wildlife

[Chris Johnson]

Oh, I see that now - thank goodness for that - didn't think there would be too many escaped coypu!  Been speaking about coypu with someone - must have got them on the brain!!

Only just tuned in to this one.

There is something about first impressions, Maggi, which are often correct. My first thought on #4 was Coypu (not Ian's best photograph, perhaps). 

[Maggi Young]

If Ian now says it is not a hare, I'll need to go for a lie down with a bar of chocolate!

[ian mcdonald]

Gordon, 1, 2, and 3 are right. Gary has number 4. You are right about the photo. Chris, it was quite a distance away.

[ian mcdonald]

Picture 5 on reply 1300 is Purple Oxytropis. Here are some more to try.

[Chris Johnson]

#1 Sedge Warbler
#3 Drinker moth

[ian mcdonald]

Right Chris, I thought you would know them.

[Maggi Young]

From a FB post by Mike Strick

Every year in early summer, the stag beetles emerge to find mates. They have spent the first five to seven years of their life underground as larvae and now have just a few short weeks to live as adults.

Every year I'm shocked by how many people fail to recognise these icons of British wildlife, and am saddened by how many beetles end their lives crushed underfoot. Stag beetles have been around virtually unchanged for millions of years, and are not equipped to survive in an urban environment. Their numbers have declined drastically over the past few decades and the species is seriously endangered.

If you see one on a pavement, please move it out of harm's way. Despite being large (the male can be up to three inches long), they are placid and harmless provided you don't stick a finger between the male's large 'antlers', which can inflict quite a strong pinch. Pick them up gently with finger and thumb on either side of the thorax (the middle part of the body, behind the head) and move them into a garden or similar. If you're not sure how, here's a video of us rescuing a male from a path:

Please keep an eye open for them. In flight in the early evening they are phenomenal, flying in an upright and rather ungainly style, making a noise like a small fighter plane. They tend to make a pretty uncontrolled landing, often ending up on pavements, which is where you’re most likely to see them and where they need your help to get to safety. The recent high winds are probably giving them trouble, meaning that they could end up in particularly tricky situations.

If you have children, it would be a big help if you could make sure they know about stag beetles too. Kids probably come across them more frequently than their parents. If they know what they are and what to do, the beetles are more likely to survive the encounter!

These are spectacular animals. We really have nothing else like them. It would be a shame if we lost them forever.

Another way you can help is to report any stag beetles you find to one or both of these sites. More data on where they're found will help establish why they're declining and how we can prevent it:
http://ptes.org/get-involved/surveys/garden/great-stag-hunt/
http://www.wildlondon.org.uk/stag-beetle-survey

[ian mcdonald]

I,ve never seen one or heard of any in our area. Mainly southern in england.

[GordonT]

Today I remembered to bring the camera when taking the dogs for a walk around the French Basin Trail in Annapolis Royal. Although the temperature was hovering around 2 C, there was still plenty to see. My cold hands couldn't track the Tree Swallows and Barn Swallows that have just arrived from the south, but the waterfowl, and another fellow were camera ready. Sadly, the pair of Wood Ducks I saw the other day, were in hiding.

[brianw]

2 Blue tit eggs in the box today.

A pair of Robins feeding each other today so probably in the hedge.
Ducks nest with 10 eggs stripped bare overnight 2 days ago, behind the wall. No spillage so buried somewhere I guess but not found them yet.

[GordonT]

We spent Friday evening watching this character patrol the edges of our two ponds. Four fish were caught while we watched. Seems that fishing is good here, as he/she came back this morning for more!

[ian mcdonald]

On reply 1308 picture 2 was Lupinus nootkatensis, picture 4 was lesser butterfly orchid and picture 5 was Pennyroyal Mentha pulegium. Here are some more.







Can you find and identify the insect on 5?

[TC]

Up to Loch Doon today in brilliant sunshine but COLD !  Hoped to hear one of the three cuckoos reported yesterday but no luck.  However, the Ospreys made up for that.  The female has taken up with a new mate since her companion of last year was probably killed in a fight with another Osprey.
The picture was taken by a HD Video camera situated next to the nest.

[GordonT]

1= Paris quadrifolia
2= Monotropa hypopitys
3= Pair of Eiders (Somateria mollissima)
4= Twinflower (Linnaea borealis)
5= my eyes fail me

[ian mcdonald]

Four out of five Gordon.