Wildlife mid 2009

[Ragged Robin]

Mark, not a good time to take a photo in the light but this way we look up towards Mont Blanc (evening is better) and below is the ravine by Salvan

[Anthony Darby]

Fabulous outlook Robin. Your moth is a Jersey Tiger (Euplagia quadripunctaria), which is the moth that gives the Valley of the Butterflies on Rhodes its name!

[Ragged Robin]

I hoped you might ID the Moth, Anthony, and a really interesting link with Rhodes...what is so strange is that the Jersey Tiger sometimes looks as if it is on its last legs and then revives  wondering whether I should put it outside tonight?  It is such a character and not at all fazed by my presence and loves the view too 

[Paddy Tobin]

Robin,

Lovely view - and lovely moth.

Here, I am looking out on a field of barley but there was added interest today when five young pheasants walked along the top of the fence.

Paddy

[Ragged Robin]

Barley is a beautiful feathery crop, Paddy, lovely to watch swaying in different lights - what a coup to see the young pheasants on the fence - 5 seems incredible, i have only seen them dashing along hither and thither on the road and not making up their mind where to go 

[Ragged Robin]

Anthony, I'm so excited but don't know if I'm correct    Mid June I took this photo of a caterpillar trying to crawl up the slippery stainless steel edging by the chalet steps (where I also met the snake!) is it the caterpillar of the Jersey Tiger Moth?  It looks similar to the one on Wiki (it would be an incredible co-incidence if it was  )

[Anthony Darby]

This is the caterpiller of the Oak Eggar (Lasiocampa quercus alpina?). The strange thing about this moth is the Scottish race (the Northern Eggar - L. q. callunae) feeds on heather and spends its first winter as a small caterpillar and its second as a pupa, so you would see large caterpillars from now until late autumn. The English race (the Oak Eggar - L. q. quercus) feeds on heather, but also bramble and hawthorn and is on the wing now. The males are fast day fliers. I don't know much about the Swiss race, sometimes given subspecific status, but this may indicate behaving more like the Northern race?

[Maggi Young]

what is so strange is that the Jersey Tiger sometimes looks as if it is on its last legs and then revives  wondering whether I should put it outside tonight? 

   Anthony... if Robin's moth looks poorly, would it be any use to give it a wee dish of sugar water to sip as a pick-me-up? If it's been indoors for any length of time it must be hungry? Or is this another of the hatch , mate, die, brigade?

[Anthony Darby]

Most tiger moths (Arctiidae) have incomplete mouth parts so cannot feed (drink), but the Jersey Tiger is an exception. It can be seen feeding on Buddleja spp. and other garden flowers both day and night. A 10% honey solution on cotton wool would be a good pick-me-up for a moth. This moth aestivates in very hot weather in southern Europe, hence the huge assemblies in cool woods on Rhodes. In the UK it is confined to the south coast of Devon, West Dorset and the Isle of White. During the day it will fly in hot sunshine. Its caterpillar feeds on Nettles and Hemp Agrimony among others.

[Ragged Robin]

Thanks, Anthony, for all your help - the emergency pick-me-up is on its way and I just need to find where the Jersey Tiger is hiding 

[mark smyth]

Very nice view RR - is your name Robin/Robyn? Do you stay there all winter?

I'm calling in tomorrow for a coffe and to soak in the view

[Ragged Robin]

Mark to answer your questions:
Robin
Yes
Do you like Expresso, cappuccino or cafe latte? 

[mark smyth]

not too strong espresso, milk and two sugars

Anthony some moth news from Portland Bird Observatory http://www.portlandbirdobs.org.uk/aa_latestnews.htm

[Roma]

Would baby bats be flying now, Mark?  We have bats in the loft and they access the roost from the crack between the lintel and window frame above the lounge window.  I see or hear them as I sit at the computer.  There seem to be a lot more of them this last few nights.  I counted 21 last night .  Tonight I went outside and counted 20.  More went out before and after.  I like to see them but they make an awful mess of the window.

[mark smyth]

Roma baby bats, called pups, are born from the end of May to late June. Warmer weather usually means earlier births. They fly roughly 6 weeks after birth which is mid to late July. You should be aware of of increased noise while the young grow. Noise should start to go down by the end of this month when the females go off to party with the males. The roost should break up totally sometime in late September. Do you have pipistrelles?