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Author Topic: Wildlife 2007  (Read 112506 times)

mark smyth

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Re: Wildlife 2007
« Reply #435 on: July 24, 2007, 01:20:56 PM »
I'll photocopy plans for bat boxes for you. Australia has some cute and ugly bats.
Antrim, Northern Ireland Z8
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When the swifts arrive empty the green house

All photos taken with a Canon 900T and 230

Paul T

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Re: Wildlife 2007
« Reply #436 on: July 24, 2007, 01:39:59 PM »
Mark,

I honestly don't think we get a lot of bats around here, at least I've never heard of anyone finding bats about the place.  Do you think it would be worth setting up a nesting place for them just in case?  It would be SO cool to have some move in.  I have seen on extremely rare occasions bats around the street lights chasing insects, but it isn't something I have seen very often.  Maybe a couple of times in the last 10 years.  Then again it isn't like I exactly go out looking for them.... I don't stand out looking up at the street lights much, or I think they'd lock me away and throw away the key!!  ;D
Cheers.

Paul T.
Canberra, Australia.
Min winter temp -8 or -9°C. Max summer temp 40°C. Thankfully, maybe once or twice a year only.

Rob

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Re: Wildlife 2007
« Reply #437 on: July 24, 2007, 05:39:24 PM »
Paul said ‘We don't have many of the little solitary bees here, although there are a few.’

Here is one from my garden although I didn’t know what sort of bee this was until I looked at images online.

It’s a wool carder bee (Anthidium manicatum). The females use the ‘wool’ from plants to line their burrows.

The second photo shows a wasp helping itself to my fruit tree. Is it a German invader as it seems larger than the native wasps?
Midlands, United Kingdom

annew

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Re: Wildlife 2007
« Reply #438 on: July 24, 2007, 05:58:23 PM »
Just been reading the discussion about bat gloves - our local bat workers use very soft golfing gloves, but it's really difficult finding one of each hand, especially in ladies sizes.
MINIONS! I need more minions!
Anne Wright, Dryad Nursery, Yorkshire, England

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fermi de Sousa

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Re: Wildlife 2007
« Reply #439 on: July 25, 2007, 08:38:40 AM »
Mark,
sorry for the delay, but I had to look up the name in a bird book!
It appears to be the "welcome swallow" (not that it's very welcome in our carport!) - Hirundo neoxena.
I thought they might've been barn swallows but apparently these visitors from the Northern Hemisphere down come this far south!
Paul,
if you want some fruit bats please apply to the RBGMelbourne!
cheers
fermi
Mr Fermi de Sousa, Redesdale,
Victoria, Australia

Len Rhind

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Re: Wildlife 2007
« Reply #440 on: July 26, 2007, 01:14:17 AM »
Hello,
Can anyone tell me what these orange beetles are? (This is my first attempt at attachments so I hope there is a photo.) There are an awful lot of them around -- and soon to be a lot more judging by the goings on. I cannot see any evidence of damage by them but I do not want to assume that this makes them benign. Much appreciated, thanks.
Len
Surrey, B.C. Canada

mark smyth

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Re: Wildlife 2007
« Reply #441 on: July 26, 2007, 07:21:06 AM »
They are Soldier Beetles, Rhagonycha fulva
I dont know what they do but they are always about in big numbers at this time of year http://www.plantpress.com/wildlife/o252-commonredsoldierbeetle.php
« Last Edit: July 27, 2007, 10:52:52 AM by Maggi Young »
Antrim, Northern Ireland Z8
www.snowdropinfo.com / www.marksgardenplants.com / www.saveourswifts.co.uk

When the swifts arrive empty the green house

All photos taken with a Canon 900T and 230

Luc Gilgemyn

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Re: Wildlife 2007
« Reply #442 on: July 26, 2007, 11:00:50 AM »
Great shots Tom - that Gannet taking off is a beauty !
Thanks
« Last Edit: July 26, 2007, 07:35:14 PM by Maggi Young »
Luc Gilgemyn
Harelbeke - Belgium

Maggi Young

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Re: Wildlife 2007
« Reply #443 on: July 26, 2007, 07:37:33 PM »
Coincidence there, Len, I saw two of these beetles, similarly engaged, the other day..surprised to hear you have the same beetles in Canada as Scotland!  I didn't know what they were, either! Thanks, Mark!
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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Lesley Cox

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Re: Wildlife 2007
« Reply #444 on: July 26, 2007, 10:14:08 PM »
They are Soldier Beetles. I dont know what they do but they are always about in big numbers at this time of year
It's pretty obvious what they do Mark.

By and large, they appear to be friendly, pollinating presumably and preying on slugs and snails, flies etc. In general, more good than harm? I haven't seen them in my part of the world.
« Last Edit: July 26, 2007, 10:17:05 PM by Lesley Cox »
Lesley Cox - near Dunedin, lower east coast, South Island of New Zealand - Zone 9

Len Rhind

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Re: Wildlife 2007
« Reply #445 on: July 27, 2007, 01:54:40 AM »
Many thanks for solving the beetle question Mark. Oddly, they were the photo of the day today (July 26) on my desktop widget for UBC, you can see them here:
http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/potd/
So glad they are beneficial too.
Surrey, B.C. Canada

Rob

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Re: Wildlife 2007
« Reply #446 on: July 30, 2007, 10:12:58 PM »
Here is a photo of a little bumble bee to go with the wool carder bee I posted earlier in the thread.

Midlands, United Kingdom

John Forrest

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Re: Wildlife 2007
« Reply #447 on: August 02, 2007, 09:32:54 AM »
Lovely bee Rob. They look more cuddly from a greater distance but a bit Quasimodo-ish from close up. Mind you most of us look better from a distance ;D

Come on you bug people. Please put a name to this dragonfly for me. It conveniently settled on the Loosestrife to enhance the photograph but often when I reduce pictures I get a blueish tinge to red/purple flowers, which isn't there on the full size file.

The side view is just for ID help

Blackpool Lancashire Northwest UK

John Forrest

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Re: Wildlife 2007
« Reply #448 on: August 02, 2007, 09:45:49 AM »
Just found a dragonfly website. Could it be a Common Hawker female?
Blackpool Lancashire Northwest UK

Maggi Young

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Re: Wildlife 2007
« Reply #449 on: August 02, 2007, 09:51:11 AM »
Haven't a scooby what your gragonfly might be, John.... but what a super photo.... it is so detailed I find myself admiring the beast .... most unusual for me with bugs!!
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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