wildlife

[ian mcdonald]

1 and 3 are correct Matt. 4 is close.

[Karaba]

4 is Metrioptera brachyptera with its black strip on the back femur.
I had no idea of the Lobelia, even the genus. a very nice plant. I didn't know it and I learn that it can be found in France, on the Atlantic coast. Thank Ian.

5 looks like a pink polytric

[GordonT]

I am thinking that #5 could be male plants of Polytrichum juniperinum?

[ian mcdonald]

Yvain and Gordon are right. Sorry Matt. maybe not the best photo. Try these.











Number 2 in the last quiz is a rare plant on Skye. Maybe it would be worth searching the Uists for it? Look in fresh water lochans near the edge, white roots are noticeable among stones.

[GordonT]

#3 is Mertensia maritima?
#5 is a pair of Green Tiger Beetles (Cicindela campestris)

[Chris Johnson]

Is #2 in the previous quiz Eriocaulon aquaticum?

This quiz
#1 Common Sandpiper

[Karaba]

4 might be Araneus alsine ?

[ian mcdonald]

Yvain, I think the spider may be Araneus marmoreus, A. alsine is a rare spider in the UK. Gordon, 3 and 5 are right. Chris, 1 is right and 2 in the previous quiz is also correct. Did you see the "fungi" in my post regarding the "local patch?" last week. It was very small and I was not sure if it was a fungi at all.

[Maggi Young]

Found this on Twitter and found it  very  interesting :

 Tweet  by  Anupama Prakash, 29-01-18

"Each panel here shows the dorsal wing surface to the left and the ventral wing surface of the SAME individual to the right. To think that all this incredible surface-specific diversity can be generated by small genomic tinkerings is truly amazing! "

[ian mcdonald]

Picture number 2 in the last quiz is Alpine speedwell, Veronica alpina. As no one knew it that is a point to the quiz setter. Here are some more.

[Matt T]

The quizmaster must be racking up a few points now. We've had some tricky brain teasers recently.

Another nice set. Here are my guesses:

1. Pyrola rotundifolia
2. Pyrola media
3. Ajuga vulgaris (the bracts are too small to be A. pyramidalis)
4. Sillver-studded blue butterfly
5. Looks like it could be a Brambling?

[ian mcdonald]

Well done Matt, 1, 2, 3, and 5 are right.

[Karaba]

Common blue for #4?

[ian mcdonald]

You are right, Yvain. Here are some more, some are more difficult, I hope, as the knowledge among members is deep.











The first is one of my favourite flowers and can be found in northern UK but it is not that common.

[Karaba]

1 : arabis or cardamine ?
2 : Mergus merganser - Common Merganser (group of young or female-like)
3 : Mergus serrator - Red-breasted Merganser (1 male, 4 female)
4 : Ophioglossum vulgatum - Adder`s-tongue
5 : Platanthera bifolia - Lesser Butterfly-orchid