Wildlife mid 2009

[Anthony Darby]

and mentioning Burnish Brass

Nice pic. I know Robert Thompson, so will see if he has copies of his book himself? I do report sightings to the BBCS local group. In fact, I tutored the secretary's son in H Biology.

[Anthony Darby]

Took Heidi (the dog, remember ) up to The Gathering Stone on Sheriffmuir and noticed that many of the Spear Thistles (Cirsium vulgare) had larvae of the Painted Lady butterfly (Cynthia cardui). I think 2009 is going to be a bumper year for this butterfly. Some muppets had had a bonfire at the site where the stone, now protected with an iron grill, is. Looking at the history of the battle in 1715 made me shake my head. A wasted battle. Nobody won; nobody lost, but those who could have claimed victory left the scene and the Jacobite cause never again came close to a draw.

[Anthony Darby]

Here are some pics of Painted Lady butterfly (Cynthia cardui) caterpillars and their hides on thistles and nettle. The jury's out on the nettle pic. While cardui caterpillars are found on nettles, it could be a Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)?

[mark smyth]

Anthony your caterpillar photos bring back good memories of me rearing 100s of Tortoishells, Peacocks, Red Admirals and Painted Ladies in a huge fish tank. I used to go out looking for caterpillars and bring them home. Once they pupated they were strung up on lines of thread in a wicker beside cabinet. I must have been under 12 years old

[Paul T]

Howdy All,

Some pics I took this morning.

Started with the Crimson Rosella, from about 5 metres away (thank goodness for my new camera, I couldn't have done this without it.... you should see the bigger version.... I have made this one a little larger to give you some idea).  At that point the birdbath was full.

A little later I was filling the watering can from my tank and the magpie landed a metre behind me on the birdbath.  I crouched down and took a few photos as he bathed and serenaded me. 

Then about 20 minutes later we had a couple of Eastern Rosellas land, with the water level now somewhat lower after the magpies energestic washing.    These pics were taken from about 6 or 7 metres away.... when I tried to get any closer they took off.  I've included a couple of pics of them as we don't see them as often.  I know that some of these pics are similar to others I have posted in the past, but I hope people still enjoy them?

[mark smyth]

Paul I wish I had those coming to my garden rather than the hoards of starlings. Your photos are spot on for size. In the UK your parakeets are known as Pennants, also available in all blue and silver
http://www.avianweb.com/crimsonrosella.html, and Golden-mantled Rosella, also avaialble in all red and yellow http://www.avianweb.com/goldenmantledrosellas.html

[maggiepie]

Oh Paul, you lucky thing!!
I wish I could import a few aussie maggies, there is nothing as sublime as being serenaded by a magpie with an endless repertoire.

[Ragged Robin]

Great photos Paul and wonderful coloured plummage on the Eastern Rosellas you are so clever to have caught all these birds in action enjoying a bath 

[Roma]

Some more peacock butterfly caterpillar pictures.  There are still a few hundred in this group (I think. Haven't counted them.)  Antony, how long from pupating till the butterflies emerge? another batch in a different patch of nettles disappeared two or three days ago.
Also a six spot burnet moth,  the first I remember seeing, certainly locally.

[mark smyth]

Great caterpillar shots, Roma

[Armin]

Paul,
brilliant pictures from the Parakeets.

Anthony,
I support your assumption the catapillar in the nettle could be an admiral

Currently I have two shrubs of Buddeleia davidii in flower. The sweet scent of the flowers is attracting many butterflies and other insects.
Here some samples.

Inachis io: European Peacock / Tagpfauenauge  
-male trying to mate the female. This is the most frequent butterfly. Usually several males chasing a female before sitting down a gain on the flower to take a nectar drink. How hairy they are?
-warming up in the sunshine on the ground
Cynthia cardui: Painted Lady / Distelfalter
-the second most frequent butterfly this year. After millions have immigrated from the mediterran area. Some samples is said to wander 3000km northwards! The tattered one may be one of them It looks a bit sad but the butterfly was still very active...
Peris brassicae: Large White / Großer Kohlweißling
-in my youth antagonized by gardeners who feared the voracities of the caterpillars on the cabbage... Nowadays no thread anymore. Only the female shows each 2 black spots on the anterior wings.
-certainly a Peris ssp. But the markings on the underside of the closed wings do not identify it clearly. Any suggestions?
Papillio machaon: Old World Swallowtail (Common Yellow Swallowtail) /Schwalbenschwanz
-always a highlight when appearing. Largest in size of all, elegant sailer and rare... I'm getting regular annoyed that meadows are cut too early. The caterpillars eating on wild carrots. I think it is the main reason for being so rare...

[Gunilla]

Paul,  I love the Crimson Rosella, beautiful bright colours.

Roma, lovely pics of the peacock butterfly caterpillars.

I found this hairy one today.

[mark smyth]

Lovely butterflies Armin. Is your Peacock on the ground upside down?

[Ragged Robin]

Armin, it's lovely to see your shots of butterflies in your garden as you say they are searching for nectar everywhere at present and one sees the full spectrum of young to aging butterflies!  Isn't it incredible the journeys they go on, seemingly impossible?  I wonder what the furthest distance is a butterfly has achieved and been recorded?  I, too, am frustrated by meadow being cut often to early and have virtually the only patch in our road that hasn't been strimmed - consequently everyday I have a wonderful world of butterflies and insects to admire, observe and photograph right by the chalet

[mark smyth]

RR although not by their own ability Monarchs often arrive in Scotland after a strong wind from the west