Wildlife September - November 2012

[ashley]

Out of Sweden I assume. It could be a great year for Bramblings in the UK and Ireland and I get a chance to see one for the first time

Bramblings turn up here in the garden Mark, usually among chaffinches in late winter.  Beautiful birds.

[Natalia]

Mark, thank you, very interesting!

Another photo from  expedition on Lake Baikal - Parnassius apollo - if I'm not mistaken ...

[daveyp1970]

Natalia very very nice,stunning.

[ronm]

Mark, thank you, very interesting!

Another photo from  expedition on Lake Baikal - Parnassius apollo - if I'm not mistaken ...

Although Parnassius apollo is in the area Parnassius nomion, is the true beauty from there Natalia. And this is it.
It is very variable across its range which extends into China etc. Please don't be fooled by the degree of red markings which can mislead.

[Anthony Darby]

I was going to say I'd not seen apollo with red on the fore wings. I used to breed these in the green house.

[ronm]

I was going to say I'd not seen apollo with red on the fore wings. I used to breed these in the green house.

Thats certainly the tell tale. 

Did they breed relatively ok Anthony? I really hope to breed any sp. of Parnassius one day. They are amazing butterflies. We have seen them flying wild in Switzerland and they were certainly memorable moments.
Any breeding hints please?

[Paul T]

Wow, Natalia.  Gorgeous picture!!

[Stephenb]

Mark: Re- Falsterbo - astonishing, never seen anything like this and had no idea blue tits flocked on this scale!

[mark smyth]

I didnt know blue tits did this either

[Anthony Darby]

Thats certainly the tell tale. 

Did they breed relatively ok Anthony? I really hope to breed any sp. of Parnassius one day. They are amazing butterflies. We have seen them flying wild in Switzerland and they were certainly memorable moments.
Any breeding hints please?

I bought eggs. The eggs over winter in the fridge and often hatch there, but just leave them be. In the spring they feed well on Sedum album. I kept them in an open plastic tank in the sunny part of the greenhouse by the door. Pairing is not easy, unless you have unrelated stock.

[ronm]

Thanks Anthony. Thats most useful information. Now to build up stocks of Sedum!

[Anthony Darby]

I reared Parnassius phoebus, which fed on yellow saxifrage. That's not easy to grow in Dunblane!

[Anthony Darby]

Spotted some empty cocoons in the local football park car park. I can only think they are emperor gum moth (Opodiphthera eucalypti) which does feed on birch. Strange, as there are plenty of suitable eucalyptus trees nearby.

[mark smyth]

A flock of 200+ Bramblings are on the Shetlands
http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=473505792671895&set=a.280995618589581.66938.274049239284219&type=1&theater

[ronm]

Excellent news for Skippy and his / her chums!

http://www.leathermag.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/15250/Kangaroo_population_reaches_new_heights.html