Wildlife mid 2009

[Anthony Darby]

It is amazing how some species, like the peacock, have really spread! I only wish our Scottish hills had Apollos! Parnassius phoebus feeds on yellow saxifrage!

[Lesley Cox]

One species even specialises on Braken roots!

We could do with a few of those here then. A few billion that is.

[Anthony Darby]

Many years ago (1920s?), L. Hugh Newman at 'The Butterfly Farm' in Kent was commissioned to breed Cinnabar moths (Tyria jacobaeae), a close relative of the Jersey Tiger, to control Ragwort in New Zealand. The larvae feed exclusively on Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), but in Scotland the moth is found only near the coast. 10,000 were bred and sent but I think success was only limited as the New Zealand birds had not been told that the black and orange caterpillars were distasteful!

[Roma]

I'm not getting many butterflies visiting my garden yet even though the sedum telephium varieties are flowering.  This Small Copper was here on Thursday on a dwarf Knautia.

[Kees Green]

The cinnabar moth breeds well in North Canterbury and Nelson areas in New Zealand. I brought back a couple of dozen of caterpillars a few years ago and got them reared through.
The following year I found a female at mt own place . A first record for Dunedin but my guess is it arrived in a vehichle from up north, our winters must be two cold I would think-is a shame as it is a very beautiful moth.
A bit like the Australian painted lady butterflies we see here almost every summer but there has never been a record of them breeding in New Zealand.
Still we live and hope.

[Anthony Darby]

I wouldn't think your winters are too cold as it is widespread in most of England, Wales and Ireland. They overwinter as pupae so the colder the better. It is the constant damp that kills them.

[Paul T]

A series of pics taken of one of our resident Red Wattlebird investigating the flowers of Tropaeolum tricolor.  We've never noticed it feeding from them before, but they are now part of the regular patrol of the backyard (the Prunus campanulata, Camellia quercifolia, and the Trop).  Quite a large bird, for such tiny flowers.  These were taken on two different frames that I have the Trop growing.

I hope there aren't too many, but I figure if people aren't interested they just won't open them. 

Please click on the pic for a larger version.  If pics are too large, please let me know.

[Anthony Darby]

Is it nectar they are going for?

[Paul T]

Anthony,

Yep, I forgot to mention they are a honeyeater, although they tend to eat whatever they can find insect-wise and scavenging stuff form tables at cafes etc as well. They're adaptable. 

[Anthony Darby]

We don't have any specialist nectar feeders in Scotland, or the UK, for that matter.

[Paul T]

The Red Wattlebird is predominantly a honeyeater.... they spend their days cycling through everything in our garden.  About every hour or so they visit everything, although I am sure that they are more often than that at times.  At the moment there are Ericas, Camellias, Correas, Grevilleas, Clematis, Prunus campanulata and more to feed on, so plenty to eat.    We try to plant winter flowering stuff so that they have food all winter for the honeyeaters.  There are a number of different ones that we see regularly in the garden here, and some that travel through twice a year while in migration.

[Lesley Cox]

They're lovely Paul, not too many.

[annew]

Great shots, Paul.

[Paul T]

Thanks All.

I just thought the gymnastics were cool, which is why I showed a few pics.  He certainly did make sure he tasted every flower he could, no matter how upside-down he was. 

[Anthony Darby]

The Red Wattlebird is predominantly a honeyeater.... they spend their days cycling through everything in our garden.  About every hour or so they visit everything, although I am sure that they are more often than that at times.  At the moment there are Ericas, Camellias, Correas, Grevilleas, Clematis, Prunus campanulata and more to feed on, so plenty to eat.    We try to plant winter flowering stuff so that they have food all winter for the honeyeaters.  There are a number of different ones that we see regularly in the garden here, and some that travel through twice a year while in migration.

So where does it get the honey? Bee hives?