Wildlife - Summer, Autumn 2008

[Maggi Young]

Roma, what super photos! Proof indeed of how much more handsome the reds are than the greys. What I see from your photos, which I had not appreciated watching them "live", is just how large their hind feet are....though this is a perfectly logical thing... need big feet for shimming up and down trees, but I have never spotted that before. 

[annew]

A great variability in tail colour and tuftiness of ears too.

[David Lyttle]

Cliff,

What species of owls are they? I am guessing there are three species in the assemblage. The little owl (Athene noctua) is reasonablely common around here. It was originally introduced from Europe. The native morepork Ninox novaeseelandiae is also widespread around Dunedin but favours more heavily forested areas. and I have notheard it out here

[Paul T]

While visiting Otto's place, we were observed by the local Kookaburras, one of which obliged us with a short stay at the birdbath for photo opportunities.  Lesley has better photos of this I think, as my camera zoom has died unfortunately so I could not frame the picture properly or bring him/her any "closer" for clarity.

[ranunculus]

What species of owls are they?

Hi David,
I believe all the owls in that particular aviary were juvenile or adult tawny owls ... other cages held other species.

For more information please see :-  http://www.owls.org/Information/uk_owls.htm

Kind regards from East Lancashire.
Cheers,
Cliff

[TC]

Keeping on the owl theme, here is a picture of a Morepork taken taken in a Kauri forest north of Auckland some years ago. 

[art600]

Keep the Owl photographs coming - they are my favourite birds.  I have a large collecton of owl memorabilia from all over the world.   

[David Lyttle]

Hi Cliff,

Thanks for the information and web link. I am now much better informed about the owls of Britain. Next time the name Jinny Yewlet comes up I will know to what it refers.

Tom,

A great picture of a morepork. They are elusive little critters and very hard to photograph on the hop. I took a picture of one many years ago by torchlight.

[mark smyth]

Have you seen this? Lions v Buffalo v Crocodile

An unbelievable 37 million people have watched this video. Watch it to the end it has a happy ending

[annew]

37 million and 1 - amazing!

[Lesley Cox]

Hedgehogs are very welcome at my place David and Arthur. We know they eat slugs and slaters and I like to hear their snufflings about the garden at night.

[Roma]

I've been spending a lot of time  looking at the insects enjoying the flowers in my garden on the few sunny days we've had recently.

Can anyone identify these tiny moths in the Crocus pulchellus?
A Peacock butterfly tucked up for the night.  Luckily it didn't rain.
A warm day on Sunday attracted lots of butterflies to Sedum 'Herbstfreude'
A Painted Lady made a rare visit to my garden

[Paddy Tobin]

Now, didn't that peacock butterfly choose a very exquisite bed!

Roma, sedums are renowned for their attractiveness to butterflies and pictures such as yours have been commonplace here in previous years but has not occured here once this year.

Paddy

[fermi de Sousa]

Images from today ... a fleeting visit to Three Owls Bird Sanctuary in Rochdale ... had to photograph the tiny owls through perspex, plastic mesh and thirty feet of cage ...

Cliff,
this certainly looks like a Parliament of owls!
cheers
fermi

[ranunculus]

I don't know about that Fermi ... one or two of them look quite intelligent to me!!! 

I am really appreciating all your contributions to this wonderful forum, Fermi.