Wildlife October 2010

[TheOnionMan]

I attended a college campus tour this past weekend (for my younger daughter considering this school) at the University of Massachusetts in the lovely town of Amherst in Central Massachusetts (2 hour drive from my house), this 25,000 student campus referred to as UMASS Amherst. The tour groups were large that day, 100 or so people in each of three groups, on an idyllic sunny autumn New England day.  At one point, the whole group stopped, as there was a very large and handsome hawk sitting on a bush as very close proximity... people started taking pictures.  I had my daughter's camera, and the %$#@*&! thing takes 20 seconds to turn on, allow selecting an image "menu type", and then go though its in-and-out-and-back-in-again autofocus thingy, and at 19 seconds I tried to snap a pic and the majestic bird jumps to the ground, and I missed it... curses!

But I was able to snap this photo of the hawk on the ground, a bit less dramatic a pose.

[Rogan]

Food for McMark's hawk? While traversing a rather scenic part of the southern Cape recently, we encountered this perky little creature which insisted on sharing my chicken sandwich! It did not seem to mind eating its cousin in the least   

It's a Cape Robin-Chat, and if that's not enough of a mouthful, it's scientific name is Cossypha caffra - a very common little bird with a beautiful song.

[ranunculus]

Asp...iration?

[Rogan]

An amazing picture Cliff - a Cobra Lily.   

[ranunculus]

An amazing picture Cliff - a Cobra Lily.   

... or a snake's-head fritillary?       Thanks Rogan!

[angie]

Took a pear of the tree but was to hard to eat but as you can see it wasn't wasted.
Angie

[Anthony Darby]

Amazing that red admirals are still around. That pear must have been juicier than you thought Angie as butterflies can only take in liquids. I don't think many survive the winter in Scotland? Peacocks and small tortoiseshells will be hibernating now, or at least they should be.

[angie]

Anthony excuse my ignorance but do the red admirals just die off. I noticed a lot of dead ones in my polytunnel this afternoon.
Angie

[Anthony Darby]

It's one of these debates that has not been resolved. Some may find their way south, some may even rest up and survive the winter, but I suspect most just die. Painted ladies (I've seen none this year - even though last year was one of the best on record) are more prone to migration and have been seen crossing the channel in the autumn. Both species have their strongholds around the Mediterranean and there are waves of migration north in the spring.

[TC]

In Culzean Castle Gardens last week, there were many Red Admirals and a few Small Tortoiseshell butterflies in the herbaceous border.  The Red Admirals were in pristine condition and must have newly hatched.

[Roma]

I haven't seen many butterflies recently but have not been out much since August 1st.  I did see a Peacock and a Small Tortoiseshell earlier this week.  There are still lots of Silver Y moths with Bumble bees and Hover flies  on the sedums.  'Matrona' is a favourite.  On a warm day this week I spotted many Honey bees on Crocus pulchellus which is continuing on its bid to cover the whole garden. 
I remember a few years ago we must have had a long warm Autumn (pre 2007 when I got my digital camera) I counted at least 25 Red Admiral butterflies on Ivy flowers on either the last day of October or the first day of November.

[angie]

Thanks Anthony I wasn't sure what the Red admirals would do. I have heard that we are going to get a cold winter again so maybe I could just follow them across the channel.
Only a couple on the pear today.

Angie

[Stephenb]

An Admiral still going strong up here as well and some Silver Y's...

Painted Ladies: haven't seen any this year myself. Our web reporting system for insects gives 50 sightings last year, but only 5 this year in our county...

[Tony Willis]

Amazing that red admirals are still around.

A warm dry day here today and there were eleven red admirals on the michaelmas daisies.Not seen many butterflies this year and so it was a delight.

[Tony Willis]

Had a number of these flies in the greenhouse today. This one is eating the pollen on Crocus goulimyi mani white. Others were on the sternbergia's.Also quite a lot flying about the garden.

I would like to know what they are and are they a problem?