Wildlife October 2010

[mark smyth]

I just looked up caddis fly. You are correct

[Stephenb]

Anyone know the identity of this moth, resting on the front door last night?

 

[Anthony Darby]

Anyone know the identity of this moth, resting on the front door last night?

 

Swordgrass (Xylena exsoleta) Stephen. It hibernates as an adult moth.

[Arykana]

my garden very popular in the butterfly community in this year




but they do not have patient to stay in line for a photo 

[fermi de Sousa]

Put it another way, there is no butterfly bigger than a peacock in Scotland!

I'd get freaked out if I saw one bigger than a sparrow!
 
cheers
fermi

[Anthony Darby]

Peacocks in the pics above Fermi.

[Stephenb]

Anyone know the identity of this moth, resting on the front door last night?
 

Swordgrass (Xylena exsoleta) Stephen. It hibernates as an adult moth.

Thanks, Anthony. However, it must be Xylena vetusta, Red Sword-grass as exsoleta isn't found in this area...

[mark smyth]

Anyone know the identity of this moth, resting on the front door last night?

 

Swordgrass (Xylena exsoleta) Stephen. It hibernates as an adult moth.

The camoflage is brilliant

[mark smyth]

There was a hatch of something in my town today or maybe something brought out of hibernation because of the 18c clear blue sky. Starlings were hawking for something all day

[Roma]

This afternoon was warmer and sunnier than I expected from the weather forecast.
One peacock butterfly is still around.

[scatigaz]

     Just come back from a holiday in Scotland and north Northumberland. I am a keen birder (birdwatcher) and was surprised to be still seeing Swallows so far north at this time of year. I saw a couple in Scotland but what really surprised me was at least 25 of these birds at the b and b i was staying at in Northumberland on 9th with at least 15 the following day as i was departing.

[Anthony Darby]

This afternoon was warmer and sunnier than I expected from the weather forecast.
One peacock butterfly is still around.

I looked in the 'shed' on my walk this morning and there are two peacocks and a small tortoiseshell in hibernation. One of the former and the latter haven't budged since I last looked a couple of weeks ago.

[angie]

     Just come back from a holiday in Scotland and north Northumberland. I am a keen birder (birdwatcher) and was surprised to be still seeing Swallows so far north at this time of year. I saw a couple in Scotland but what really surprised me was at least 25 of these birds at the b and b i was staying at in Northumberland on 9th with at least 15 the following day as i was departing.

Hi Gary I thought all the swallows had left but yesterday there were six flying above the pond.
I was surprised seeing them still in Aberdeen.

Roma I to didn't expect to see the sun today , busy in the garden cutting down all the herbaceous  plants and along came a robin to keep me company, followed by a frog and then a mouse. I love being alone in my garden but I don't mind sharing my time with these little fellows.

Angie

[TheOnionMan]

à propos large or small butterflies.... it is a source of annoyance to me that many "bug" sites which do have some otherwise good photos and information of such creatures have no reference whatsoever to size and scale.... infuriating! 

Too true Maggi. It is around 2 to 2½" (getting on for the size of a peacock butterfly) so I consider it big by UK standards. Put it another way, there is no butterfly bigger than a peacock in Scotland!

This site is interesting and has one on a finger for comparison.

http://tywkiwdbi.blogspot.com/2010/06/american-lady-butterfly-vanessa.html

Thanks Anthony, an excellent informative link.  Some more views today.  At one point this butterfly landed on my camera shutter finger!  They flit about quite suddenly and fast, most erratic, to resettle on a particular flower.  I also notice they are bold, and quick to chase a large bumble-bee for its preferred position or flower.

Included are two view of Aster pilosus intermingled with Aster cordifolius flowers, and bumble bees.  The large Aster pilosus "bush" is about 5' wide x 6' tall, at any given moment on this warm sunny day must have been 30 bumble bees on it, and hundreds of honey bees and some wasps and other pollinators, and just one pair of American painted ladies.

[Arykana]

Oh, yes asters are very magnetic for them. I plan to get more in my garden
Blooming Sedums are the same for them and the Caryopteris