Wildlife November 2009

[Hans A.]

Today I found an single caterpillar in the garden which made me doubt about the ID.
I found also a single caterpillar of this species some months ago -  thought it could be Araschnia levana - but this normally occure in groups and should eat nothing else than Urtica. This one (as the other one) prefered Parietaria officinalis instead of the splendid growing Urtica nearby.
Could it be another species or is this just one very solitary individual which perfers the 'mediterranean' cuisine?

The other caterpillar is of a swallowtail. I had planted a few Ruta graveolens for them which they like very much - sometimes there are more catterpillars than leaves left. (Still a mystery for me is why Ruta is always offered together with the cuisne herbs... )

[daveyp1970]

this lovely ladybird are in there hundreds on my garden

[Maggi Young]

Davey, this Ladybird is a Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis.... an invasive species considered to pose  a threat to the native ladybird species..... these links may be of interest to you.... the final one is to the survey about these bugs.


http://www.harlequin-survey.org/recognition_and_distinction.htm
http://www.harlequin-survey.org/factfile/concern.htm
http://www.buglife.org.uk/discoverbugs/bugofthemonth/harlequinladybird.htm
http://www.harlequin-survey.org/

[daveyp1970]

Maggie wow who would of thought thank you for the link i have registered my observation on the survey.

[Anthony Darby]

Not Araschnia levana Hans. They have two little spines on their heads. Could be a Painted lady caterpillar (Vanessa cardui)?

[Maggi Young]

Just noticed the old thread was still going.... time for a new one..... this chap is not exactly "wild" life, but he's certainly not "happy" either......this is Jak, my friend's fourteen week old miniature Schnauzer puppy........


Edit by Maggi on the 11th November: apologies, the Novemeber thread was already in place... the two are merged now..... thanks for the tip, Fermi!! 

[Gwenblack]

Maggi   What a dawg! only its mother could love it !!!!!!      Truly it is appealing.
 I wonder if Sir Thomas Beecham counts as wild life?   Another story tells that when Sir Adrian Boult nicknamed Malcolm Sargent as Flash Harry because of his snappy dressing , it gave Thomas B the opportunity to say , when told that Malcolm was guest conductor in Tokyo   "   Ah     Flash in Japan "
Truly wildlife, whilst watching more Redwings stripping Rowan berries this afternoon we saw a Common Buzzard drop down and catch a small bird , crashing onto our lawn and recovering its dignity before flying off with the unfortunate victim still struggling.   Thought buzzards were peaceful carrion eaters  .... must be wrong.

[mark smyth]

Gwen they eat a wide range of food from worms, beetles and carrion

[Maggi Young]

Here's wee Jak a couple of weeks ago.... with  Miss Lily Young, who has got tired of his playing and is just lying in Linda's hall, hoping for a walk........ He looks more prepossessing when he's dry and fluffy!

[Lesley Cox]

What a delicious little ball of fluff he is. And so tiny beside Lily who isn't a big dog, after all.

[Gwenblack]

 OK  So  I've gone off buzzards as of now.    Will stick with our red kites. We must have the only Tesco car park [in Dingwall]  where the kites wheel around looking for food and a local lady buys raw chicken legs to throw up into the air over her garden for the kites to catch.   Then again Johnnie and I spent a small fortune on mussels and whitebait to feed an exhausted Eider drake who stayed with us in our orchard for three days before we returned him to the sea coast and the nearest colony .before he got too comfortable...... an ornithological white elephant

[Maggi Young]

 On Buzzards: At the SRGC Discussion Weekend, which those of you who attended may remember was a very breezy weekend.... I was surprised to see a buzzard quartering the rough ground out behind the hotel grounds and actaully hovering before diving down in search of prey. It was not something I had ever seen before but Mark told me that it can be seen when there is strong enough wind to assist the birds in this action.... they're not really built for it!

I can't resist this rather weak Scottish jest, brought to mind by Gwen and Johnnie's recuperating drake...........
First man, pointing at flock of water birds near the shore....... "what are those water birds there?"
Second Man: "Eider Duck".
Third Man: Aye, derr duck.... bit whit kindo' duck?



On Jak: he is growing well now and has nearly doubled his size in the last two weeks or so ....he'sd been rather badly weaned, I think, so it has taken a while to get his stomach settled to a new feeding regime but now he is growing well I think he will not look back. I 'll get new photos next fine day.... we are out with him nearly every day.... his family is the one that Lily stays with if we are away from home. He loves Lily to pieces... and she is quite fond of the wee horror, being tolereant of a good deal of ear pulling..... excellent teacher for him with a really stern rebuke when needed though.... she has been good that way with a pair of Westie puppies nearby too....I'm thinking of hiring her out to other  puppy owners as a nanny for bumptious pups!