Wildlife September - November 2012

[mark smyth]

So I'm considered a wus, an Australian word?, for not liking spiders.

What do you not like? Please be honest? Cotton wool? Pigeons? Mice / rats?, Bees? ...

[Paul T]

Actually Mark, David N used the word Wus a full page before I did in reply #600.  For some reason I thought it would be wuss, but then again I don't think I've ever seen it written until now.  I never would have used the term as I thought it may have been an Aussie one, but when David used it I figured it must be international.

And I've already admitted to being with you in the wus stakes as I am an arachnaphobic as well.  No problems with snakes, cotton wool (I would have questioned that one, except I had a friend years ago who could not cope with wet cotton wool.  Dry was fine, but the feel of wet cotton wool freaked him out!), Pigeons, Mice/Rats (I used to own pet rats)... I'm at least partially allergic to bees but have no issues with them at all...... but spiders can have me cowering in the corner if they appear at the right time.   A shiver just went down my back from thinking about it.

[fredg]

  For some reason I thought it would be wuss, but then again I don't think I've ever seen it written until now. 

Either spelling is allowable Paul. See the Urban dictionary

Wus - http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=wus
Wuss - http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=wuss

[TC]

Paul
I don't blame you as Australia has some scary specimens.  My wife used to be scared stiff of even the smallest spider until I talked her round. She can pick them up and put them out with no problem.  She even allowed a Mexican red kneed tarantula to crawl over her hand at a Butterfly farm.  These spiders are 6" across and quite scary looking  - I had to steel myself to handle it

[Paul T]

Please do not make me even think about that.  Please!! 

[mark smyth]

not good news for migrating birds
http://www.birdwatch.co.uk/channel/newsitem.asp?c=11&cate=__13158

[mark smyth]

According to Shetland Wildlife a pod of 50 Orcas was seen off Shetland last week

On Shetland just now is a Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus from N America, an Arctic Redpoll Carduelis hornemannii and a Chestnut-eared bunting Emberiza fucata that lives in west Himalayas, China and Siberia and should be in Korea and Japan now.

[mark smyth]

One housing estate in Cambridgeshire has 72 pairs of swifts in nest boxes
http://www.rspb.org.uk/thingstodo/surveys/swifts/casestudies/fulbournswifts.aspx

[Jonny_SE]

Dont know how common this is but i had a Lanius excubitor hunting Parus major here in my garden today...Seen it years ago up north and once here in the south......nice bird.........//Jonny

[scatigaz]

Great Grey Shrikes often feed on small birds as well as rodents and insects. What a bird to see in your own garden. Wow.

[ronm]

Check out this amazing looking moth larva, 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2224727/The-incredible-skull-caterpiller-fighting-life-Australian-rainforest.html

[Maggi Young]

That's what I call a smart Halloween outfit, Ron!  Quite apart from the skull markings and the great colours, it's a pretty extraordinary shape, too.   

[ronm]

Unfortunately the adult moth shown is incorrect. The larva is that of Phyllodes imperialis -

http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/cato/imper.html

The moth shown by the Mail Online is  Catocala concumbens, a North American species,  - the larva of which, whilst being interesting to me, is a rather dull brown grey 'stick',  -

http://eolinterns.lifedesks.org/node/971

[Maggi Young]

Thanks for the extra info - the Mail online is not exactly famous for its accuracy!

[mark smyth]

Bohemian Waxwings Feeding on Apples - Fair Isle