Wildlife December 2010

[Hoy]

Hoy,

It is a very new experience for us and 6 - 9 inches of ice is simply something I have never experienced. In the last few years we have had colder weather and some thick ice and have had people getting into difficulties by going out onto the ice. I suppose, I treat it with a certain caution.

Paddy

Paddy, that's quite understandable! Although we should be used to icecovered lakes and tarns some people drown every year because they do not pay attention when walking (or rather skating or skiing) onto the ice. Outlets and inlets are always dangerous indeed.
At the west coast where i live now almost all but the deepest lakes are icecovered but that don't happen every year. In the east and north however lakes freeze over every winter.

[Paul T]

I don't know whether I should be putting wildlife pics in here, as it is most definitely NOT winter here.  If they should be elsewhere, could Maggi please move them?  Thanks. 

A common brown butterfly (no idea of the name, it is just brown and very common here).  Very big year for butterflies this year.  They're everywhere!!  Rain makes such a difference.

A few pics of some damsel flies that I managed to capture on camera in the last couple of days.  So rare for the little blighters to hold still long enough to photograph them. 

[Hoy]

Hello Paul,
Nice to see some butterflies and damsel flies! Although some butterflies and a lot of moths usually are out in winter here, this winter has been too cold for them.

[mark smyth]

Lovely flutterby. It must have recently hatched because it is perfect condition. A quick Google brought up these
http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/nymp/nymp.html

[mark smyth]

Are you teasing by saying it's a common brown  I think it is a Common Brown

[Paul T]

Mark,

If you're saying that that is it's official name, then someone obviously had no imagination.    Yes, it is common, and yes, it is brown, but they could have come up with something a bit more distinctive couldn't they?   

I'm glad you enjoyed the pics.  Like I said, they don't often stay quiet long enough for me to photograph them.  I too was amazed by just how pristine the butterfly was.

[Hoy]

No butterflies but hoards of dinosaurs!

Here are some pics of the wildlife through my window. I can't go out, the birds are too afraid due to lots of neighbour's cats lurking in the bushes.
The window pane makes the Pics not the best quality.
Flock of sparrows and yellow hammers.
Yellow hammer, house and tree sparrows.
Yellowhammers in the "fuglenek" (bunch of oat).

[daveyp1970]

Paul can we have more shots of butterflies please.

[David Nicholson]

Paul can we have more shots of butterflies please.

I'd expected something "harder" than butterflies from a Forrest supporter

[daveyp1970]

Paul can we have more shots of butterflies please.

I'd expected something "harder" than butterflies from a Forrest supporter

David that fair made me chuckle.

[Paul T]

Davey,

If I can get some of the little blighters to hold still long enough to photograph them, I'll happily post some more butterfly photos.    It is the getting them to hold still for my crappy camera skills that is the problem!!    Flowers are generally easy as they tend to "mostly" cooperate and not move around..... unless it is windy of course.    Unsettled weather the next couple of days so I don't know what the butterfly masses will be doing, but I'll see what I can come up with. 

[Anthony Darby]

Mark,

If you're saying that that is it's official name, then someone obviously had no imagination.    Yes, it is common, and yes, it is brown, but they could have come up with something a bit more distinctive couldn't they?   

I'm glad you enjoyed the pics.  Like I said, they don't often stay quiet long enough for me to photograph them.  I too was amazed by just how pristine the butterfly was.

I agree Paul. No imagination, but then we do have the 'common blue' hear in the UK!