Wildlife early 2009

[Ragged Robin]

here are the chicks from my friends garden

Gorgeous pics of gorgeous chicks - aren't they a bit exposed in the fork of the silver birch tree 

[Maggi Young]

here are the chicks from my friends garden

Gorgeous pics of gorgeous chicks - aren't they a bit exposed in the fork of the silver birch tree 

That was my fear, Robin; since they have survived so far they may just be very lucky!

[Maggi Young]

Rob, Sharon, what  great photos of the grouse. 
It would be very sad if this handsome chap couldn't find a wife ..... you cannot fault his outfit 

[mark smyth]

Robin, the mistle thrush Turdus viscivorus is well known for not hiding it's nest - in the UK anyway. It's always in the open ina fork or against the trunk of a tree. They are not afraid of attacking anything that comes near the nest. People included.

[Anthony Darby]

I'm still trying to think what a small gas engine it and what it might sound like?

[mark smyth]

phut
phut
phut
phut
phut phut phut phut phut phut phut phut
phut
phut
phut
phut

[Anthony Darby]

Oh right, one that is powered by Heinz.

[Carlo]

Well done Sharon and Rob...and Mark, you've got it just about perfect!

[Hristo]

Here's one for the Butterfly fans, seeing this bought back my youth, much of which was spent running around the fields of Shropshire, catching butterflies and Dragonflies with a very large net,which was made out of net curtains crafted by a very tolerant and helpful Mum! ( p.s.. the crayfish, injured birds, snakes and lizards were an added bonus! )
Iphiclides podalirius - Scarce Swallowtail

[Hristo]

Another Butterfly from the garden today, probably Family Lycaenidae, the underwing shot didn't come out, lower wings opalescent blue, uppers grey, unmarked.

[cohan]

Here they are Paul. I had intended to send two others but I guess I didn't get them attached. -Rob

nice shots rob and sharon
we have lots of ruffed grouse here--surprisingly they are often sitting on the ground in areas not out of reach of the cats..i guess they can move off easily enough when trouble comes..nice shots of them drumming, i think i got some last year, havent seen them this year, but often hear--there's a drumming spot not far from the bedroom window, and sometimes they can be heard in the middle of the night!

[cohan]

Another Butterfly from the garden today, probably Family Lycaenidae, the underwing shot didn't come out, lower wings opalescent blue, uppers grey, unmarked.

we have something similar to this, at least in colour..very pretty...last year i spent some time following one around in a field of antennaria to get photos!

[Hristo]

Hi Cohan,
I was lucky today, I think they were hungry! 

[Lesley Cox]

What a magnificent butterfly Chris. Nothing like that here, though we have little natives not unlike your small blue.

[cohan]

Hi Cohan,
I was lucky today, I think they were hungry! 

probably it was finding a better feed on those flowers than on the antennarias...lol