Wildlife - Summer, Autumn 2008

[mark smyth]

Michael is your Turtle Dove away yet? Do you know they are migratory?

[Michael J Campbell]

Mark, It was here on Saturday, but not yesterday or today.

[Anthony Darby]

Here is a silkmoth that emerged in my study from second generation cocoons I reared earlier this summer. It is a male Antheraea caypta from China.

[mark smyth]

looks unreal, Anthony. You say second generation. How do you breed them and what do they eat

[Maggi Young]

Anthony, what a handsome moth..... approximate wingspan, please?

[Michael J Campbell]

A Blackbird having a bath.

[Maggi Young]

He's enjoying that, Michael.... very swanky bath it is too... pond with water lilies, eh?  Surprised to see open flowers still on your water lily.... how nice!

[mark smyth]

Michael do you know the plant the bird is standing on is considered an invasive species in Ireland. It's New Zealand Pigmy Weed aka Australian Swamp Stonecrop Crassula helmsii. It was first found in the wild in Gosford Forest Park Co. Armagh. Have you seen the book "Field Guide to Invasive Species in Ireland"? I have a spare copy.

[Michael J Campbell]

Its OK Mark, it can't escape and it is doing a good job keeping the pool shaded in the summertime. if I remove any bits I make sure that they are well dried out and then compost them.

[mark smyth]

That's good to know.

Are you going to the discussion weekend?

[Michael J Campbell]

No Mark, I am going to Israel at that time for ten days and will not be home until the 21st, the day the discussion weekend starts. I will be too tired to drive 200 miles after my trip.

[Anthony Darby]

looks unreal, Anthony. You say second generation. How do you breed them and what do they eat

Larvae (caterpillars) feed on oak, Quercus spp.(Q.petraea here). The moths don't feed and mate easily in a cardboard box or net cage. Caterpillars were kept in plastic boxes.

Anthony, what a handsome moth..... approximate wingspan, please?

Moth is about 5" from wingtip to wingtip.

[Lesley Cox]

It's New Zealand Pigmy Weed aka Australian Swamp Stonecrop Crassula helmsii.

I've never heard of such a plant

[David Lyttle]

It's New Zealand Pigmy Weed aka Australian Swamp Stonecrop Crassula helmsii.

Yes Lesley, its one of ours. You need to spend more time whitebaiting.

[Joakim B]

Here are some birds in the park near a playground we visits.
It is close to Estufa fria (cold greenhouse) for anyone visiting Lisbon. The ducks are maybe not worth the visit but Estufa fria is.
There are some geese mostly gray with a bit of white and with brown eyes but there are also some much whiter with blue eyes both of the same size.
I do not know if the latter is a hybrid with the white duck also with blue eyes. (sorry for that bad picture).
There was also a peacock, female I think so maybe peahen?
The last one is what I would believe to be Myskduck with a direct translation from Swedish.
If anyone has some better names for these please let me know.
Kind regards
Joakim