Wildlife April 2011

[Anthony Darby]

I can't recall seeing orange tips in our part of the world before ... three images captured today on their host plant.

Cliff look out for their orange eggs on the Lady's Smock. They are laid singly and look a bit like a skittle. One plant can only support one caterpillar so they are cannibalistic. It's amazing to think that the resulting pupa remains immobile on a twig from July until the following May before the butterfly emerges.

[Lesley Cox]

Hummingbird web cam
http://www.ustream.tv/hummingbirdnestcam

Not sure if I watched the whole piece of film because some local ads popped up in the middle of it.

What a tiny nest, and so perfectly formed, like a pottery cup. I like the way it is attached to a stem of a rose - a climber? - which gives the proportion perfectly. How wonderful to have such nests in the garden, and their birds of course.

[Lesley Cox]

Anthony your remark about the caterpillars being canaballistic reminds me that a few days ago there was a news item in the farming programme that army worms were invading the northern part of the North Island. I believe there are a number of different army worms but years ago when we farmed near Timaru, my father found these for the first time on our farm, in great numbers, a seething mass in fact, visibly moving across pasture. He put a dozen in a glass jar (and covered it) to take to MAF for ID, next day. But when he went to get the jar, there were many droppings and only one worm. The others had all been eaten by the last remaining one.

Of course they are caterpillars, not worms as such. even with Google I can't find an image of the mature moth.

[alpines]

Had a visitor this evening. A House Wren flew into the house (well where else would a "house" wren fly?) and decided to perch on a shelf in the living room. Surprisingly, I was able to "capture" it gently and take it outside to fly away. However, it had different ideas and would not let go of my finger. It didn't appear to be hurt, or frightened, it wasn't trembling, just didn't want to fly away.
Anyway, here's a photo for all you bird lovers out there.

[Anthony Darby]

As they say here: "sweet as".

[Anthony Darby]

Anthony your remark about the caterpillars being canaballistic reminds me that a few days ago there was a news item in the farming programme that army worms were invading the northern part of the North Island. I believe there are a number of different army worms but years ago when we farmed near Timaru, my father found these for the first time on our farm, in great numbers, a seething mass in fact, visibly moving across pasture. He put a dozen in a glass jar (and covered it) to take to MAF for ID, next day. But when he went to get the jar, there were many droppings and only one worm. The others had all been eaten by the last remaining one.

Of course they are caterpillars, not worms as such. even with Google I can't find an image of the mature moth.

It's a pretty boring moth. Try here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dhobern/2928837008/

and here: http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?imgurl=http://rpmedia.ask.com/ts%3Fu%3D/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Mythimna_separata.jpg/220px-Mythimna_separata.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ask.com/wiki/Mythimna_separata&usg=__32ktrVjyjg6tBV9Q4lthz63Q954=&h=165&w=220&sz=13&hl=en&start=24&sig2=bpFkiFXI3avJ-A0Nim9g7A&zoom=1&tbnid=tPolTpnZIe8ogM:&tbnh=132&tbnw=176&ei=IVy_TfqVMe_ciAKExr2fAw&prev=/search%3Fq%3DMythimna%2Bseparata%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D799%26site%3Dsearch%26tbm%3Disch0%2C700&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=403&page=2&ndsp=25&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:24&tx=113&ty=52&biw=1440&bih=799

[angie]

The wee wren must have felt at home. I just love them and can never get over how such a tiny wee bird can survive our hard winters.

Males have a tuff life 

Angie

Well they do when "scientists" are fooling them into long battles.... I am reminded of the study that "discovered" that when pigs are shot they become very distressed.   

Maggi so would I 

[Anthony Darby]

I thinks that's about the only thing that would distress a pig!

I found this moth on the back path yesterday. A magpie moth (Nyctemera amica) or Mōkarakara to give it is Māori name. Its caterpillars (they are furry and like tiger moth caterpillars in the UK are called "woolly bears") feed on ragwort and cineraria making them poisonous to lizards and most birds. It's a day flier often mistaken for a butterfly.

[Ragged Robin]

A pair of Robin's have been frantically feeding their early brood hidden in the ivy - what a mouthful!

[gote]

Met this person some days ago.
Does the round belly hint that it is a she in "Interesting conditions" as The Tale of Genji puts it? 
Göte

[mark smyth]

Gote maybe the lizard ate too much

There is a robin nest close to my house but so far I cant find it

Every morning the blue tits, great tits, blackbirds and robin are shouting at the local cat that come see what it can catch. I'm trying to teach it to catch lead 

[Lesley Cox]

The magpie moths seem to enjoy any species of Senecio. I had two lovely plants of S. magellanica utterly decimated by the woolly bears.

[Maggi Young]

Just a note , Folks, that there is now a MAY wildlife thread.......

[gote]

Just a note , Folks, that there is now a MAY wildlife thread.......

Sure but I met my lizard in April. 
Göte

[Gerdk]

Strange behavior of carrion crows

Some crows living here around (and unfortunately fed by a lady in the neighbourhood) started to soak old and hard white bread in the water of my bird bath.
Of course I admire their ingenuity but nevertheless I stopped the mess by covering the bath with mesh wire.
Don't know if smaller birds are able to drink now.


Is this a unique behavior or does it occur elsewhere also?

Gerd