Wildlife May2010

[Anthony Darby]

I think it would bee colourful Michael.

[Arykana]

dragon fly on plant later identified as being a Sanguisorba.

[Maggi Young]

Oh, Erika- wonderful close up photos!! What is the plant?

[Arykana]

I bought a plant like a sort red flowering something I will make a photo tomorrow, because i would like to know the mane too

[mark smyth]

Brilliant dragonfly!

[mark smyth]

Last night there was a fight between swifts, like a MMA competition, over ownership of a nest box at a house in Cookstown N Ireland. It lasted 40 minutes. Although we can't tell sexes apart males fight males and females fight females never each other.

Turn up the speaker loud enough to hear what's going on.


Phil says - An unusual series of events in one of my nest boxes. A pair of swifts have laid an egg here, but today a third swift tried to move in. There are five parts:

1 - Intruder enters (or is the bird in the box the intruder?)
2 - Some time later it gets pushed out.
3 - And then comes back! At 21:07:30 a third swift enters the box.
4 - The three seem to have a truce, even preening eachother.
5 - After finding a spot at the far end of the box to roost, the swift suddenly gets pushed out at 11pm. It's pitch black outside.

[Anthony Darby]

Don't think swifts have a problem flying in the dark Mark.

[mark smyth]

I agree but first it has to get up there and avoid trees and wires. They normally fly high soon after sunset

[Anthony Darby]

Very few places are that dark Mark that they won't see objects.

[Arykana]

Here is the nameless plant  the dragonfly was on:

[ashley]

Erika it looks like a Sanguisorba, probably officinalis.

[Arykana]

Thank you!

[Maggi Young]

I have created a MAY page and moved a couple of posts about the plant (Sanguisorba) that Erika's beautiful dargonfly was pictured on  to the correct place. 
Sorry for not splitting the May posts off before now. 

[Lvandelft]

Erika, Sanguisorba minor will be more likely.
Wonderful wildlife pictures!

[ashley]

Erika, Sanguisorba minor will be more likely.

Yes I think you're right Luit.