that the owl was just taking off:
It is possible the owl had just grabbed a small fury snack as it seemed oblivious to the convoy at that point.
We then intervened as escorts, not wishing to witness the little owl grab a duckling take-away (they have good hunting at present).
Fortunately the owl held off (probably busy with its catch), allowing the wary mother to reach the shelter of a larger ditch with all her young:
Osgood
Western Thunderer
Sorry no photo - but as if to demonstrate the delicate balance of life I just returned to the table and my eye was caught by a lanky dark fox drinking from a container not 10 ft away from where Mrs M led her young into the first ditch.
I crept outside to see if I could get you a picture, only to see him disappear out of the garden - just as the little owl flew off from its fence-top lookout.
Some 30 minutes earlier and Mr F might have been having an early supper.......
I crept outside to see if I could get you a picture, only to see him disappear out of the garden - just as the little owl flew off from its fence-top lookout.
Some 30 minutes earlier and Mr F might have been having an early supper.......
Bazzmund
Active Member
We had an exotic visitor in the form of juvenile Zebra Finch that had escaped (or been set loose) as it had a plastic ring on its leg. Me and the good lady wife then launched a rescue mission to try to save it involving playing zebra finch calls over some portable speakers and picking it up in a tea towel. Unfortunately the poor thing looked like it had been attacked by something and though we got it indoors and in a quiet area it died in the evening. The little finch is now buried within the family animals crypt.
oldravendale
Western Thunderer
That's a good question..... We had a really friendly homing pigeon arrive here yesterday. Popped in to the house for a chat and then the good lady - sorry - Mrs D - chased it in to the garden. It then went and sat on my car in the garage. It really didn't want to go away but when it realised we were not going to feed it gave up and flew away.
It was only half an hour later that I realised it would have come to hand quite easily and then I could have traced the owner using details on it's ring - that's the leg ring, you rude boys. Too late. It's gone now, never to be seen again.....
However, we got frogs. Little baby ones all over the place - some sadly stuck to the slabs around the pond but many escaped. Nothing to do with rings but I know you'll be interested.
Brian
It was only half an hour later that I realised it would have come to hand quite easily and then I could have traced the owner using details on it's ring - that's the leg ring, you rude boys. Too late. It's gone now, never to be seen again.....
However, we got frogs. Little baby ones all over the place - some sadly stuck to the slabs around the pond but many escaped. Nothing to do with rings but I know you'll be interested.
Brian
Peter Insole
Western Thunderer
I didn't get much done the other day...
...as I was enjoying watching the cricket....!
Pete.
...as I was enjoying watching the cricket....!
Pete.
Max M
Western Thunderer
Was on the Jacobean recently and at Malaig saw where the Gull chicks were learning how and when they should avoid incoming trains.
I imagine that they will also get training on which points are the best to nest near?
Also had this fella (or lass?) at my feet who would have been very obliging and have helped me to eat my sandwich if it got the chance (it didn't).
As soon as the last morsel had disappeared (into my mouth) it was off.
I imagine that they will also get training on which points are the best to nest near?
Also had this fella (or lass?) at my feet who would have been very obliging and have helped me to eat my sandwich if it got the chance (it didn't).
As soon as the last morsel had disappeared (into my mouth) it was off.
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