wildlife

[fredg]

I think this says "spring" as much as anything.

[mark smyth]

The fantastic journey taken by the Chinese subsp of the common swift, Apus apus pekinensis, has been revealed for the first time
http://saveourswifts.co.uk/chineseswiftmigration.htm

For some unknown reason one of my swifts dumps an egg hours after it was laid and then gets a beating by the mate

[Maggi Young]

Amazing migration routes  - but what on earth is going on with your birds?  An intruder trying to oust the resident - not his egg ??  (How would he know??)

[mark smyth]

Amazing migration routes  - but what on earth is going on with your birds?  An intruder trying to oust the resident - not his egg ??  (How would he know??)

It is possible there is an intruder that has taken over the nest and the mate. It has been known to happen. The intruder, much like lions, will want his/her own genes in the egg/s so gets rid of what isn't his/hers

[fredg]

Amazing migration routes  - but what on earth is going on with your birds?  An intruder trying to oust the resident - not his egg ??  (How would he know??)

The egg was there before he'd played double decker birdies with the female so he knows it's not his 

[Anthony Darby]

This fur seal spent a couple of days wandering around a suburb of Auckland about 20 minutes south of us. http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/city-slicker-no-more-incredible-moment-seal-released-back-into-wild-6320932

[johnw]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/beluga-whale-sighting-in-halifax-harbour-sparks-warning-1.3093343

johnw

[Maggi Young]

 Notice of an event this coming Sunday, 7th June,  at The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, Waterston House, Aberlady EH32 0PY, featuring an array of interesting features, including  presentations from our esteemed forumist Stan da Prato.

Celebrating Waterston House Garden

Now in its tenth year, the garden at Waterston House has grown to be a popular attraction with the local community and summer visitors, who are treated to a blaze of colour from the beds and wildflower meadows, which are buzzing with life. For the birds we also have a small busy feeding station and the building itself is a regular nesting site for Starlings, Swallows and Tits.

All the events on 7th June are free and entry is on a first come, first served basis on the day. With the exception of the "mothing "event, no advance booking is required, just turn up!

(Tel: 01875 871330)

Programme :

[ArnoldT]

Polyphemus moth.

Sitting on the driveway this afternoon.

[Anthony Darby]

My first introduction to this moth was in Gene Stratton-Porter's book "Moths of the Limberlost", which my piano teacher gave to me one Christmas.

[Anthony Darby]

This link is to a video on tree wetas. The one shown is the Wellington tree weta, but the Auckland one is just as impressive, then there are those on the islands in the Hauraki Gulf, which are as big as gerbils! http://www.wired.com/2015/06/absurd-creature-of-the-week-weta/

[ashley]

Near Wellington we met one that snugly over-nighted in my teenage daughter's shoe under the flysheet of her tent
Wonderful beasties.

[latestart]

Wren 999 emergency. Photos taken while rescuing two wrens 9.6.15

[Maggi Young]

Wren 999 emergency. Photos taken while rescuing two wrens 9.6.15

My word- that's a real emergency  - thank goodness you were able to help.  Well done!!
We had a blackbird caught up in thread she had built into her nest in a Mutisia the other year. Managed to get her out okay and she went on to raise her chicks successfully, but this must happen with tragic results many times in nests that are not so visible to us.

[fredg]

Here's one for Mark. Swallows having a dip.