Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Chatting => Chatting on the Plot => Topic started by: mumofstig on January 25, 2014, 19:58

Title: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: mumofstig on January 25, 2014, 19:58
As requested  ;)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on January 25, 2014, 20:42
Thank you MOS. This will stop me from going off topic in the birdwatch thread.  Well maybe.  ;)  It would be really lovely to read peeps comments on the flora and fauna that they find on their lottie or in their gardens.  :)

Even though the weather has been horrible recently (with constant rain and winds) there are still signs that spring will eventually arrive. My trailing Aubretia is starting to bloom and is providing nectar for the occasional bee. There are a few crocus in bloom but no sign yet of any daffs. We have even had a few ladybirds about on milder days.

Our badgers are still making an appearance now and again - I just love the way that they amble along. Have given up trying to count the rabbits - although they look lovely are such a pain in veggie patch.

Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on January 25, 2014, 20:47
My little 'wild' crocus that seed everywhere round the garden are just starting to bloom.   I also noticed that some of the snowdrops are nearly ready to flower  :D

The daffs are pushing through leaves now for me, but they have a way to go before flowering  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: allotmentann on January 25, 2014, 21:54
I am really enjoying the little mouse family living in my compost, they are so tiny and very cute. I love to see them scurry to hide when I open the bin. Plenty of grey squirrels of course, I have discovered that they are rather partial to cake and the berries on the Gaultheria. Lots of foxes too, who are also partial to a bit of cake.   :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on January 25, 2014, 23:18
Oh the little mice are probably wood mice - they are lovely.  :) I have such mixed feelings about foxes - I can admire how handsome that they look but as a chicken keeper I am always wary of them.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: finleyfreyaseth on January 26, 2014, 06:34
maybe not animal related but why walking in the woods yesterday with dog and family(it was peeing down too) I was amazed at the amount of different moss fungi etc growin on the fallen trees and branches was so pretty gonna go back during week we my camera,will throw some pics on here if interestd
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on January 26, 2014, 08:27
maybe not animal related but why walking in the woods yesterday with dog and family(it was peeing down too) I was amazed at the amount of different moss fungi etc growin on the fallen trees and branches was so pretty gonna go back during week we my camera,will throw some pics on here if interestd

I would like too see those pics if possible - mosses, fungi and lichens are amazing.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: allotmentann on January 26, 2014, 09:18
The moss is very beautiful. I love to see it on the trees, it makes everything look so lush.

I will have to google some images of wood mice and see if I can id them. They go running for cover so fast when I open the lid, it has taken me a while to be sure that they are there. But, I guess the way that the neighbours cat stands guard should be a clue!   :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on January 26, 2014, 11:18
maybe not animal related but why walking in the woods yesterday with dog and family(it was peeing down too) I was amazed at the amount of different moss fungi etc growin on the fallen trees and branches was so pretty gonna go back during week we my camera,will throw some pics on here if interestd

We used to spend hours in Delamere forest photographing just what you are talking about while the dogs enjoyed the mud and undergrowth. I'm sure those on here who are not lucky enough to have woodland on their doorstep would love to see pics.

Erm...can I join in? Not totally relevent to GB I suppose, but we do have similar animals and plants.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: plum crumble on January 26, 2014, 11:52
lots of buds everywhere, crocuses daffs etc emerging.

Bill the cat ate the mouse family - I am both sad and glad about that - they were so sweet, but they had also chewed through the air vent and nested under my dining room floorboards. Bill now very smug, and OH has installed a new (metal) air vent.

Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Fairy Plotmother on January 26, 2014, 12:11
I think I need to borrow Bill!  :(
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: mumofstig on January 26, 2014, 13:34
Erm...can I join in? Not totally relevent to GB I suppose, but we do have similar animals and plants.

Of course you can  :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on January 26, 2014, 14:25
Erm...can I join in? Not totally relevent to GB I suppose, but we do have similar animals and plants.

Of course you can  :D

Looking forward to that Tosca - already enjoy your bird pics and stories.

Saw a couple of common seals playing in the sea - they seem to enjoy it when the sea is really rough.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: allotmentann on January 26, 2014, 15:46
Seals would be a real treat to see. How lovely.
My little mice are indeed Wood Mice. Plum I am sure my cat would polish off mice in no time as well, I am very glad that they are in the compost not my house.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on January 26, 2014, 16:04
Seals would be a real treat to see. How lovely.
My little mice are indeed Wood Mice. Plum I am sure my cat would polish off mice in no time as well, I am very glad that they are in the compost not my house.

You will be relieved to know that wood mice very rarely come into houses - they much prefer places like your compost bins.  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on January 26, 2014, 16:35
Erm...can I join in? Not totally relevent to GB I suppose, but we do have similar animals and plants.

Of course you can  :D

Looking forward to that Tosca - already enjoy your bird pics and stories.

Saw a couple of common seals playing in the sea - they seem to enjoy it when the sea is really rough.

Thank you. We have started to get our eye in as regards wildlife in and around the village, but photos can be difficult as hunters tend to shoot at anything and everything which makes for skittish wild animals. We have pine martens both sides, but hoping we don't see them in our garden even though they make a noise in summer and leave a 'calling card' at the gate. We have snakes and foxes too. Around the village there are deer and jackal, hares and many different birds of prey, including eagles and goshawk. The squirrels are like red in shape and ear tufts, but they are black and much bigger.

It all tends to make you a bit paranoid about your chickens. But one little chap has made one of the compost heaps his hibernation nest of choice and was lucky that OH didn't spear him while tidying ready to put some sides up, a job which will have to wait till spring now. Quick photo call and it was back into the warm and covered up before waking.
(http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv100/tosca100-dog/006_zpsb60fd562.jpg) (http://s673.photobucket.com/user/tosca100-dog/media/006_zpsb60fd562.jpg.html)

(http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv100/tosca100-dog/005_zpsf451b47b.jpg) (http://s673.photobucket.com/user/tosca100-dog/media/005_zpsf451b47b.jpg.html)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on January 26, 2014, 16:49
You have just made me very jealous Tosca - I have never seen a hog in my garden - but live in hope.  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on January 26, 2014, 17:19
Me neither, I was all of a flutter at seeing it..... :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: allotmentann on January 26, 2014, 19:19
Beautiful. I have had hedgehogs a few times, but it has been a long while since I last saw one. I have certainly never got so close. You are so lucky to be surrounded by so much wildlife.   :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on January 26, 2014, 23:51
We had a hedgehog in our garden this autumn which is amazing as I didn't think we had any gaps in the fencing that they could get through ???
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Trillium on January 27, 2014, 00:24
Aw, that is so cute, Tosca. It's very lucky it didn't get speared.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: allotmentann on January 30, 2014, 13:19
My first Snowdrops are bravely poking through, it is always so lovely when those white petals start to show. Especially as it has been sleeting and half heartedly snowing. However cold it may yet get, spring is on the way!  :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on January 30, 2014, 13:35
My first Snowdrops are bravely poking through, it is always so lovely when those white petals start to show. Especially as it has been sleeting and half heartedly snowing. However cold it may yet get, spring is on the way!  :D

We had a few come up too, only short, but now they are covered with 18 inches of snow! Hope they are still there when the snow melts.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Goosegirl on January 30, 2014, 14:08
My first Snowdrops are bravely poking through, it is always so lovely when those white petals start to show. Especially as it has been sleeting and half heartedly snowing. However cold it may yet get, spring is on the way!  :D
Today I have just seen the first snowdrop flower buds - oh deepjoy!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: allotmentann on January 30, 2014, 17:03
 :D Deep joy is exactly right!  :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on January 30, 2014, 23:08
My daffs have been out for nearly a week now, but thats late compared to previous years for my sheltered front bed. Lovely to see them blooming though :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 3 allotments on January 30, 2014, 23:35
How excited i was today as i walking to the pt next to my pallet compost  heap  there he was a small (twice the size of a tennis ball ) hedgehog :D he just stopped and looked at me then curled up he must have  a nest under the bottom pallet  so i rolled him back under i thought they were in hibernation at this time of year, hope it dosent die with this horrible weather coming in  :(
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on January 30, 2014, 23:54
Parents garden was full of wildlife and their garden is tiny! :)
Grey squirrel,  half a dozen blue tits, a dozen starlings,  a dozen sparrows,  a couple of great tits all sharing the fat balls and peanuts! :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on January 31, 2014, 10:45
How excited i was today as i walking to the pt next to my pallet compost  heap  there he was a small (twice the size of a tennis ball ) hedgehog :D he just stopped and looked at me then curled up he must have  a nest under the bottom pallet  so i rolled him back under i thought they were in hibernation at this time of year, hope it dosent die with this horrible weather coming in  :(

They do wake up now and again though the winter - so hopefully s/he should be OK.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: mumofstig on January 31, 2014, 12:17
There was a little grey squirrel scampering up and down the rose arch trellis this morning - I know they're not good for quite a few reasons - but they are pretty to see  :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on January 31, 2014, 13:03
There was a little grey squirrel scampering up and down the rose arch trellis this morning - I know they're not good for quite a few reasons - but they are pretty to see  :D

I know what you mean MOS but I quite like to see them as well.

Nature watching of a different kind here - just looking at the fury of the sea - beautiful but frightening also.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on January 31, 2014, 23:06
There was a little grey squirrel scampering up and down the rose arch trellis this morning - I know they're not good for quite a few reasons - but they are pretty to see  :D
My mother has named her squirrel - and the squirrels offspring last year ::)
She happily feeds them.  ::)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: allotmentann on February 01, 2014, 10:05
I love the squirrels too, even if they do always work out how to get the seeds out of the hanging feeders. They are such busy little things.
Springlands, I am so jealous of your sea views. I love the sea.   :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on February 01, 2014, 12:03
I love the squirrels too, even if they do always work out how to get the seeds out of the hanging feeders. They are such busy little things.
Springlands, I am so jealous of your sea views. I love the sea.   :)

I love it too but on a day like today with high tides and wild winds it can be a problem.  :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on February 05, 2014, 12:50
In Plymouth city centre we have a lot of pigeons.
Today however, one of those pigeons was attacked by a fairly small bird of prey that swooped in past my head and pummelled the pigeon to the ground!! :ohmy:

Never seen a wild bird of prey that close up! Fascinating to watch (if barbaric).
Will try and post the pic Ben took later. 
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on February 06, 2014, 19:00
Saw catkins on some alder trees today - lovely to see as the trees have seemed so bare recently. Lots of yellow crocus out in the garden - just in time for the next batch of winds to destroy them. The leaves of the daffs are just beginning to come through.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on February 07, 2014, 13:29
In Plymouth city centre we have a lot of pigeons.
Today however, one of those pigeons was attacked by a fairly small bird of prey that swooped in past my head and pummelled the pigeon to the ground!! :ohmy:

Never seen a wild bird of prey that close up! Fascinating to watch (if barbaric).
Will try and post the pic Ben took later.
You don't have to see our rubbish picture - he made the local rag!!!
Warning to those with a delicate disposition!

www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Sparrowhawk-downs-pigeon-Plymouth-city-centre/story-20576824-detail/story.html
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on February 11, 2014, 13:48
We have had blazing sunshine today which is melting the last remnants of snow and has brought the bees out in force. Some have been to the snowdrops which continued to flower under two feet of snow, but there have been a lot in the chicken trough.

(http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv100/tosca100-dog/eggsandbeesandflowers021_zpsc1b435f3.jpg) (http://s673.photobucket.com/user/tosca100-dog/media/eggsandbeesandflowers021_zpsc1b435f3.jpg.html)

(http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv100/tosca100-dog/eggsandbeesandflowers037_zpsbb8c5163.jpg) (http://s673.photobucket.com/user/tosca100-dog/media/eggsandbeesandflowers037_zpsbb8c5163.jpg.html)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on February 18, 2014, 16:35
Went to chuck some corn in the chicken runs earlier and thought 'Must clean out that wildlife pond'.  Its next to the big run and has leaves and all sorts of debris from the winter floating in it.

I pulled out a handful of leaves and nearly jumped out of my skin when a frog hopped out of the handful and sploshed back into the water  :ohmy:  :lol: 

A bit of careful investigation revealed lots more frogs, so I guess the clear-up is off.  It was more for my benefit than theirs in any case.  They are quite happy with things being left alone  ::)  :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 3 allotments on February 18, 2014, 18:45
My daffs are starting  to flower,stalks just coming up,loads of pidgeons about do they count as nature watch :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on February 19, 2014, 13:22
Went to chuck some corn in the chicken runs earlier and thought 'Must clean out that wildlife pond'.  Its next to the big run and has leaves and all sorts of debris from the winter floating in it.

I pulled out a handful of leaves and nearly jumped out of my skin when a frog hopped out of the handful and sploshed back into the water  :ohmy:  :lol: 

A bit of careful investigation revealed lots more frogs, so I guess the clear-up is off.  It was more for my benefit than theirs in any case.  They are quite happy with things being left alone  ::)  :lol:
My mother in laws pond is like an orgy this time of year! :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on February 19, 2014, 18:29
Toads out and about after all the damp weather, some of them no bigger than the end of my thumb. The dogs have learned to leave them well alone.
Almond trees just starting to blossom.
Dawn chorus just beginning to get going.
Weeds growing...
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on February 20, 2014, 20:10
Saw a beautiful rainbow on my travels today,could see the whole arc,then another appeared above it but fainter & not the full arc,stills thrills me every time.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 3 allotments on February 20, 2014, 20:40
Got me first daffodill opened up today :D minature ones
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: diospyros on March 01, 2014, 16:48
The pond by the allotment gate has loads of frogspawn in.  When I came back past it at lunchtime, I couldn't work out what all the little white blobs were (should probably be wearing glasses) as I got closer realised it was the frogs' white throats, they were spaced a foot apart all over the pond enjoying the sunshine!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sion01 on March 01, 2014, 16:53
Got really excited early this morning I actually saw an otter .Yes an otter.An otter.I can't believe it.It was lolloping by the side of the road as I went to work at the ungodly hour of four.Really cheered me up,i've never seen one before appart then on telly.Much bigger then i'd imagined them to be.Great.Im still buzzing
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on March 01, 2014, 18:32
No wonder you are buzzing Sion - what a lovely start to the day.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on March 02, 2014, 03:08
Wow, Lucky you. We have seen lots of signs of otter close to here but have yet to come close to seeing one. We would like to go out very early but we have had such a lot of fog, and anyway we have the chickens to let out.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on March 02, 2014, 06:55
Got really excited early this morning I actually saw an otter .Yes an otter.An otter.I can't believe it.It was lolloping by the side of the road as I went to work at the ungodly hour of four.Really cheered me up,i've never seen one before appart then on telly.Much bigger then i'd imagined them to be.Great.Im still buzzing

How wonderful I would love to see a wild otter.. We once went to an otter sanctuary when the children were small. Very smelly as I recall, DD bought a glove puppet otter that she called Otty :lol:  I came across it last week,it seems a long time ago since they were little. :(
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: diospyros on March 02, 2014, 07:15
Got really excited early this morning I actually saw an otter .Yes an otter.An otter.I can't believe it.It was lolloping by the side of the road as I went to work at the ungodly hour of four.Really cheered me up,i've never seen one before appart then on telly.Much bigger then i'd imagined them to be.Great.Im still buzzing

I love that phrase "lolloping" describes them exactly! They are definitely getting more common - I saw tracks the other week on the Churnet and was excited enough about that.  Saw wild otters in Scotland summer before last.  Crawled through mud and midges for an hour before breakfast following a little blip in the sea, came back and found a whole family playing in the harbour! 
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Thrift on March 02, 2014, 10:26
Wonderful to see them in the flesh.

I have only ever seen one very close - I was with a friend, setting up our easels by the river, when one appeared in the water. He was repeatedly diving for fish and then turning onto his back, clutching them between his paws and having breakfast.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sion01 on March 03, 2014, 20:47
I saw one killed on the road about 30 to 35 years ago on the far end of the Lleyn Peninsular where I was bought up where there are no rivers that you'd think would sustain otters,I remember an old fisherman saying at the time that they were in the sea and I recall that he hated them as they ate the fish out of his nets. Theyr'e sea dwellers in Scotland arn't they so although I was sceptical of the old fisherman at the time he might just have been telling the truth 
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 3 allotments on March 03, 2014, 21:11
I saw an otter last year i was on my sons stag do we went to stay in a wooden chalet in scotland, i hired a boat for the weekend we went fishing in loch etive near oban (it was beautiful),then tried fishing off the bank i thought i saw a big fish splashing about,no it was an otter playing /eating a fish must have 10-15 feet from us  it was great ive never seen one before,then people appeared everywhere taking photos of it i took some but it looks like a blip on the water, it was so comical, like look what ive caught  :lol: we didnt catch anything  >:(.darren
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on March 07, 2014, 13:38
It sunshine has brought the odd ladybird out of hiding - lovely to see. I even heard the buzzing of a bee yesterday but could not see it.  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on March 07, 2014, 18:07
It sunshine has brought the odd ladybird out of hiding - lovely to see. I even heard the buzzing of a bee yesterday but could not see it.  :)

We have had masses of bees out here for weeks, no idea where they are coming from. There has not been much for them except snowdrops so they have been bothering the chickens by swarming round the feed. The large cornus tree we have is in flower now, and heaving. We have had ladybirds and a butterfly too.
(http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv100/tosca100-dog/eggsandbeesandflowers037_zpsbb8c5163.jpg) (http://s673.photobucket.com/user/tosca100-dog/media/eggsandbeesandflowers037_zpsbb8c5163.jpg.html)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: diospyros on March 09, 2014, 18:09
Lots of butterflies today, mianly small tortoisehell but the odd peacock and one brimstone.  Also a fair few bumblebees!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on March 09, 2014, 20:27
A few butterflies up on the plot here too,& a rather friendly Staffy who shouldn't have been there :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on March 09, 2014, 20:31
We saw what looks like a High Brown Fritillary butterfly (according to the pics on the uk butterfly website.
Apparently they are common to this area so it's quite likely.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on March 09, 2014, 20:43
The foxes were 'courting' in my garden at about three this morning.  ;)  They must not have read the text book that said their courting month is February.  :lol:  ;)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: diospyros on March 13, 2014, 20:14
Lots of bumblebees.  They are definitely enjoying the flowering currant in my front garden (var. Albescens), but I can't work out why they are buzzing round the front door.  Whether they have been hibernating somewhere, or are looking for somewhere to make a nest  :ohmy:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 3 allotments on March 13, 2014, 21:54
Lots of butterflies and bumblebees about ,i was watching lottie guys  honey bees  behind me he has 5 hives , right next to my shed thousands of bees humming around hives it looks great they dont bother me as long as i dont get to close (touch wood :lol:)also seems to be plenty of moggies around too :D probably after digging their loos in the recently tilled earth.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: diospyros on March 14, 2014, 21:28
A Comma to add to the butterfly count!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on March 15, 2014, 05:08
Lots of butterflies over here too, no idea what they are but some are very dark and some are the most amazing glowing yellow. A drive by the river saw the ground alive with endangered susliks (ground squirrel) out of hibernation.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: allotmentann on March 16, 2014, 18:56
It definitely seems to be a good year for butterflies, my garden is just full of them. There were loads of Brimstones too the other day.  They are driving the neighbour's cat wild!  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on March 16, 2014, 21:02
My magnolia stellata seems to be a home for over-wintering ladybirds.
I find a few right through the winter! There were loads today though. :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sarajane on March 16, 2014, 21:53
We found a hedgehog wandering on next doors allotment last week.  We thought it may be a little early for it to be out of hibernation, think the warm day time temp had woken it up but it had been just on freezing at night.  It looked a little 'wobbly' on its legs so neighbour took it to the nearby Hedgehog rescue home.

The very kind lady (who currently has 134 hogs) took it in but sadly it died within the hour :(  :(  :(
Title: nice to see
Post by: mrsbean on March 17, 2014, 00:22
just looked out of window and seen hedgehog running up pavement round side of house. lovely
Title: Hoggies have returned
Post by: jondav14 on March 17, 2014, 16:55
Signs of hedgehogs returning to my garden last night, anyone else spotted em?  :unsure:
Title: Re: Hoggies have returned
Post by: surbie100 on March 17, 2014, 19:05
Yes, but the foxes on our site have a liking for them. Have buried 3 so far this year.  :( :(
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on March 19, 2014, 20:02
Loads of insect life: bees. butterflies, beetles and grasshoppers. Sadly also mealy aphids by the million, wasps by the thousand, ticks in the tens and even the odd mosquito. This is not normal so early in the year. Getting a bit late for a really cold spell to kill them all off, and I wouldn't wish it on my lovely seedlings, but the pests are going to be a problem after such a mild winter.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on March 20, 2014, 01:09
We have also had a mild winter in BG apart from a short spell where daytime temperatures didn't go far above -8. We are hoping that was enough to see off some nasties. We have no more cold weather forecast for this year but that may change yet. It is hard not putting seedlings out when daytime temperatures at the moment are in the mid twenties. The fruit trees are in blossom.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: JayG on March 20, 2014, 15:35
3 separate areas of extreme turbulence visible in my pond as I write this, which can only mean one thing - the frogs are having a lot more fun than I am at the moment, and there will be lots of frog spawn this year.  ;)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on March 26, 2014, 19:50
Last year was a terrible year for frogs spawning. We only had 3. This year in a pond of 8ft by 15ft we counted 34. A record for us and there is about 14 dollops of spawn. To protect it from the frost iv placed a framed panel of chicken wire over it covered in bubblewrap. It also stops hungry birds eating the tadpoles and feeding their babies.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on April 09, 2014, 17:46
Locusts. Saw one on our land a couple of days ago and an absolutely huge one (thought it was a bird at first till I saw it land and start to adjust its wings - reminded me of a bat) at a friend's place. She's just started a small veg patch...

Last year we had quite a lot. They seemed to like the aubergine plants, so I paid special attention to them first thing in the morning while it was still cool and managed to get and kill a fair few. The winter has been so mild they and any eggs will have survived. I hate the sight of them, as they're not only very destructive but ugly in the extreme.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on April 09, 2014, 20:38
There was a dead frog in my pond yesterday  :(  also no spawn :(
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on April 10, 2014, 06:24
There was a dead frog in my pond yesterday  :(  also no spawn :(

Might be worth having your water tested if you find any more dead things. My sister is totally over run with frog and toad spawn, she's never seen anything like it, amphibians everywhere.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on April 10, 2014, 22:57
My mother in laws pond has been like a mass orgy for some time now ::)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: diospyros on April 11, 2014, 13:17
Wriggling masses of tadpoles in my pond, with newts wading through it all and stuffing their faces!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: diospyros on April 14, 2014, 19:04
I saw one of Beetroot Queen's Bombylius major bee flies!  And I don't think I'd ever seen on before, isn't it funny how that happens!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on April 15, 2014, 19:08
Blue orchard bees. This is only the second year since we've been here that I've seen them. Perhaps they managed to survive elsewhere due to the mild winter and have spread their range. They're huge and make a tremendous buzzing noise.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on April 15, 2014, 20:32
Lots and lots and lots of ladybirds - proper ones not those alien invaders. Wonder if this going to be a ladybird year. Anyone else seen many. 
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on April 15, 2014, 22:15
Lots and lots and lots of ladybirds - proper ones not those alien invaders. Wonder if this going to be a ladybird year. Anyone else seen many.
I think they overwinter in my Magnolia (which is near the greenhouse) - I have loads but I mainly see them through winter and spring. :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on April 16, 2014, 00:17
Yes there's been loads of ladybirds on the allotment this year.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Paul Plots on April 16, 2014, 00:53
I haven't noticed a single ladybird but next-door has a family of squirrels in their loft!

The squirrels have a home for life knowing my neighbours speed of action.  :mellow:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: blackberryjam on April 16, 2014, 06:11
I haven't noticed a single ladybird but next-door has a family of squirrels in their loft!

The squirrels have a home for life knowing my neighbours speed of action.  :mellow:

Let's hope they are squirrels and not  Glis Glis
I've seen ladybirds on my allotment, but none in my home garden yet,
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on April 16, 2014, 09:14
Lots of ladybirds here too. Likewise, the proper ones rather than the invaders.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on April 16, 2014, 22:42
I haven't seen a Harlequin ladybird for a good couple of years - maybe they weren't as invasive as the experts thought :unsure:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: mumofstig on April 17, 2014, 18:31
I don't know about elsewhere, but there are a lot of enormous bees here.

They keep getting indoors, and getting angry because they can't find a way out - despite doors and windows being wide open  ::) Silly things.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: diospyros on April 17, 2014, 19:04
Yes there were at least two queen wasps scouting out the workshop for nesting places.  I stamp my foot, point and say loudly "OUT!" and they generally go.  Last year one tried the bottom of the compost heap right next to the back door and I found her just in time and had to destroy the nest (eggs had just hatched).  Hopefully she had time to start again elsewhere.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on April 18, 2014, 08:38
At the moment, I reckon I'm destroying three or four starter wasps' nests a day. And they're just the ones I see about the place. It was such a mild winter here, the wasps are going to be a serious problem this year.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Lastcast on April 18, 2014, 21:03
Found a Queen Wasp in my shed on the allotment yesterday, she'd almost completed the first globe? of her nest, I felt a pang of regret having to knock it down something so beautifully formed. However I don't really fancy sharing with 5000 of her offspring later in the year, hopefully she will find somewhere safer for all to rebuild.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Paul Plots on April 19, 2014, 23:30
I have two very tiny "pets", wild ones, in the pond. Both the cat and my daughter were fascinated by the little newts (my newts!)

They appear almost black, darker than the ones I have seen in the past, so I'm wondering if they have grown from spawn laid in the pond last year. Adults have more brown and greater patterning I believe.

No frogs at all this year for the first time since the pond went in!


And....... the squirrels have moved into next-door's attic!!  :ohmy:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: mumofstig on April 20, 2014, 07:33
Do make sure they can't get into yours! They cause havoc  :(
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Paul Plots on April 20, 2014, 14:45
Do make sure they can't get into yours! They cause havoc  :(

My neighbour is one of the slowest acting people I have ever met. His idea is to wait until the weather gets too hot for them to stay there. Despite the other neighbours and us giving him information about the damage and the risks he goes off fishing and sits in-front of the tv inactive as always.

Next time I see him I will let him know that if the squirrels make it through to my place from his loft I will send him the bills for removing them and for any repairs / damage caused. That might do the trick.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on April 20, 2014, 16:36
Paul, our friends along the street ended up with past control to remove the squirrels in their attic, and put foam in the gaps to keep them from re-invading  :ohmy:

Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: diospyros on April 20, 2014, 17:24
Paul, our friends along the street ended up with past control to remove the squirrels in their attic, and put foam in the gaps to keep them from re-invading  :ohmy:

You don't want to know how much it cost my mother to repair what the squirrel did to the wiring of her solar installation...
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on April 23, 2014, 11:22
The wild and uncultivated part of our garden which is on a steep slope is a mass of blackthorn flowers - sloe gin anyone.  :D  It is lovely to see as last year the really bad spring weather burnt off all of the flowers.

Still seeing lots of ladybirds in the garden and the green house - long may they stay around.  :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Paul Plots on April 25, 2014, 18:41
Paul, our friends along the street ended up with past control to remove the squirrels in their attic, and put foam in the gaps to keep them from re-invading  :ohmy:

My neighbour Bob is very seriously intending to leave the squiggles squirrels where they are in the hope that they will move out when the attic gets too hot!! Heaven help us.  :wub:


Nature Watch:
Snails...... hundreds of them. Nothing exciting just the ordinary everywhere sort - a population explosion and not a mistle thrush in sight.  :(
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on April 26, 2014, 06:01
The...er....benefits of a mild winter eh? There will no doubt be plenty of critters out of control this year and we also have the same problem. Our snails are HUGE edible ones, if you stand on one you are likely to turn your ankle! We have a huge amount of black crickets too and colorado beetles are about early. Aphids areabundant too.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: diospyros on May 02, 2014, 14:49
I forgot to mention, on Tuesday the first damselfly lifted off from my pond!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Lastcast on May 06, 2014, 02:10
Had a Queen Hornet early yesterday morning on the allotment, at about 2" in length she looked quite formidable, appeared to be drinking the dew off the grass, after a minute or so she went on her way
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on May 06, 2014, 14:02
Well, I know killing  is not really the done thing, but I cheered as I stamped on the first locust I've managed to catch this year. There are plenty more, unfortunately.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on May 06, 2014, 15:01
We heard a cuckoo on Sunday - haven't heard one of them for years and years! :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on May 06, 2014, 17:43
Found a "nest" of peacock butterfly caterpillars on the nettles alongside the path at the allotment site. Haven't seen one for years  :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on May 06, 2014, 17:44
Found a "nest" of peacock butterfly caterpillars on the nettles alongside the path at the allotment site. Haven't seen one for years  :D

They are lovely Sunny - we had lots of peacock butterflies at our holiday cottage last year.  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on May 06, 2014, 17:46
Found a "nest" of peacock butterfly caterpillars on the nettles alongside the path at the allotment site. Haven't seen one for years  :D

They are lovely Sunny - we had lots of peacock butterflies at our holiday cottage last year.  :)

We do have a lot of the butterflies, but those nests of baby caterpillars are a real blast from the past for me, as we used to rear them at home for release, as part of a repopulation project.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: diospyros on May 10, 2014, 19:19
The tadpoles in the tank have turned carnivorous - and they haven't grown any legs yet so it was a bit of a shock to find one of them finishing off his little brother/sister!  They have a piece of sausage to work on now and the small ones don't look quite so worried any more.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on May 13, 2014, 19:49
Found a "nest" of peacock butterfly caterpillars on the nettles alongside the path at the allotment site. Haven't seen one for years  :D

They are lovely Sunny - we had lots of peacock butterflies at our holiday cottage last year.  :)

We do have a lot of the butterflies, but those nests of baby caterpillars are a real blast from the past for me, as we used to rear them at home for release, as part of a repopulation project.

Wrong ID. Now they have changed their skins a few times.. three I think... they have golden spines so are in fact Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars. I had 33 so have given my granddaughters ten today  :D

Drove down a narrow country lane today just above Freefolk in Hampshire, behind a brown hare lolloping along the edge of the track  :D :D :D

Camera in the boot of the car of course  :ohmy:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Aled on May 15, 2014, 09:09
Scared an otter off the river bank last weekend, which is unusuall as they usually scare the life out of me! The otter however then decided to have a disagreement with a swan. Lots of chattering and hissing! (by the way i was fishing)
Cheers
Aled
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on May 15, 2014, 10:17
Scared an otter off the river bank last weekend, which is unusuall as they usually scare the life out of me! The otter however then decided to have a disagreement with a swan. Lots of chattering and hissing! (by the way i was fishing)
Cheers
Aled

Aled, you need to keep a camera in your pocket!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Aled on May 15, 2014, 14:01
and i had one, but it was pitch black and he was in the river rather quickly. I see otters regularly as i do a lot of fiahing at dusk, during the night and at dawn.
Cheers
Aled
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on May 15, 2014, 15:32
and i had one, but it was pitch black and he was in the river rather quickly. I see otters regularly as i do a lot of fiahing at dusk, during the night and at dawn.
Cheers
Aled

There are otters round here in BG too, and we have seen spraint and eaten fresh water mussels, but because we can't go out till we have let the chooks out we never see them. One day.....

I believe the ones which are hand raised and released can be a bit bolshy, otherwise they would rather run...or swim away from people.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on May 16, 2014, 14:10
I would love to see an otter. I'm really jealous and that's a fact.

Anyway, saw my first dragonfly of the year, an Emperor Dragonfly and an absolute whopper. Surprising to see it so early.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: joyfull on May 20, 2014, 07:49
this was in my bathroom yesterday - so delicate and pretty  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on May 20, 2014, 10:22
this was in my bathroom yesterday - so delicate and pretty  :)

That's gorgeous, love moths and all sorts of bugs...as long as they're not nasty.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on May 20, 2014, 17:16
this was in my bathroom yesterday - so delicate and pretty  :)

Gorgeous  :D

It is called a Blood vein moth.

Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: joyfull on May 20, 2014, 17:20
Thank you for that Sunny, I hadn't managed to find out what it was and that name sums it up perfectly  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on May 20, 2014, 17:28
Thank you for that Sunny, I hadn't managed to find out what it was and that name sums it up perfectly  :)

You are welcome  :D

Must be moth day as I had an Old Lady moth hatch from a pupa I found in the greenhouse last winter -- it is not on Berkshire's species list as far as I can see, which is odd as we get them in our garden every summer. With a wing span of over 2 inches you can't miss them when they are flying  :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: joyfull on May 20, 2014, 18:09
wow would love to see one, I think moths are very misunderstood, some are really beautiful  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on May 26, 2014, 09:50
Just thought I would post the pictures of our Small Tortoiseshell butterfly "family" to date, plus the Old Lady Moth for Joy to see  :D

The caterpillars were on some nettles alongside our plot, as there is a big issue with these being parasitized (one of the main reasons why their numbers are so reduced) took about 30 of them to rear at home. gave 10 to my daughter, who has also got them to this stage successfully. They too just four weeks from the eggs hatching to pupation, as theye were indoors with plenty of fresh nettles. Outside this year they took nearly six weeks.

If all goes according to plan I shall keep adults in a massive cage until some eggs are laid, and the release them all. I shall then rear a second brood for release -- these adults will hibernate.

(As I can only attach four photos I am doing this over two posts)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on May 26, 2014, 09:53
Post no 2 following from above

You can see the amazing metallic colouring of the pupae in this one --some are bronze and some pale gold

Plus of course the Old Lady Moth  ;) Not the best photo in the world, but you can get the general idea

Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on May 26, 2014, 10:47
What amazing photos Sunny. And an amazing thing to do to try to increase the number of those lovely butterflies.  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on May 26, 2014, 12:49
This was a major family pastime when I was a child, so it is nice to have time to do this again, albeit in a very small way. Might tackle one of the hawk moths next year


(I even made it onto TV once  :lol: when I was about ten years old --- got a £10 book token as a gift. Ten pounds was small fortune then to me  :D)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: archibtbm on May 27, 2014, 11:40
Saw a grey squirrel on the plot the other day,  never seen them at the before...wonder if he\she ate my seeds.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: LosingThePlot on May 27, 2014, 11:52
Found him or her under my upturned wheelbarrow on the plot among a folder groundsheet yesterday. I'm assuming it's a frog and not a toad (how do you tell the difference?)......


(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh573/mowda/20140525_174000_zps82ab929f.jpg)

(http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh573/mowda/20140525_174030_zps72785dca.jpg)

Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on May 27, 2014, 12:22
I think it might be a toad as it is very warty, also I think it is in the toes you can tell the difference
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on May 28, 2014, 21:04
Its a toad. Warty skin, copper eyes and they waddle rather than jump. I go toading every year ,moving dozens across the road to stop them getting killed by cars. I move them to their spawning ponds
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: LosingThePlot on May 29, 2014, 15:51
Thanks for clearing that up. He does waddle, pushing himself into the crevices in the sheet. I'd quite like him to hang around as I believe they eat slugs. I've left the ground sheet under my upturned wheelbarrow and he's always in there.

Yesterday, he had a frog for company under there, which had crawled into my watering can. It's like Animal Magic down our plot!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: surbie100 on May 29, 2014, 16:55
Yesterday, he had a frog for company under there, which had crawled into my watering can. It's like Animal Magic down our plot!

Does that mean you do all the voices...?  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on May 29, 2014, 17:07
Yesterday, he had a frog for company under there, which had crawled into my watering can. It's like Animal Magic down our plot!

Does that mean you do all the voices...?  :)

In the privacy of one's plot, of course  :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Paul Plots on June 01, 2014, 12:45
Toads around the town? You lucky lot!! They are lovely creatures.

I discovered - or rather they discovered me - two frogs hiding in our greenhouse. I guess they'll move out now the chickweed cover has gone. It's about time they were busy slug hunting in the veg patch.  ;)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Aled on June 02, 2014, 12:09
The otter got his revenge, by scaring the blo*dy life out of me by moving river reeds like something out of Jerassic park on Saturday evening whilst i was out fishing!
He swam off with a big grin....
Cheers
Aled
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on June 02, 2014, 12:37
A very small scorpion. No idea if it's true that the sting of a small scorpion is more painful than that of a large scorpion. It went shooting off into the weeds and I moved on to another patch, thankful that I hadn't grabbed it in my hand in my bid to remove as much bindweed as possible.

On the insect front, a couple of years back, I saw a beautiful tarantula in among my Brussels sprouts as I was weeding them. I've stopped putting down hay as mulch, so there's no chance I might be caught unawares again. Have been got on two occasions by a wolf spider and that was more than enough for me.

Just to be clear, we regard any insects in the house as fair game. Out in the veg patch, only caterpillars, snails and aphids are subject to culling.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on June 02, 2014, 13:10
The otter got his revenge, by scaring the blo*dy life out of me by moving river reeds like something out of Jerassic park on Saturday evening whilst i was out fishing!
He swam off with a big grin....
Cheers
Aled

 :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on June 02, 2014, 14:36
Working in the GH this morning and a frog jumped out at me. Pleased to have one in the GH again but just wish they would not jump about they way they do.  :D

Still lots of lady birds in the garden - need to watch where we are walking at present as they are crawling along the paths.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on June 03, 2014, 06:53
A very small scorpion. No idea if it's true that the sting of a small scorpion is more painful than that of a large scorpion. It went shooting off into the weeds and I moved on to another patch, thankful that I hadn't grabbed it in my hand in my bid to remove as much bindweed as possible.

On the insect front, a couple of years back, I saw a beautiful tarantula in among my Brussels sprouts as I was weeding them. I've stopped putting down hay as mulch, so there's no chance I might be caught unawares again. Have been got on two occasions by a wolf spider and that was more than enough for me.

Just to be clear, we regard any insects in the house as fair game. Out in the veg patch, only caterpillars, snails and aphids are subject to culling.

Sounds like extreme gardening to me,brought back memories of when I ended up with a tarantula on the back of my hand whilst in the West Indies, it went flying very quickly :ohmy:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on June 03, 2014, 08:43
Sounds like extreme gardening to me,brought back memories of when I ended up with a tarantula on the back of my hand whilst in the West Indies, it went flying very quickly :ohmy:

I'm not sure what I'd do if I had a tarantula on my hand. Flap about in an attempt to shake it off, I guess. What did you do, so as I know for next time...

The one I saw was a beauty though. The daughter of a friend of mine once had one as a pet. She kept it in a small terrarium. I didn't think much about it at the time, but having seen one in the wild, it seems a shame to me now that it should have been incarcerated like that.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: GTFC197 on June 03, 2014, 18:27
Had this little chappie come to see me near our pond today, not sure what sort of Shield Bug it is, there are so many.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on June 03, 2014, 18:44
Sounds like extreme gardening to me,brought back memories of when I ended up with a tarantula on the back of my hand whilst in the West Indies, it went flying very quickly :ohmy:

I'm not sure what I'd do if I had a tarantula on my hand. Flap about in an attempt to shake it off, I guess. What did you do, so as I know for next time...

The one I saw was a beauty though. The daughter of a friend of mine once had one as a pet. She kept it in a small terrarium. I didn't think much about it at the time, but having seen one in the wild, it seems a shame to me now that it should have been incarcerated like that.

I shook it off very abruptly hence the flying lesson,then screamed for my sister who told me to stand on it as I had shoes on :ohmy:  but I didn't it would have been very squelchy  :lol: plus it didn't seem right to kill it, it was outside in its habitat plus I never kill spiders, not sure about the scorpion though.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Yorkie on June 04, 2014, 21:59
Saw a cinnabar moth on the plots at the weekend - never seen it before; it is such a striking red colour  :)
http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=3579
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: joyfull on June 04, 2014, 22:11
cinnabars are lovely moths
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on June 04, 2014, 22:19
I had one of those on the plot on Sunday, it had flown away by the time I got my phone to take a piicture :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Paul Plots on June 05, 2014, 03:53
Wheelbarrow to the rescue yesterday...... twice I had to chase a squirrel who decided to help replant some daffodils that I had lifted and set out to dry.

I guess I shouldn't complain - at least it was leaving my shallots alone for a change.  :wacko:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: GTFC197 on June 05, 2014, 07:47
Took dog for walk the other week and he walked straight past this little fella munching away on seeds right in the middle of pathway.
Never even bothered when I went up close to take pictures, finished what he was eating, then sat on grass verge and started eating something else.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: blackberryjam on June 05, 2014, 08:09
Had this little chappie come to see me near our pond today, not sure what sort of Shield Bug it is, there are so many.

I think it's called a woundwort shieldbug
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: GTFC197 on June 05, 2014, 08:24
Thanks, we usually get the common green coloured ones, but never seen this one before.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: archibtbm on June 05, 2014, 20:02
i found this in the polytunnel today.  I'm not sure about the cluster of yellow eggs and if they belong to it.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: joyfull on June 06, 2014, 08:11
it's a cinnabar moth and yes the eggs are the right colour to be it's eggs, the caterpillars of this moth are identified by their yellow and black hoops  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Thrift on June 06, 2014, 09:07
Took dog for walk the other week and he walked straight past this little fella munching away on seeds right in the middle of pathway.
Never even bothered when I went up close to take pictures, finished what he was eating, then sat on grass verge and started eating something else.


I filmed one of these sweet little creatures having a lovely midnight feast. The only problem - it was munching my lettuces!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: GTFC197 on June 06, 2014, 11:27
 :lol: :lol: :lol:

Can't tell them off cos they're too cute. :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on June 06, 2014, 22:50
it's a cinnabar moth and yes the eggs are the right colour to be it's eggs, the caterpillars of this moth are identified by their yellow and black hoops  :)

Oooh they're the cattypiddlers that like a particular weed - gets covered in them! :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on June 06, 2014, 23:07
it's a cinnabar moth and yes the eggs are the right colour to be it's eggs, the caterpillars of this moth are identified by their yellow and black hoops  :)

Oooh they're the cattypiddlers that like a particular weed - gets covered in them! :)

Ragwort - they just devour it. It can look really creepy if you see hundreds of them on a plant.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Auntiemogs on June 06, 2014, 23:12
Thanks to high winds damaging Mum's greenhouse door, we had a Mrs Tiggywinkle resident over the cold months.  :D  Not sure if she's still there (probably not), but Mum was most surprised to go to close the (newly repaired) door a couple of weeks ago, to find a little black rabbit sitting in the middle of the lettuce bed (hasn't eaten much).  We now have Blackberry1, Blackberry2 and Brownberry.  :)  Went to clear an old flower bed this week and a halt has been called due to a nesting pheasant.   :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on June 06, 2014, 23:38
it's a cinnabar moth and yes the eggs are the right colour to be it's eggs, the caterpillars of this moth are identified by their yellow and black hoops  :)

Oooh they're the cattypiddlers that like a particular weed - gets covered in them! :)

Ragwort - they just devour it. It can look really creepy if you see hundreds of them on a plant.
That's the one!
I get it growing on the road at the bottom of my plot! :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on June 10, 2014, 09:21
Lots and lots of buzzy bees in the garden - especially on the Cotoneaster horizontalis and lavender.  :D

The ladybirds are still prolific and the frogs seem to be enjoying leaping out at me when I am working in the GH.  :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on June 10, 2014, 14:34
The dogs woke us up in the night, barking frantically. Eventually we decided we'd better go and see what it was all about if we wanted to get back to sleep. It was a hedgehog. The first they'd ever seen - and our first here - and an absolute whopper. In fact it was so large, Mr. Snoop wasn't convinced at first it really was a hedgehog. It looked more like a fakir's cushion.

We managed to get the dogs in. The hedgehog wasn't there this morning.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on June 11, 2014, 07:02
Saw a Hummingbird Hawk moth yesterday at the plot. First one I have seen for many years -- continental visitor  :D

Too quick for me to photograph, unfortunately
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Baldy on June 11, 2014, 15:04
SSSSSSSSSSSNAAAAKKKKE!

Well, ok, worm...

Cat just came into the house making a godawful wailing noise - thought she'd hurt her self, but no, she was letting me know about her hunting prowess. She presented me with, well, see the attached photo. Seems she was caefu not to hurt it as I managed to rescue it and deliver it to a safe hiding place...

Cheers,
Balders
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: chrissie B on June 11, 2014, 16:27
got a bush in the front garden and its had some lovley butterflys on it and loads of bees huge ones tried pictures but every time I cicked it shut its wings  :(
chrissie b
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on June 12, 2014, 09:27
Having a coffee before OH went off this morning and was taking snaps of flowers when these little toadlets made an appearance.

(http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv100/tosca100-dog/toadlets001_zpsdd3e073a.jpg) (http://s673.photobucket.com/user/tosca100-dog/media/toadlets001_zpsdd3e073a.jpg.html)

(http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv100/tosca100-dog/toadlets005_zps699dde3f.jpg) (http://s673.photobucket.com/user/tosca100-dog/media/toadlets005_zps699dde3f.jpg.html)

And a sample of the insects, bumble bee, honey bee and big black bug.
(http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv100/tosca100-dog/toadlets016_zps873b6a67.jpg) (http://s673.photobucket.com/user/tosca100-dog/media/toadlets016_zps873b6a67.jpg.html)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on June 12, 2014, 10:22
The toadlets are really cute.  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on June 12, 2014, 11:04
The black bug is a bee, we have seen them before flying in and out of a rotten tree trunk.

Springlands, I agree, who could not love that face? :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on June 12, 2014, 12:03
The black bug is a bee, we have seen them before flying in and out of a rotten tree trunk.

We have these too. Check out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osmia_lignaria

Although it says native to North America...
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on June 12, 2014, 16:38
Lovely photos Tosca  :D

And the toadlets are just gorgeous. The ones I see here tend to be dark chocolaty brown: the spotty look is beautiful
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on June 24, 2014, 21:07
Saw a Hummingbird Hawk Moth on the Valerian today. I was standing so close that I could hear the beat of its wings.  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: joyfull on June 29, 2014, 18:17
saw this yesterday on the underside of a thistle  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: joyfull on June 29, 2014, 18:25
I think it is a tussock moth caterpillar.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on July 02, 2014, 09:04
A huge emperor dragonfly with its head stuck through my pea mesh. It caught my attention due to the racket it was making with its wings.

Looked a bit intimidating even to me, so I took a tissue rather than use my bare fingers and pushed its head back the way it had come. Fortunately it worked and off it flew.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: JayG on July 02, 2014, 11:41
I suppose that South Lakes Safari Zoo which we visited on holiday last week only just qualifies as "nature watching", although unlike many zoos many of their animals are allowed to roam free around the park so you get up really close and personal with them!  :)

As this picture of my friend nearly losing her lunch to a ring-tailed lemur shows, they can get too up close and personal (I'd already lost half my lunch to a particularly persistent marmoset, which is also in the picture!  :ohmy:)

The irony is that there are signs everywhere telling you to not feed or touch the animals, particularly the lemurs - yeah, right!  :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on July 02, 2014, 11:54
Obviously the lemurs do not know how to read.  :lol: Lovely picture JayG.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on July 02, 2014, 13:48
I suppose that South Lakes Safari Zoo which we visited on holiday last week only just qualifies as "nature watching", although unlike many zoos many of their animals are allowed to roam free around the park so you get up really close and personal with them!  :)

As this picture of my friend nearly losing her lunch to a ring-tailed lemur shows, they can get too up close and personal (I'd already lost half my lunch to a particularly persistent marmoset, which is also in the picture!  :ohmy:)

The irony is that there are signs everywhere telling you to not feed or touch the animals, particularly the lemurs - yeah, right!  :lol:

Just as well they roam free or you'd have been locked up  :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: JayG on July 02, 2014, 14:17
Just as well they roam free or you'd have been locked up  :lol:

Some of my fellow Orangutans are unfortunately quite used to being locked up  :( - I think at this particular zoo the 'option' if caught feeding the lemurs is being 'requested to leave'! One of the staff did witness the scene captured in the picture and suggested that we try to keep our food out of sight - he didn't offer any suggestions as to how to eat your sandwiches without taking them out of their plastic box though!  :lol:

What sanctions the lemurs and marmosets face for trying to steal visitors' food I've no idea (they possibly wouldn't want to leave either!  :unsure:)

Only the ring-tailed lemurs have the freedom of the whole park - the other species are supposed to be confined in an area where they can intermingle and be fed sliced banana by visitors (at extra cost to the visitors!  ::)), although we saw several of the staff spending a fun but fruitless couple of hours trying to 'persuade' a black and white one down from the trees with a giant water pistol.  ::)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on July 03, 2014, 00:20
Just seen a hodgepog running around on the grass outside the front of my house!!
So cute! :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on July 08, 2014, 21:53
Rabbits, rabbits and more rabbits - it's like Watership Down here.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Madame Cholet on July 10, 2014, 02:50
A swam of bees flew past me at close quaters this week.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on July 10, 2014, 16:16
We keep getting swarms of bees at the hospital - we've had a 'bee man' in three times now to remove them.
Every summer night we get half a dozen plus bees flying in through the windows. :unsure:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on July 18, 2014, 17:56
Praying mantis sitting on the side of a black water butt early this morning, waiting for flies to come to warm themselves in the sun. Spiders and geckos have been known to lurk round the fly traps, catching the unwary. Good luck to them: the more flies they eat, the merrier I am.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on July 18, 2014, 18:58
Watched a common seal in the sea this afternoon.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: mumofstig on July 18, 2014, 22:00
watched huge dragonflies at dusk - just before the storm came over - never seen such big ones before  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on July 19, 2014, 13:58
Really annoyed this morning. Since I moved to this area 27 years ago I have never seen a hedgehog. I have seen signs of their poo in the garden and heard them snuffling about bot not actually seen on. Then this morning as OH and I were going out for a while I saw one which was obviously road kill.  :(

On the bright side lots of frogs in the greenhouse and in the garden - just hope that they are eating lots and lots of slugs.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on July 19, 2014, 14:01
Forgot about this one - has anyone noticed that there are not so many bats about this year or is it only me. I used to have them visit the garden on a regular basis but not this year.  :(
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Auntiemogs on July 19, 2014, 19:27
Mum's strawberries are gone (only the ripe ones) to be replaced by a yellow feather from one of the wild parrots.  ::)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: rosiecider on July 21, 2014, 12:14
Harry bang on time for a spot of supper, dogs not impressed that their food keeps disappearing into the garden while they are in the house
(http://)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on July 22, 2014, 10:07
Lovely photo, rosiecider.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Goosegirl on July 23, 2014, 12:42
One of my cats caught a long-eared bat the other week which I was very sad about. Also, the other day I saw a huge dragon-fly skittering over the garden. I've seen the odd one before but never as big. At first, I thought it was a little bat because of the way it flew, but then I saw its wings. I couldn't see its body properly nor could I take a pic as it was too high up and wouldn't stay still long enough. My impression was that its body was brown because I couldn't see any large markings nor any irridescence on its wings. Any ideas as to what it was?
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on July 23, 2014, 21:56
Sounds like a brown hawker dragonfly. They live near lakes etc. We get the large blue emperor ones as well.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Paul Plots on July 24, 2014, 07:35
Harry bang on time for a spot of supper, dogs not impressed that their food keeps disappearing into the garden while they are in the house
(http://)

Gorgeous... not seen one around here for well over a year. I think the increase in foxes may be partially to blame.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Aled on July 24, 2014, 12:24
It made my day to see a small hedgehog at the bottom of the garden last Tuesday evening.
Cheers
Aled
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on July 26, 2014, 14:53
I am soooo jealous of these hog sightings.  :)

Lots of Cinnabar Moth Caterpillars on the ragwort near the beach and lots of frogs hiding in the undergrowth in the garden - they must be looking for the moisture. Still plenty of bees humming about the various plants and lots of flutterbys!!   
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on July 27, 2014, 17:50
A gecko stuck in a crack in the lid of one of my water butts. Freed. Last place seen: rushing under the sage pot.

A toad. OK, not really all that special, but I've been meaning to mention him before. I have one of those cheap plastic 28-cell trays with some onions growing in it in it in a cold frame. There's a toad who sits on top of the cells waiting for his daily watering. The first few times, he hopped off, but now he's used to me and obviously quite enjoys the shower. It is odd, though, because he sits on the surface, so he must get a very hot back in the sun, even though his underside is nice and cool. I know he can get out of the cold frame because a few weeks back, he was in a different cold frame that is far more difficult to get in and out of.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on July 27, 2014, 21:47
I ate my first blackberry today. I also picked a few hazelnuts. Beautiful walk with the mutts. Out for an hour and a quarter and didn't see a soul. Just swift swallows and housemartins. Wild carrot yarrow greater knapweed. Heard yellowhammer and scolding squirrels. Bliss  :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Aled on July 29, 2014, 15:55
Four small lizards under one of the logs. I've left them in peace.
Cheers
Aled
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: rosiecider on July 29, 2014, 16:42
Lovely photo, rosiecider.

Thank you he was late night had to stay up worried sick is this what having kids is like   ::)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: rosiecider on July 29, 2014, 16:44
Harry bang on time for a spot of supper, dogs not impressed that their food keeps disappearing into the garden while they are in the house
(http://)

Gorgeous... not seen one around here for well over a year. I think the increase in foxes may be partially to blame.
I live in a rural area rarely see a fox, judging by the amount of rabbits this year might have to import one from you :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: JayG on August 03, 2014, 17:08
Just got back from an afternoon at Hardwick Hall and found a beetle-like insect crawling over my shirt - being far from an expert in bug ID and fearing it was a vine weevil I flicked it into the basin and put the plug in whilst I Gurgled bug pictures!

It was a Forest Bug, so I removed the plug, let it crawl out of the plughole and escorted it out of the window.  ;)

Good old Gurgle - the power over life and death itself!  :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Auntiemogs on August 03, 2014, 18:57
I feel like I'm missing out here as it all seems to be going on at Mum's this year...

She went to water the strawberries yesterday, and had to rescue a small (2ft) grass snake, which had become tangled in the netting.  Half an hour of patient snipping and it shot off under the shed.  Netting now disposed of - I do wish she'd checked it wasn't an adder first though (not that it would have made any difference... :ohmy: ::) :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on August 04, 2014, 22:25
Ripe sloes in a hedge in a field at Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire we noticed this morning ;) ;) :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on August 05, 2014, 23:10
Garden club talk on bats tonight,the lady brought a hand reared bat for us to see then took her bat monitor(yes really) outside to see if she could detect any bats nearby & there was one flying round the pubs garden that you could see very clearly. A pipestrelle she informed us. Also a lovely kitten that I entertained so it wouldn't have a swipe at the bat.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on August 06, 2014, 07:27
Garden club talk on bats tonight,the lady brought a hand reared bat for us to see then took her bat monitor(yes really) outside to see if she could detect any bats nearby & there was one flying round the pubs garden that you could see very clearly. A pipestrelle she informed us. Also a lovely kitten that I entertained so it wouldn't have a swipe at the bat.

What a lovely evening Snowy - that is one thing that I have missed this year. We have had very few bats flying around the garden in the evening.  :(
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on August 06, 2014, 07:29
Ripe sloes in a hedge in a field at Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire we noticed this morning ;) ;) :)

So autumn is slowly arriving. OH and I were out yesterday morning and noticed that the trees at Mount Stewart (National Trust place) were on the turn. And the grains in the fields are all a lovely golden colour.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on August 06, 2014, 11:58
Ripe sloes in a hedge in a field at Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire we noticed this morning ;) ;) :)

So autumn is slowly arriving. OH and I were out yesterday morning and noticed that the trees at Mount Stewart (National Trust place) were on the turn. And the grains in the fields are all a lovely golden colour.

How quickly we forget. The grain/rape harvest has been in for weeks here, a sign of summer rather than autumn. Next in are sunflowers which are looking pretty sick in the fields at the moment. We are already eating pears and apples.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on August 06, 2014, 15:28
Garden club talk on bats tonight,the lady brought a hand reared bat for us to see then took her bat monitor(yes really) outside to see if she could detect any bats nearby & there was one flying round the pubs garden that you could see very clearly. A pipestrelle she informed us. Also a lovely kitten that I entertained so it wouldn't have a swipe at the bat.

What a lovely evening Snowy - that is one thing that I have missed this year. We have had very few bats flying around the garden in the evening.  :(

It was a real treat :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on August 06, 2014, 16:37
Ripe sloes in a hedge in a field at Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire we noticed this morning ;) ;) :)

So autumn is slowly arriving. OH and I were out yesterday morning and noticed that the trees at Mount Stewart (National Trust place) were on the turn. And the grains in the fields are all a lovely golden colour.
The fields are looking amazing in all this sunshine this year. It reminds me of my childhood when summers seemed to be proper summers.  :dry:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on August 07, 2014, 10:00
AS we tend to go to bed before it is very dark in summer we don't see a lot of moths. But this huge hawk moth (having trouble finding out which one) was attracted to Dave's torch when he let the dogs out later than usual. A real beauty.
(http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv100/tosca100-dog/moth001_zpsf3a87fb3.jpg) (http://s673.photobucket.com/user/tosca100-dog/media/moth001_zpsf3a87fb3.jpg.html)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: jay001 on August 07, 2014, 11:38
Tosca it looks like a privet hawk moth to me . . but I could be wrong !  :blush: :blush: :blush:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on August 07, 2014, 11:54
Garden club talk on bats tonight,the lady brought a hand reared bat for us to see then took her bat monitor(yes really) outside to see if she could detect any bats nearby & there was one flying round the pubs garden that you could see very clearly. A pipestrelle she informed us. Also a lovely kitten that I entertained so it wouldn't have a swipe at the bat.

What a lovely evening Snowy - that is one thing that I have missed this year. We have had very few bats flying around the garden in the evening.  :(

It was a real treat :)

Interesting. Just the other day I saw a flock of half a dozen or so bats swooping around outside, but they were the first I'd seen all year. We used to have them swoop in and out of the windows and get stuck sometimes in corners. Glad that hasn't happened this year (yet), but it was good to see them.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: jay001 on August 07, 2014, 11:59
we have had bats each summer evening over the rear garden but alas nothing this year . . and our garden and park squirrels are missing !!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on August 07, 2014, 13:03
Tosca it looks like a privet hawk moth to me . . but I could be wrong !  :blush: :blush: :blush:

 I have looked at so many photos but the wings are so much more clean cut with sharp veins than most of the pictures. Unfortunately there are a lot of hawk moths with a similar body. Pretty amazing thing though, makes a huge amount of noise.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on August 07, 2014, 16:22
It has speckled grey wings and has brown colouring rather than pink on its abdomen. Its a convolvulus hawkmoth. :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: jay001 on August 08, 2014, 08:28
a few shots from the rear garden yesterday in-between the rain showers . . just playing with the macro settings on the new camera .   :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on August 08, 2014, 09:07
My sort of shot! Lovely :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: rosiecider on August 08, 2014, 09:32
lovely shots
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on August 08, 2014, 12:27
Lovely pics.

I saw a massive dragonfly passing by our kitchen window yesterday - do not know what species - but lovely to see.  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: harris467 on August 08, 2014, 13:16
Found this little fella in the back garden at work the other day...a rare treat  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on August 08, 2014, 16:30
Found this little fella in the back garden at work the other day...a rare treat  :)

Treat? :ohmy: :ohmy: :ohmy: They're protected, you're not supposed to eat them! :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: harris467 on August 08, 2014, 16:47
Lol but he went down a treat with a bit of HP sauce  ;)

Nah, I put him right back where I found him, but what a lovely find he was.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on August 09, 2014, 13:37
Found this little fella in the back garden at work the other day...a rare treat  :)

I've never seen one of those. What is it?
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: harris467 on August 09, 2014, 16:57
A common newt apparently, except not so common these days  :(
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on August 10, 2014, 22:21
Some newts can be poisonous to touch apparently - don't know what sort though.

We found a little newt like that one in one of my potato bags last year. We put him in the bog plant pot in my pond :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on August 24, 2014, 16:42
Tuesday evening while at work apparently we had a fox visit us at 9.30 helping himself to our plums off the tree. He'd set off the security light but he wasn't fussed. My son had nipped in the garden for a smoke and watched him. There was a bit of panic as I don't shut up the hens till I come home at 10 but he just ate what he wanted and lolloped off.  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on August 28, 2014, 11:52
A peacock butterfly on the garden table - it sat there for ages. Lots of dragonflies on the river near our holiday cottage. The leaves on the trees in the woods are are all changing colour and are full of nuts and berries - plenty of good for the birds and red squirrels.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on September 01, 2014, 19:17
A common newt apparently, except not so common these days  :(

I saw a baby one in my greenhouse yesterday.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: wighty on September 01, 2014, 20:53
At the moment we have 'Boris' the baby badger in the garden every evening and we now discuss what we are going to leave from our evening meal for him!  He comes in about 9pm and have tried to get photos  but they are all too dark , we only see him when we shine a torch down the garden.  He's got so used to this now that it doesn't stop him, he seems to like cheese savoury biscuits from Poundland and a bag is lasting us several nights and at a 'pound' a time we are going to keep putting them out for him. He also likes garlic bread!  I have a common in front of my house and Sandown Golf Course behind so I know where he comes from.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on September 03, 2014, 10:26
Lucky you Wighty - we get badgers wandering through our garden now and again and I love to see them.

Not so keen on today's critter though - the first daddy longlegs that I have seen so far this year.   :ohmy:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on September 03, 2014, 11:50
A shrew in among the melons... Between rodents and canines, it's amazing we've managed to pick any this year.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on September 03, 2014, 22:52
I found a shrew among my leeks when I was weeding them the other day - he scuttled off under a corner of the brassica cage :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on September 07, 2014, 21:30
Look what we found in the garden tonight once it got dark!  :)

No wonder my cats have had fleas lately ::)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on September 07, 2014, 21:37
Noticed this evening that it has been a bad year for acorns. Last 2 years have been a mast year. We've been spoiled.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on September 07, 2014, 21:45
Look what we found in the garden tonight once it got dark!  :)

No wonder my cats have had fleas lately ::)

Mother to thousands.  :lol:  I would still love one in my garden.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on September 07, 2014, 22:04
Me too.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: robinahood on September 08, 2014, 06:37
Apologies to arachnophobes, but it seems to be a bumper year for garden spiders, I get wreathed in webs everytime I go out, not to mention mummified flies. Pulled a big spider out of my hair yesterday!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: cadalot on September 08, 2014, 07:23
DBG - you lucky thing having a snail munching machine in the garden
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: nannytroll on September 08, 2014, 07:33
Found a baby viper in my garage yesterday. :ohmy: Totally wrong place and wrong time, what is going on? Also Kamkazi Bambis jumping out into the road on a regular basis. I love to see them in the woods, but veg plot is a no-go area! >:(
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on September 08, 2014, 07:36
Found a baby viper in my garage yesterday. :ohmy: Totally wrong place and wrong time, what is going on? Also Kamkazi Bambis jumping out into the road on a regular basis. I love to see them in the woods, but veg plot is a no-go area! >:(

Ooh no I don't like the sound of the baby viper :ohmy:. I need a health warning before mention of those things :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on September 08, 2014, 08:20
We had the most amazing blood red sun rise this morning - spent ages watching it come up over the horizon.  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on September 10, 2014, 14:11
Our for a short drive with OH this morning - the berries on the hedgerow trees are amazing - the birds well be well fed.  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: rosiecider on September 11, 2014, 15:17
found in separate spots while weeding 2 little frogs just over 1cm long thought it was a little late in the year for them.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: mrsbean on September 16, 2014, 01:09
last week saw 4 long small creatures weaving across road into plots. today OH sensed something watching him, a weasel was peeking round gate before getting in to next plot to explore strawberry/sweetcorn beds. dont know if a good or bad thing to have on plot. hope i see it later today.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on September 16, 2014, 03:18
As long as there is no livestock on the plot it can only be good mrsbean, they will only be there for wild food. Lucky you, get the camera out and a comfy seat and enjoy.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on September 16, 2014, 07:59
As long as there is no livestock on the plot it can only be good mrsbean, they will only be there for wild food. Lucky you, get the camera out and a comfy seat and enjoy.

Very true - when we had a stoat visiting the garden the rabbit population plummeted.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: mrsbean on September 16, 2014, 10:01
thank you, hoped they would be welcome. just had new fencing between plots and railway,maybe burrow was disturbed. never seen one here in my 12yrs. got cows and sheep in next field,but no small livestock. take camara later, but i dont know how to post pics.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on September 16, 2014, 20:35
Visited Coleton Fishacre (thanks DBG, great recommend) yesterday & saw this little chap
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on September 16, 2014, 22:12
Visited Coleton Fishacre (thanks DBG, great recommend) yesterday & saw this little chap
Glad you liked it - it's one of my absolute favourites ;) :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on September 17, 2014, 03:56
That's lovely Snowdrops, just shows how warm it still is, I hope it doesn't disrupt the wildlife too much.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on September 17, 2014, 08:08
What a lovely picture Snowy.

We have an invasion of butterflies at present - Red Admirals and what I think are Wall Browns. Lots of Ladybirds also - the warm almost hot at times weather must be enticing them out.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on September 19, 2014, 08:44
I watched a hummingbird hawk moth for ages yesterday. It was feeding on the valarian. Now watching a common seal play in the waves.  :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: plum crumble on September 19, 2014, 09:14
wow Springlands! that's wonderful. last time I saw a seal was when I was on the Dart, sailing from Dartmouth to Totnes - what a lovely trip
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on September 19, 2014, 09:18
We get lots of seals Plum Crumble - they breed on a small off shore island. Their calls are very haunting especially if you hear them at night.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on September 20, 2014, 00:36
wow Springlands! that's wonderful. last time I saw a seal was when I was on the Dart, sailing from Dartmouth to Totnes - what a lovely trip

Everyone comes down ere' to Dartmouth it seems :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on September 20, 2014, 08:33
I didn't see any  :(. But then again we didn't go on any boat trips we're saving that for next time. :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on September 20, 2014, 08:48
There must be lots of fish in the bay at present as I am seeing the seals every day. Lovely to see them playing in the water.  :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on September 20, 2014, 10:08
What a treat, my sister sees them on the other side of Dundrum bay when she goes for a walk that way. I always forget to take the binoculars when I go.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on September 23, 2014, 20:07
First time today it hit me that there are absolutely no acorns this year. The last 2 years have been mast years where we have been inches deep in them round here. I thought it odd this morning when I had a
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on September 23, 2014, 20:09
 I saw a squirrel from the kitchen window trying to bury a conker. Obviously they are feeling it too. I suppose in times of scarcity conkers will have to do.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: robinahood on September 24, 2014, 06:38
The Goose Fair is to be with us soon, which prompted the memory of a squirrel dragging an entire coconut down the middle of the road!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on September 24, 2014, 11:06
We are from nottingham and used to go t goose fair every year. My mum is in her 80s and goes for the opening day . She still buys me grantham gingerbread ( you only get it from there it seems) and opens it so its soft by the time I get it. Sounds a big challenge for a little fella wonder how he got on.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on September 24, 2014, 15:51
The Goose Fair is to be with us soon, which prompted the memory of a squirrel dragging an entire coconut down the middle of the road!

Why did 'ICE AGE' spring to mind !  :nowink:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: robinahood on September 24, 2014, 16:52
I love that gingerbread too, I think they must make it so its a bit chewy in the middle, thats the best thing about it I reckon!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: cadalot on September 25, 2014, 06:08
I went into a bakers only to find PC signage and Gingerbread Persons on sale  :nowink:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: jezza on September 27, 2014, 00:24
hi counted 30 red admiral butterflies yesterday most weve ever had also finding dead hedgehogs has any one else found any and does any one know whats killing them     jezza
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on September 27, 2014, 07:42
Jezza - this seems to be a red admiral year - lovely to see.  :D I had one land on me when hanging out the washing yesterday.

Do you have a wildlife sanctuary near you - if so you could contact them about the hedgehogs. Otherwise I would suggest contacting Tiggiwinkles who are experts.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Annen on October 05, 2014, 00:01
I saw a squirrel in our front garden!  In 70 years living in Newcastle I have never seen one before! When I tell people, they all ask Was it red or grey?, well, it was grey, but I don't care, it was beautiful :) :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: robinahood on October 05, 2014, 13:02
We had a long weekend camping near Buttermere last week. Early one beautiful morning, at the start of our walk, we spotted a Kingfisher, a turquoise streak flying fast and low across the lake.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on October 05, 2014, 21:59
I saw a squirrel in our front garden!  In 70 years living in Newcastle I have never seen one before! When I tell people, they all ask Was it red or grey?, well, it was grey, but I don't care, it was beautiful :) :)
. Start putting sunflower seeds out to keep it coming. :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: cadalot on October 06, 2014, 07:41
I saw a squirrel in our front garden!  In 70 years living in Newcastle I have never seen one before! When I tell people, they all ask Was it red or grey?, well, it was grey, but I don't care, it was beautiful :) :)
. Start putting sunflower seeds out to keep it coming. :)

My old mum told me that she was feeding one, that it came to the kitchen window and loved a chocolate biscuit. OK Mum well get up early and I will let you feed it...

I did - It did - and later it brought all its children and I'm guessing partner and we use to have them all along the fence eating anything that was passed to them.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Annen on October 06, 2014, 10:32
I saw a squirrel in our front garden!  In 70 years living in Newcastle I have never seen one before! When I tell people, they all ask Was it red or grey?, well, it was grey, but I don't care, it was beautiful :) :)
. Start putting sunflower seeds out to keep it coming. :)

My old mum told me that she was feeding one, that it came to the kitchen window and loved a chocolate biscuit. OK Mum well get up early and I will let you feed it...

I did - It did - and later it brought all its children and I'm guessing partner and we use to have them all along the fence eating anything that was passed to them.
I think we might have too many cats in the neighbourhood, I think it might have wandered in from the local park.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Aled on October 16, 2014, 09:33
Nearly trod on a vividily colured coot yesterday when out fishing saw him swim away through the clear water at my feet.
Nice to see.
Cheers
Aled
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on October 22, 2014, 11:27
Spent ages watching a common seal playing in the waves yesterday - they really seem to like it when the sea is a bit rough.  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Headgardener22 on October 28, 2014, 12:58
Its halloween (nearly) and the harlequin beetles are swarming.

The weather's warm, its not too windy and there are loads of Harlequin Beetles swarming around looking for somewhere warm to hide away for the winter. I don't know whether to collect them up and put them in the greenhouse to catch any greenfly that might decide to live on the lettuces or get cross because they are an invasive species that we shouldn't like.

At least I'm not a wine maker. I read somewhere that the Canadian grape growers have to wash them out of their bunches of grapes because if they don't they spoil the flavour when they get squashed.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on October 31, 2014, 14:58
I need to share my ridiculous excitement at being able to add a site to the map for Ivy Bees. WE saw some in September when we were on holiday in Broad Haven, and thought they looked like oddly coloured honeybees. There were hundreds of them swarming over the ivy flowers.

On Autumn Watch earlier this week, they showed a clip of --- our bees!! and they are Ivy Bees.

I went on their website, submitted a photo and location and now "our bees" have their very own red dot  on the map... first siting in Pembrokeshire.

How cool is that?  :D :D :D

Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on October 31, 2014, 15:08
Cool! :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on October 31, 2014, 15:39
Brilliant - I saw those ivy bees on Autumnwatch and found them fascinating.  :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: wighty on November 03, 2014, 19:56
Spotted a red squirrel on my way up to Luccumbe at the weekend.  We only have reds here, any greys have to be reported and would be dispatched.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Aled on November 11, 2014, 14:00
Watched a few sea trout jumping a water fall, also saw dipper at close quarters on Sunday.
Cheers
Aled
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on November 11, 2014, 14:02
Lucky you on both counts, a dipper is one of my love to see birds but no luck yet.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Aled on November 12, 2014, 09:45
Without a doubt my favourite bird of all.
Cheers
Aled
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on November 12, 2014, 12:51
Always nice to see the dipper when out with the fly rods !

I suspect they fill up on salmon and seatrout eggs on the redds but seeing how few dippers there are it should  little or no difference to the fish numbers! :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Aled on November 19, 2014, 13:40
Saw my first Woodcock of the winter last night.
Cheers
Aled
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: A. Fallowfield on November 27, 2014, 22:48
I made a small pond last year using a loft header tank, I seem to have a lodger!
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/Flatters_photos/Photo0580_zps33d1de21.jpg) (http://s406.photobucket.com/user/Flatters_photos/media/Photo0580_zps33d1de21.jpg.html)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on November 28, 2014, 02:28
Aww lovely, must get round to making a pond, away from the ducks. :) We have plenty of toads around but don't see many frogs in the garden.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: surbie100 on November 28, 2014, 10:37
I need to share my ridiculous excitement at being able to add a site to the map for Ivy Bees. WE saw some in September when we were on holiday in Broad Haven, and thought they looked like oddly coloured honeybees. There were hundreds of them swarming over the ivy flowers.

On Autumn Watch earlier this week, they showed a clip of --- our bees!! and they are Ivy Bees.

I went on their website, submitted a photo and location and now "our bees" have their very own red dot  on the map... first siting in Pembrokeshire.

How cool is that?  :D :D :D

That is really very cool!  :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: ex-cavator on December 20, 2014, 11:30
Beautiful sunny afternoon yesterday, I decided to wander down the back of my works where there's a wild and boggy area with lots of trees and a small patch of water. I was surprised to see so many ducks - at least a dozen Teal, two Shoveller, a Gadwall, and a handful of Mallard. But best for me were four Roe Deer, who were'nt in too much of a hurry to run away. Three kept stopping and looking back at me, the fourth just wasn't bothered at all and just stood there for ages. Wish I had my camera  ;)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on February 07, 2015, 18:50
Oh my goodness, took the dogs up the farmers drive past the park and saw what I thought was a ginger dog in beautiful condition sniffing the bottom of the goalposts. Then it sauntered off. It was a gorgeous big fox. Super nick. No hurry at all even though I had the dogs. Though neither saw one another. It was 2.30 this afternoon. :ohmy:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: blackberryjam on February 23, 2015, 22:37
Badgers in my garden this evening, it's so nice to see them again. I would put food out for them, but the Rat Population seems to be increasing in this  area , even had one hanging upside down on my bird feeder like a squirrel . >:(
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Madame Cholet on February 24, 2015, 08:36
Saw a Hare sitting up on his hind legs at the weekend :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Annen on February 24, 2015, 09:08
I saw a ginger fox chasing a ginger cat outside our house in the middle of the night.  It didn't catch it though as it came trotting back a minute later. That cat is a right pest to my birds, but I wouldn't wish that fate on it.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on February 24, 2015, 13:07
At least the cat was reminded that it is not top of the food chain !  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on February 24, 2015, 22:19
A fox dashed over the road tonight in front of my car on my way home,not too far from the allotments. I hope all the chickens are safe.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: plum crumble on February 24, 2015, 22:55
my old 17 yr old Tabby saw off a huge dog fox last year - Ted was very confident!

huge amount of Urban foxes round here ..and cats!  ::) :nowink:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on March 01, 2015, 08:26
WHOOHOO!!!! I have my first lot of spawn and its nearly 3 weeks early. I generally get it from St Patricks day onwards. 17th of march.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on March 04, 2015, 09:31
The lesser celandines are flowering and there are buds on the wild primroses that grow on one of the banks of the garden. Lovely so see.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: blackberryjam on March 10, 2015, 18:57
 A Red admiral  Butterfly was sunbathing on my wall this morning, A sure sign of spring,  Lovely.  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: robinahood on March 10, 2015, 20:18
Seen my first bumblebee this year. I love them!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Lardman on March 10, 2015, 20:30
Seen my first bumblebee this year. I love them!

Also bumped into my first bumble this afternoon,  still a bit dopey but it's always nice to see them.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: blackberryjam on March 10, 2015, 20:50
Seen my first bumblebee this year. I love them!

Also bumped into my first bumble this afternoon,  still a bit dopey but it's always nice to see them.


Ha the humble bumble I've not seen one yet, I must plant some more wild flowers for the bees .
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on March 12, 2015, 14:46
Smallish grass snake - 40 cm long and as thick as my thumb. In the bedroom. I'm guessing one of the cats carried it in...
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on March 12, 2015, 16:44
Smallish grass snake - 40 cm long and as thick as my thumb. In the bedroom. I'm guessing one of the cats carried it in...


Yuk I hope it had slithered its last :ohmy:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on March 13, 2015, 09:55
Smallish grass snake - 40 cm long and as thick as my thumb. In the bedroom. I'm guessing one of the cats carried it in...


Yuk I hope it had slithered its last :ohmy:

Still alive but playing dead, so easy for Mr Snoop to grab and take outside. I'm not so bothered by snakes if I know they're not venomous. I spotted a very large snake once in my veg patch. It shot off into the undergrowth before I could identify it. That had me a bit cautious, to be sure.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Madame Cholet on March 16, 2015, 20:59
BEES here too and a muntjack Sunday
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: wighty on March 25, 2015, 20:30
Sat in the shed today at the back of my husband's shop as we are doing stocktaking I saw out of the corner of my eye some movement and thought it was a cat.  When it was in front of me found out it was a red squirrel.  We could get about two feet away from it before it hid behind the sheets of ply, finally found it's way out but was lovely to see so close up.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: oldgrunge on March 25, 2015, 20:36
Have a pair of little field voles living in the compost heap, they share it with slow worms in the summer. Also there are the frogs and newts in the pond.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on April 06, 2015, 17:51
Seen today.Brimstone in town of all places, 2 small tortoiseshell, a comma, several peacock butterfly, a pair of goldcrest, several wild bees, bumbles tads and a pair of newts in my pond. The OH reckons he saw a pair of swallows in their normal nesting place at a cottage up the road. I can't count that, I didn't see it. . .   ???
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Aled on April 06, 2015, 19:04
Saw the dog otter on Saturday morning, near our angling clubs disabled casting platform, i was sorting out some access issues for my angling club.
Tight Lines
Aled
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Steveharford on April 06, 2015, 20:28
Saw a swallow here today too. My earliest ever. Well chuffed.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: ARPoet on April 06, 2015, 20:41
All the moths and butterflies that were sleeping in my basement have all left home now its turned warm.
And this evening we saw the first of the bats.
Is summer really on its way?
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Steveharford on April 13, 2015, 19:00
Reposted after posting on the birdwatch site..............Reply #427   by Steveharford on 13 Apr, 2015 18:57

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Well I thought I had beaten all my records when I saw my first swallow on the 5th of April. Today I saw a hummingbird moth on a grape hyacinth ! I couldn't believe it but fortunately my wife was with me to confirm it. We are in Herefordshire. Dont normally see them until August, if at all

Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: oldgrunge on April 13, 2015, 21:49
Saw my first swallow on Saturday. On the Great Orme, Llandudno, where I work.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Aled on April 15, 2015, 16:09
Saw a very hansome otter on our local river last Saturday.
Cheers
Aled
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: oldgrunge on April 15, 2015, 21:40
Saw a very hansome otter on our local river last Saturday.
Cheers
Aled
Lucky man! I've never seen a wild otter.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Aled on April 17, 2015, 09:42
See them most times i go fishing. However there is one on my local river the Tywi who appears all times of day, and night, right next to a public footpath!
Cheers
Aled
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on April 17, 2015, 16:47
See them most times i go fishing. However there is one on my local river the Tywi who appears all times of day, and night, right next to a public footpath!
Cheers
Aled

Possibly it has spent some time in captivity , a pair were released on a stretch of the Till in Northumberland were i used to fish for sea trout.
Whist not approachable if you remained still it sometimes came so close you could touch it with your rod tip !

The first time i viewed the river i could hear cubs 'peeping' from a holt in dense undergrowth. :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Annen on April 23, 2015, 19:35
I saw this moth (I think it is a moth)and its not in my book.


Can anyone identify it?
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on April 23, 2015, 21:23
Quarry tile moth ?  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Annen on April 23, 2015, 22:22
Quarry tile moth ?  :)
:D :D :D  Although to be precise it should be a brick moth :nowink: :nowink:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on April 24, 2015, 07:38
I did have a look on a couple of moth id sites but could not find a match !
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on April 24, 2015, 09:12
Could be a very tatty plum moth, but I hope not. This being the Daily Fail it could just be wrong


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2559080/A-new-pest-flying-ravage-fruit-trees-Plum-moth-never-blighted-gardens-attacking-fruits.html
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Annen on April 24, 2015, 15:52
I think I have found it, a Herald moth
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Herald_%28moth%29 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Herald_%28moth%29)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on April 24, 2015, 17:59
Looks a lot more interesting with the wings spread !   :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on April 30, 2015, 12:54
A water snake hunting big, fat tadpoles where last year I grew cucumbers. Very odd!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Beekissed on April 30, 2015, 23:14
9 baby possum....unfortunately~or fortunately, either way one looks at it~they met my dog first.  As did their mother they were hitching a ride upon.  Cute little boogers, though, even in death.  Fortunate for me, as possum like to eat chickens and I have the only flock for miles, so a whole new crop of chicken eaters were eliminated by one good chicken dog. 

Saw my blue tailed lizard in the lumber pile the other day and saw a hen turkey and two gobblers following her through the yard also.  Hoping to spot my brown and garter snakes soon....their offspring provide a lot of good protein for my chickens.  I allow them to live nearby~and even create habitat for them~ as they keep away more predatory and poisonous snakes and my chickens benefit from their being here. 
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on May 01, 2015, 03:17
Wow, photos of your wildlife would be great to see....preferably live! :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on May 04, 2015, 20:51
Today I dug out some of my homemade compost & saw a scurrying, turned out to be a mouse,followed by 2 more,1 of which I helped to go in the same direction as the other 2. :wacko: :lol:. Later I looked at where I had spread the compost I saw a dead mouse  :ohmy: that I must have killed :( by accident .
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: allotmentann on May 07, 2015, 18:25
Oh Snowdrops! I love my mice! One has made his home in the veg garden and l haven't the heart to do anything about it! I saw his little eyes peeping out at me through the entrance to his home and knew l could never move him. I am way too soft! I used to have a family of them in my compost bins too. I can't even bear the gophers being killed and if you thought slugs did damage try gophers! They burrow underground and pull the whole plant through from the roots and keep going until every plant in the area has gone and l still can't hurt them! I even feel bad when l kill a black widow! :nowink:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on May 07, 2015, 21:41
Ann it was so tiny & pretty  :(
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on May 07, 2015, 22:25
Oh Snowdrops! I love my mice! One has made his home in the veg garden and l haven't the heart to do anything about it! I saw his little eyes peeping out at me through the entrance to his home and knew l could never move him. I am way too soft! I used to have a family of them in my compost bins too. I can't even bear the gophers being killed and if you thought slugs did damage try gophers! They burrow underground and pull the whole plant through from the roots and keep going until every plant in the area has gone and l still can't hurt them! I even feel bad when l kill a black widow! :nowink:

Every day's a school day !

I thought that only happened in cartoons ! :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Hampshire Hog on May 10, 2015, 23:04
No picture I'm afraid but had a surprise driving to Fleet in Hampshire this afternoon. A young deer shot across the road in front of me.......fortunately I was only driving at 25MPH and hit the brakes fast. Somewhat surprising as area in Fleet is suburban not countryside. Remembered the adage of another one possibly following but fortunately it was alone.

Cheers HH
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on May 11, 2015, 07:08
A pair of water snakes mating in my top terrace-cum-lake. The longer one was about 90 cm, the other was about 65 cm.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: devonbarmygardener on May 11, 2015, 09:47
Saw deer late thd other evening on the way back from the supermarket.
There is a road along the top of Estover to Roborough (and our old airport)  that is mostly factories and business units,  but there are a few housing estates dotted about.
The deer were obviously here first, before the land was developed and they just hang around the grassy areas in between the buildings.
They do cross the road scarily at times, but luckily locals expect them to be there so I think they're pretty safe :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: LotuSeed on May 11, 2015, 21:45
Spotted the first dragonfly of the season. Must admit it lifted my spirits a bit.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on May 14, 2015, 09:50
The sea in the bay opposite our house was very calm yesterday and I spent ages watching fish jump out of the water - then one of them seemed to float on top of the water for a couple of minutes before jumping and disappearing. Lovely to watch. I think, but am not too sure, that they are mullet.

Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Aled on May 18, 2015, 12:16
Saw a sea trout running upstream yesterday afternoon.
Cheers
Aled
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: allotmentann on May 18, 2015, 13:07
Watched a five foot long snake in the garden. A good snake. The kind that eat gophers. There are rattle snakes here too.
Saw my first chipmunks this week whilst out looking for morels and boletes. And at least the bear scat was old this time. Fresh scat is always a little disconcerting! :nowink:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on May 18, 2015, 17:09
OH came across a very excited Gypsy on the road who had been working on building a wall. The gypsy grabbed him and showed him how brave ha had been in killing a large snake. Large it was....but harmless to humans. Sad, you would think everyone would know you don't get venomous snakes down here. :(
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: allotmentann on May 18, 2015, 17:17
No, sadly a lot of harmless and actually beneficial snakes get killed here. People see a snake and kill it. Were you able to educate them?  This one was beautiful and l thoroughly enjoyed watching it slither through the garden. It has obviously done it many times as it headed straight for the straw bale where the mice live!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on May 18, 2015, 18:04
Unfortunately a lot of ex-pats of all nationalities try to educate, but most go about it the wrong way, causing distrust. We have a large snake living in our wall. We get excited when we catch a glimpse. Love to see wildlife.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on May 18, 2015, 19:03
We watched a pair of snakes trying to mate the other day. It didn't happen while we were there - too many screaming kids! A large one slithered past our front door yesterday. Mr Snoop spotted it but it was gone before he had any chance of identifying it. We leave the door wide open most of the day and night now but came to no conclusion about what we'd do if we were ever to find it indoors. I imagine the dogs will stop it from coming in. The other place it could get into is our bedroom via the hole in the door for the cats... It's the wrong time of year for them to need warmth (though the nights are quite chilly) and there's a ready supply of toads this year for prey, so maybe it will just slither away and we'll never see it again.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: wighty on May 18, 2015, 19:21
No, no, no  and again no. I can recognise slow worms and will accept them but any other kind of snake out, out, out.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: allotmentann on May 18, 2015, 21:32
No, no, no  and again no. I can recognise slow worms and will accept them but any other kind of snake out, out, out.
:lol: :lol: :lol:
There are all kinds of weird and wonderful things to get used to here. The more you watch the less uncomfortable you feel.
Tosca they are a pleasure to watch. I love to see wildlife too.
Snoop not sure l would know what to do if l found one in the house either. Get out fast if it was a rattle snake! I would like to keep the one in the garden though
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: cadalot on May 19, 2015, 07:27
Check out JRKO Diary and his latest video he moved a slow worm to his compost heap in his boot!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Aled on May 21, 2015, 09:22
Now I know its "not birds" but I'm really pleased to see the swallows busy nesting on our house. Apparently they only nest on happy homes, I hope this is true.
Cheers
Aled
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: allotmentann on May 22, 2015, 00:16
I like the thought that they only nest on happy homes. I want it to be true! :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Aled on May 22, 2015, 09:20
I spoke too soon, they were not working on the nest last night  :(
Cheers
Aled
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on May 25, 2015, 09:28
The most glorious smell of hawthorn blossom when I was letting the hens out this morning.  :)

Two frogs hiding in the greenhouse - quite small ones.  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: robinahood on May 25, 2015, 16:45
Giant puffballs, amazing! I believe they are edible but as I'm not an expert on fungi I didn't try it.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on May 25, 2015, 19:24
Giant puffballs, amazing! I believe they are edible but as I'm not an expert on fungi I didn't try it.
.  They are perfectly safe. Just slice one as you would do a loaf of bread. We dry the slices in a warm place then fry them in the juice of fried bacon and onion. Mmmm. Delish
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on May 25, 2015, 20:05
Giant puffballs, amazing! I believe they are edible but as I'm not an expert on fungi I didn't try it.
.  They are perfectly safe. Just slice one as you would do a loaf of bread. We dry the slices in a warm place then fry them in the juice of fried bacon and onion. Mmmm. Delish

Tried puffballs a couple of times and to be honest you are better off frying a slice of bread in the bacon juices !

IMO they are tasteless foam rubber and best left growing ! :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: allotmentann on May 26, 2015, 13:01
Funnily enough we picked a couple of sculpted puffballs whilst out foraging for mushrooms the other day. I have not tried them yet. We did get lots of morels and some boletes. I know that puffballs should only be eaten if they are white all the way through and you need to be sure of your identification particularly if they are smaller. Personally l would never eat any mushroom without having collected them with someone knowledgeable first. Having said that foraging for mushrooms is great fun.
Whilst out foraging l saw several Stellar jays and a group of black tailed deer who did not seem frightened of us at all and lots of chipmunks and a big yellow banana slug. The wild strawberries were blossoming and the ground smelled beautiful after some desperately needed rain.  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on May 27, 2015, 14:37
Funnily enough we picked a couple of sculpted puffballs whilst out foraging for mushrooms the other day. I have not tried them yet. We did get lots of morels and some boletes. I know that puffballs should only be eaten if they are white all the way through and you need to be sure of your identification particularly if they are smaller. Personally l would never eat any mushroom without having collected them with someone knowledgeable first. Having said that foraging for mushrooms is great fun.
Whilst out foraging l saw several Stellar jays and a group of black tailed deer who did not seem frightened of us at all and lots of chipmunks and a big yellow banana slug. The wild strawberries were blossoming and the ground smelled beautiful after some desperately needed rain.  :)
.       The beautiful smell you get when rain falls after a dry spell has a word to describe it. It is Petrichor. Of greek origin and its a combination of bacteria and oils of plants. Wonderful smell.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: allotmentann on May 27, 2015, 18:51
Ah yes! I had forgotten all about that word. Petrichor. I think l came across it years ago in a book by Magnus Pike called Butter Side Up, which answered questions like if you drop a slice of toast why does it usually land butter side down, why is the sky blue and why does it smell of rain. Brilliant book but l had forgotten that word. I shall have to make an effort to use it so that it sinks in.  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on May 28, 2015, 07:59
They ought to bottle it. :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: allotmentann on May 28, 2015, 12:45
I would buy it! :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on May 30, 2015, 12:49
Oh my word. OH just had an EXPERIENCE and I am feeling LEFT OUT!
 :ohmy:

He saw a snake on the wall outside the back door earlier, we often catch a glimpse. But he was out there just now while I was on here and took an amazing (but short) video of two large snakes writhing. Amazing.

They are Caspian whip snakes, great rodent control, but I am now worried for the chicks. :(

Unfortunately photobucket will not allow me to upload videos any more. >:(
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on May 30, 2015, 17:27
(http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv100/tosca100-dog/th_sssss_zpspmaew6ik.mp4) (http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv100/tosca100-dog/sssss_zpspmaew6ik.mp4)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on May 30, 2015, 19:23
I can see the snakes though --- are they fighting? Adders to this when they are fighting, even though it is called dancing.

Or are they mating?
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: jezza on May 30, 2015, 23:33
hi was strimming long grass between a hedge and fence a Roe deer and fawn took off across the garden hope the buzzards dont see fawn   found cinnibar moths on ragwart their caterpillers destroy ragwart in a few hours, im finding a lot of Star of Bethlehem flowers(ornithgalum)has any one else found any  jezza
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on May 31, 2015, 03:14
I can see the snakes though --- are they fighting? Adders to this when they are fighting, even though it is called dancing.

Or are they mating?

Not sure if they are fighting over an unseen mate or ....err....paying. The video is working now.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: LotuSeed on May 31, 2015, 06:14
They're mating
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on May 31, 2015, 07:44
I'm sure it's wonderful but I daren't look  :) about the only thing I'm frightened of, even in picture format :wacko:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Annen on June 05, 2015, 18:38
I saw a orange striped millipede today in my son's garden. Apparently quite common,  but I've never seen one before.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: allotmentann on June 05, 2015, 23:49
It is strange how we can often not see what others say are common. I love it when l see something new. I saw one of those caterpillars with really long hair the other day and it took me straight back to childhood as l have not seen one since then. I am sure that they must be very common, but they have been hiding from me for years!
I have seen a lot of gorgeous swallow tail butterflies recently. Something new for me. :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Newtwo on June 07, 2015, 12:48
There was a very good video of Tiger Moth, Woolly Bears in Frozen Planet 2011. Still see it if typed in Search Engine, think it's the same one as uk? Seems they can live over 20 years in the North Pole region and wait for milder days to change into a moth, lay eggs within 24 hours.. but may have details wrong, and perhaps someone will correct us if so. Not seen any here for some years now but quite common where we lived until circa half a century ago. :)
Newtwo
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: allotmentann on June 08, 2015, 12:46
Hi Newtwo
Thanks for the link. Still trying to get it to work. It does indeed still exist. Just freezes on me, but quite a few videos seem to here. :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Newtwo on June 08, 2015, 18:21
Hi Allottmentann. Very often freezes on here too, but don't sign in iPlayer where they can be downloaded, if it makes any difference? This hard drive's nearly full and not sure if it would take up more space. Sorry, no help really.
Seeing your name wish we had an allotment instead of, by comparison two over-size window boxes called raised beds. :) 
Newtwo
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on June 11, 2015, 11:05
The perfume from the may blossom was almost overpowering this morning (much nicer than the usual slurry stink). Has anyone else noticed that the hawthorns are absolutely covered in flowers this year.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Beekissed on June 13, 2015, 21:47
Oh my word. OH just had an EXPERIENCE and I am feeling LEFT OUT!
 :ohmy:

He saw a snake on the wall outside the back door earlier, we often catch a glimpse. But he was out there just now while I was on here and took an amazing (but short) video of two large snakes writhing. Amazing.

They are Caspian whip snakes, great rodent control, but I am now worried for the chicks. :(

Unfortunately photobucket will not allow me to upload videos any more. >:(

Scattering moth balls around the coop and run will help keep the snakes away from the eggs and chicks.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: rosiecider on June 19, 2015, 13:01
Hi

Can anyone please help me identify what is hiding in these bamboo canes in my bug house, the holes seem to be sealed with something.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on June 19, 2015, 15:14
Hi

Can anyone please help me identify what is hiding in these bamboo canes in my bug house, the holes seem to be sealed with something.

The seal could perhaps give you a clue,

Wax - bee
Paper - wasp
Silk - moth or butterfly

Unsure about what the myriad beetle larvae use . :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: rosiecider on June 22, 2015, 10:59
Thanks 8doubles, looks very much like paper or wood will have to have a closer inspection when what ever it is leaves, was hoping for ladybirds  :(
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on June 22, 2015, 11:45
Ladybirds are not half so organised Rosiecider  :)  They lay clusters of tiny yellow eggs close to wherever they find a good food source and leave them to fend for themselves.  Have a scout round the garden or plot wherever you see aphids on plants.

The adults will like the canes to crawl into to overwinter though  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on June 22, 2015, 13:39
They are likely to be Mason bees I think. They are solitary, and seal up food for their grubs inside holes/ tubes ie  small caterpillars etc and then leave them to it.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on June 28, 2015, 14:57
Spotted an Elephant Hawk moth sitting on the debris netting at the plot this morning
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: rosiecider on July 01, 2015, 12:02
They are likely to be Mason bees I think. They are solitary, and seal up food for their grubs inside holes/ tubes ie  small caterpillars etc and then leave them to it.

ooh yuck, then again why am I feeling sorry for caterpillars !!and you are right it is mason bees spotted one the other morning, happy rosiecider :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: surbie100 on July 02, 2015, 23:28
I've taken to stalking bumbles on the plot. I love the variety of fluffy bums...!  :lol:

I only have a basic lens so they aren't as detailed as I would like.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: allotmentann on July 03, 2015, 01:12
 :D they are really cute. I always wish l could pick them up without danger of being stung!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on July 03, 2015, 16:17
They are likely to be Mason bees I think. They are solitary, and seal up food for their grubs inside holes/ tubes ie  small caterpillars etc and then leave them to it.

ooh yuck, then again why am I feeling sorry for caterpillars !!and you are right it is mason bees spotted one the other morning, happy rosiecider :)

I saw a prog. on TV about Mason bees and they stuff their nest tubes with pollen, not caterpillars. That is a kind of wasp, so you can feel a bit happier now rosie   :nowink:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Headgardener22 on July 03, 2015, 16:23
(http://chat.allotment-garden.org/gallery/18168-030715162102.jpeg)

Anybody any idea what this is? Found it in our garden whilst weeding.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on July 03, 2015, 18:19
Violent (violet) ground beetle !  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Headgardener22 on July 03, 2015, 21:42
Violent (violet) ground beetle !  :)
Thanks, not seen one before, quite scary when I frightened it out. :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on July 26, 2015, 08:30
I've got fairies in my garden, the hummingbird hawkmoth's are back.  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on July 26, 2015, 10:28
I've got fairies in my garden, the hummingbird hawkmoth's are back.  :)

You lucky thing  :D  My brother has some (Portsmouth) but they don't seem to have made it to us yet  :unsure:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Springlands on July 26, 2015, 22:36
I've got fairies in my garden, the hummingbird hawkmoth's are back.  :)

You lucky thing  :D  My brother has some (Portsmouth) but they don't seem to have made it to us yet  :unsure:

I was really surprised to see them as the weather has been so rubbish, so it was extra special when they appeared.  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Annen on August 03, 2015, 19:30
I found this on my sweet pepper plants
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Ra5Am_0BJmY/Vb-l7dgQVxI/AAAAAAAAYEY/mY5DrXTAw9k/w229-h331-no/IMG_2293.JPG)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hXJ6UMhOTPo/Vb-l7wHBdtI/AAAAAAAAYEg/fe-GyyepnFI/w200-h288-no/IMG_2296.JPG)


Is it a unfinished ladybird, or a harlequin, or something else?  Its about 3-4mm long.  Sorry its a bit blurry, my camera is not very good at close ups.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on August 03, 2015, 20:53
I found this on my sweet pepper plants
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Ra5Am_0BJmY/Vb-l7dgQVxI/AAAAAAAAYEY/mY5DrXTAw9k/w229-h331-no/IMG_2293.JPG)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hXJ6UMhOTPo/Vb-l7wHBdtI/AAAAAAAAYEg/fe-GyyepnFI/w200-h288-no/IMG_2296.JPG)


Is it a unfinished ladybird, or a harlequin, or something else?  Its about 3-4mm long.  Sorry its a bit blurry, my camera is not very good at close ups.
.    If it was a harlequin I wouldn't have the heart to squish it, its smiling  :unsure:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on August 04, 2015, 10:33
If the Harlequins  are better than the native ladybird i am all for them !

VIVA EVOLUTION !  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on August 04, 2015, 18:17
If the Harlequins  are better than the native ladybird i am all for them !

VIVA EVOLUTION !  :)
.  Aah but its not natural evolution if they are foreign invaders. Its been foisted on them
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Annen on August 04, 2015, 23:41
    If it was a harlequin I wouldn't have the heart to squish it, its smiling  :unsure:
Its got such a cute puppy face. :nowink: But it has been in the same place for at least two days so I think I won't have to do the dirty deed. :unsure:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on August 05, 2015, 12:33
If the Harlequins  are better than the native ladybird i am all for them !

VIVA EVOLUTION !  :)
.  Aah but its not natural evolution if they are foreign invaders. Its been foisted on them

The plants we see them on are  not natural either but better than wild natives !

Some people would like to stop positve evolution or even reverse it !
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on August 06, 2015, 07:43
If the Harlequins  are better than the native ladybird i am all for them !

VIVA EVOLUTION !  :)
.  Aah but its not natural evolution if they are foreign invaders. Its been foisted on them

The plants we see them on are  not natural either but better than wild natives !

Some people would like to stop positve evolution or even reverse it !
.     A lot of non native plants and creatures have found themselves over here and wreaked havoc with our native stock. Some have even been wiped out. I can't help but think its best on the whole NOT to import them. A countries native wildlife population is designed to cope with its environment best.Its interference that upsets the balance.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on August 06, 2015, 08:05
A lot of non native plants and creatures have found themselves over here and wreaked havoc with our native stock. Some have even been wiped out. I can't help but think its best on the whole NOT to import them. A countries native wildlife population is designed to cope with its environment best.Its interference that upsets the balance.

It's a really difficult question. Imported invasive species are a problem. But if there were no importing, we'd have no tomatoes or potatoes. No carrots, even. Kew wouldn't be what it is. And cat lovers would find something missing from their lives.

Nature is what it is and will walk, swim, fly or hitch a ride and set up home in any suitable new environment.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Annen on August 07, 2015, 20:11
I found this on my sweet pepper plants
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Ra5Am_0BJmY/Vb-l7dgQVxI/AAAAAAAAYEY/mY5DrXTAw9k/w229-h331-no/IMG_2293.JPG)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hXJ6UMhOTPo/Vb-l7wHBdtI/AAAAAAAAYEg/fe-GyyepnFI/w200-h288-no/IMG_2296.JPG)


Is it a unfinished ladybird, or a harlequin, or something else?  Its about 3-4mm long.  Sorry its a bit blurry, my camera is not very good at close ups.
Just found out, it is a 14 spot ladybird.  Harlequins are always bigger than 5mm apparently.
Good to know...
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on August 08, 2015, 02:59
Saw our first proper sighting of a jackal yesterday. We had stopped to take photos of a bird of prey, then that flew off and a hare was startled, then we saw the jackal pounce on something small in the stubble. It was thereages scouting around for rodents, but a long way off for the cameras and the pictures are not good. They are considered vermin along with foxes and pine martens so are very shy, usually a glimpse crossing the road or a dead one is all you see though you can hear them at night in winter when they come closer to the villages.

Lots happening in the stubble which is fast being ploughed for winter crops.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on August 08, 2015, 12:00
I didn't know you had jackals in your area, Tosca  :unsure:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on August 08, 2015, 12:48
Yes, they're a real pest. People who live in remote villages (and some not so remote!) can track their progress through the village by the barking of the farm dogs (loosely applied to the poor dogs kept permanently on a tight chain) and we have heard them even here in the middle of the village on a quiet night. You would think they would be in Africa or somewhere wouldn't you? There are bears, wolves, lynx, vultures and dangerous snakes too :ohmy:

But not in our garden! :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Stree on August 13, 2015, 21:24
Watched a hummingbird moth in the garden...............delightfully busy thing............
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on August 14, 2015, 11:02
....and impossible to photoraph. How do they do it?
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: allotmentann on August 14, 2015, 13:27
I would love to see a hummingbird moth.
Tosca, it is always exciting seeing new wildlife isn't it? A shame you couldn't get good photos but that is most often the way.
We were camping last week l got my first close hand look at chipmunks. There were also loads of beautiful golden mantled ground squirrels. I also saw my first bald eagle. No camera at all on me for that as l was in my kayak and don't trust myself not to drop anything valuable into the water.  :nowink:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on August 14, 2015, 15:47
Strangely, yesterday we saw a young jackal close up on the road before it melted away, and a pond turtle (terrapin) today. Someone has been down and stolen the river....it was there last week but this week it's a weed filled stream. But easier to see the fish and frogs an turtles.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Stree on August 20, 2015, 22:15
Sort of nature post.......... A week or so ago I bought a mobility scooter........2nd hand, £100 ..... its fine..... Been on  a couple of runs alongside Humber, which is fringed with nature reserves...............Fist time for ages I have been away from buildings cars roads etc.. can only walk a short distance, so a revelation......................and stage 2....................Family member works for Sony, and through them got a nice compact camera, a Sony HX90..........30 times zoom........so should get some nice nature pics..............
What a change from just a month ago when nearest I got to nature apart from the garden was the Lidl veg section...................
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: allotmentann on August 21, 2015, 12:47
Yes, there is something about being out there that is good for the soul. I have never been somewhere like that and returned home feeling worse. And having pictures to look back on makes it all the more enjoyable.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Stree on August 21, 2015, 19:02
The Humber is a tidal estuary, occasionally bothered by vikings and such, and especially alongside  the section closest to the sea it has extensive wetland areas which are designated mature reserves noted for its bird life and dragonflies. No doubt lots of other creatures too.
Have only passed alongside the reserves so far but intend to take the inner trails very soon.All flat and level paths.
However, on the ride along the pathway that fringes them the other day I was surprised by what flora grew there........all the usual reeds etc  but also a bright yellow vetch, cranesbill geraniums, masses of teasel. giant marestails, plus others, and I was surprised to see some I did not readily recognise...............and I like to think I have a fair knowledge of British flora and fauna...................So in the little basket on my zippalong-mobile, will go my British wildflowers compendium and British insects, moths and butterflies encyclopedia...........
and hopefully my new camera, my monocular ( which is really binoculars with one side missing some vital glassware).
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on August 22, 2015, 07:29
Stree, really good to hear you're getting so much pleasure getting out and about. Happy scootering! :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on August 22, 2015, 15:00
Jackal in the same field this morning
(http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv100/tosca100-dog/DSC08842%202_zpsaqgqjisc.jpg) (http://s673.photobucket.com/user/tosca100-dog/media/DSC08842%202_zpsaqgqjisc.jpg.html)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Stree on August 25, 2015, 18:56
Thanks for the kind comment snoop!

Went to the nature reserve at the weekend, glorious day, scorching sunshine and no wind..........perfect.
The visitor centre was open so called in to see about taking a trail on my mobility scooter.
Aha.....one lady who works there has been working on such a guide for the various trails............Some are far too steep or rugged, but she has begun to mark out those that are feasible. Intended mainly for wheelchairs, but if they can do it then I should be able to........So got a route map on a piece of A4 and off we went.
Variable surfaces, some a bit rutted, some very uneven, some with hardcore to bind soft soil, but all were passable........Saying that, if I had taken a pint of milk it would have been cheese by the end with all the joggling and bouncing about...........But it did it.Stopped at a bird hide, stopped to look at the various sites, plants, trees and so on...So good to be out in the thick of the greenery.....This was really an exploratory ride, just to see if it was passable for me.Will do it more slowly next time and take the camera..........
So thats one route sorted........
I have sent an email to the lady who is working on the disabled routes and offered to help as a "user"
Be nice to be useful.
Lovely visitor centre, well worth a visit.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on August 25, 2015, 22:27
That's great news, Stree. I'm sure they'd appreciate real feedback too.

Impressive photo, Tosca. That is one purposeful animal!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on September 03, 2015, 10:48
Had the first Wolf indoors this autumn, spider that is !
Tried to usher it outside but it had other ideas so i let it be !

Saw it again the next day, it was being eaten by  a Harvestman !
I knew they ate spiders but i imagined them being little ones not a Wolf with a body six times the size of the Harvestman !

It should have gone outside when i said ! :nowink:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on September 13, 2015, 19:49
I was out in the garden earlier picking some herbs to go in our tea and I saw a wasp do something I haven't seen before.  It landed on a spider web right where the spider had wrapped up its prey.  It then proceeded to cut it out and fly off with the spider's dinner   8)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on September 14, 2015, 16:33
I was out in the garden earlier picking some herbs to go in our tea and I saw a wasp do something I haven't seen before.  It landed on a spider web right where the spider had wrapped up its prey.  It then proceeded to cut it out and fly off with the spider's dinner   8)

Clever little fellow  :D :D

Found an Elephant Hawk moth caterpillar walking along the drive this morning, looking for somewhere to pupate. He now has  cosy home with moss and dried leaves on some soil so I hope he is happy with his new quarters
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Beekissed on September 15, 2015, 04:19
I was out in the garden earlier picking some herbs to go in our tea and I saw a wasp do something I haven't seen before.  It landed on a spider web right where the spider had wrapped up its prey.  It then proceeded to cut it out and fly off with the spider's dinner   8)

Now THAT was cool!  I love seeing things like that.   

These are some pics of a fawn sneaking past the garden and house, drawn in by a wonderful smell....I apologize for the poor quality of the pics, but these were taken through windows and screens and in a hurry. 

First approach...

(http://www.backyardchickens.com/image/id/17855527/width/700/height/700/flags/LL)

Sneaking up on the source of that lovely smell!

(http://www.backyardchickens.com/image/id/17855529/width/700/height/700/flags/LL)

Got spooked by the crazy lady in the house trying to get his pic...

(http://www.backyardchickens.com/image/id/17855528/width/700/height/700/flags/LL)

Second approach...the smell is just too tantalizing!

(http://www.backyardchickens.com/image/id/17855537/width/700/height/700/flags/LL)

This one is awful blurry, so if you can make out that brown blob in the background behind the fawn, there lies my dog, Jake, just resting and watching the show.  :lol:  He doesn't mind deer...I think he's lonely enough that he enjoys their company. 

(http://www.backyardchickens.com/image/id/17855543/width/700/height/700/flags/LL)

What is he sneaking up on?  Our truck, parked in the shade, with a bed half full of apples! 

(http://cdn.backyardchickens.com/d/de/900x900px-LL-ded8c1ae_100_3553.jpeg)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: tosca100 on September 15, 2015, 04:35
How lovely. Deer are something my sister was so happy to see in her garden when she moved to the Lake District, but once they started to lick the garden into shape and spend money on plants it became a bit of a problem and they much preferred seeing them in the fields or woods! However, when we stayed with them we loved seeing them in the garden, and the badgers digging up the lawn...and the heron fishing in the pond. :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: cardoon queen on February 25, 2016, 18:42
Young dog fox today scooting around me as I dug over some beds ... really cheeky boy!  digging underneath some old carpet piles probably for mice.  Doing that leap up into the air and diving into the pile ... really enjoying the sunshine and no real fear at all!
Then suddenly shooting behind me and lo and behold!  cheeky b*** had gone off with one of my gloves .. tossing it into the air, throwing it around .. great fun!  finally managed to spook him so much that he ran and I managed to get it back then 5 minutes later he's back behind me trying to find the other one probably!  Bit mangey on one thigh though but cute as any young animal.
Ran off having a mad 5 minutes going up and down the path in the sunshine.  The parakeets were most disapproving!
I think spring is definitely coming ...
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Snoop on February 25, 2016, 19:16
What a lovely interaction, Cardoon queen.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on April 06, 2016, 09:31
Saw a Peacock butterfly yesterday morning ... first one of these this year ... and then two Housemartins
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Trikidiki on April 08, 2016, 12:31
Found this fella in the greenhouse this week, I believe it is an Angle Shades, perhaps any lepedopterist could confirm that.

Incidentally does anyone know the name of the small 'beetle' type creature that you tend to get a lot of on concrete paths. They are blood red and about an eighth the size of a ladybird. I have started getting a lot of them in one of my greenhouses. I seem to recall being told many years ago that they were harmless to plants.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: mumofstig on April 08, 2016, 13:37
Could they be Red Velvet mites?
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Trikidiki on April 08, 2016, 21:47
Ha! I think they may well be, funnily enough I was going to describe them as looking a bit 'velvety'. I thought it was my eyes when I was counting eight legs but it appears they are arachnids. Apparently they feed on other mites, maybe they'll munch the red spider mites I get in that greenhouse.
Cheers mum.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on April 09, 2016, 09:04
and yes, it is an Angle Shades moth, rather nicely coloured too. They can vary in colour quite a lot I've found
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on April 13, 2016, 17:01
There are signs of life in my tiny wildlife pond.  Dozens of tiny little wiggly black tadpoles who were all over the place, including bothering a large grump frog, who eventually got sick of them and climbed out for some peace  :lol:

Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on April 13, 2016, 18:47
There are signs of life in my tiny wildlife pond.  Dozens of tiny little wiggly black tadpoles who were all over the place, including bothering a large grump frog, who eventually got sick of them and climbed out for some peace  :lol:

Nice! I have taken some of ours out so the fish do not eat them.

Had an amazing one today --- in the partly rotted, worm rich leaves the council guys kindly brought round to our plot for us today, was a heavily pregnant female mole!!!!

She was a bit disorientated as Mr Sunny dug her out of the huge pile, but she was able to burrow under the grass further along the verge, where I put her. Lovely to see.

Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on April 13, 2016, 21:01
a heavily pregnant female mole!!!!

I read in your diary about the mole and wondered how you knew it was female.  I thought that must be tricky to work out on a mole being all streamlined and all   :wacko:  Not that I have ever tried, but you know .....  :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Trikidiki on April 13, 2016, 22:35
......... in the partly rotted, worm rich leaves the council guys kindly brought round to our plot for us today, was a heavily pregnant female mole!!!!....................

Or an extremely overweight male who has been gorging on all those lovely worms  :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on April 14, 2016, 08:49
......... in the partly rotted, worm rich leaves the council guys kindly brought round to our plot for us today, was a heavily pregnant female mole!!!!....................

Or an extremely overweight male who has been gorging on all those lovely worms  :D

Definitely lacking in male parts, and with very obvious teats 😴
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Headgardener22 on April 14, 2016, 14:21
My pond now has a load of tadpoles (but no frogs) and strings of toadspawn which we haven't seen for a few years.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: robinahood on April 18, 2016, 05:58
I have just spotted some frogspawn in my tiny city garden - the first time! I am chuffed to bits! Wondering if I can set up any kind of habitat area to protect the frogs from cats, birds etc once they grow? Next doors garden is untended, I guess that will be a good thing for them. Knowing my luck the landlord will come and tarmac the lot now I've said that!!!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on April 24, 2016, 16:48
Saw my first slow worm of the year at the plot  :D 

As usual, it was in the compost bin. I opened the lid to find a very fat slow worm basking contentedly.  Probably full after scoffing its way through the compost bin slugs  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on April 24, 2016, 18:51
I have just spotted some frogspawn in my tiny city garden - the first time! I am chuffed to bits! Wondering if I can set up any kind of habitat area to protect the frogs from cats, birds etc once they grow? Next doors garden is untended, I guess that will be a good thing for them. Knowing my luck the landlord will come and tarmac the lot now I've said that!!!
.     Provide lots of ungrergrowth. Let an area grow wild with lots of upturned clay flowerpots. They can crawl under to keep cool in the summer.Also make a bit of a log pile they can crawl out of the way there. That should keep cats away.Plenty of hiding places. :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: robinahood on April 24, 2016, 19:03
I have just made a small bog garden next to the pond and planted something for ground cover which I hope will sprawl suitably. I've got some small rockery stones and firewood logs I can make into a nice pile for them too. Fingers crossed!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: wapello on June 23, 2016, 20:30
                                                     

                                                   (\ _ /)
                                                   ( .  . )
                                                    = . =
                                                   (")   (")
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: ilan on November 03, 2016, 21:23
 :D wow what a strange experience today There I was sitting on the shed roof hammering away replacing the roof felt before winter when I heard a stange noise coming from an overhanging field maple tree. stopping I pin pointed a pair of large mice about 4 ins long taking the key,s and eating them. carefully standing up i was within a couple of  feet of them and watched the antics for a good 10 mins before spooking them, they came back again when I started to hammer again.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Tom Hill on November 03, 2016, 23:30
Started to weed around my Blackcurrants when something moved.  A toad had taken up residence in the dried grass around the base of the bush.  When something moves in the undergrowth in this part of the world, you jump.  Adders are everywhere here.
I left the toad some cover.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Aled on November 28, 2016, 09:50
There was a hedgehog outside our front door on Wednesday evening. I hope he's found a nice place to hibernate.
Cheers
Aled
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on November 30, 2016, 16:46
There was a hedgehog outside our front door on Wednesday evening. I hope he's found a nice place to hibernate.
Cheers
Aled
. Crikey so do I that's quite late.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on February 06, 2017, 21:14
There was a frog out and about in my wildlife pond today.  Daft creature  ::)

There are hibernation hollows next to it and wood piles hidden behind shrubs all around my garden, so hopefully he will find somewhere snug to sit out the next few days.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Paul Plots on February 07, 2017, 06:21
There was a frog out and about in my wildlife pond today.  Daft creature  ::)

There are hibernation hollows next to it and wood piles hidden behind shrubs all around my garden, so hopefully he will find somewhere snug to sit out the next few days.

They are quite amazing things frogs, aren't they. I came across one hiding in the greenhouse before Christmas. A sensible place - hidden under the edge of the metal base behind an overwintering shrub tub in a soft dry patch of warm soil.

Hibernation - sounds attractive to me especially if it's warm, quiet and cosy.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on March 09, 2017, 08:07
The pond is now full of frogs and several clumps of spawn.  If you stand quietly in the garden after locking the chickens up for the night, a very loud frog chorus sets up  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Paul Plots on March 10, 2017, 01:08
Not a spot of jelly in sight here :( I saw one frog a week or two ago but that's all. Sad to say I don't think we will be seeing froglets this year.

On a plus side: the pond is full of tiny goldfish from last year. They have survived the winter and are thriving it seems.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: ARPoet on March 10, 2017, 06:35
I usually get loads of these overwintering in my basement.
This one has been sleeping just inside the doorway and must be excited at the prosect of nice weather.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on March 11, 2017, 22:37
Praps why you haven't got any spawn  :unsure: We have several thrashing around and get our first lot of spawn by march 17th St Patricks day.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: blackberryjam on March 12, 2017, 08:35
 lovely, peacock butterflys are my favourite 😊
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Paul Plots on March 12, 2017, 12:30
Praps why you haven't got any spawn  :unsure: We have several thrashing around and get our first lot of spawn by march 17th St Patricks day.

You may be right - can only hope. But, normally we have frog-spawn in the pond as early as mid February even in colder winters. Here's hoping but I have seen few frogs recently and the pond is full of last year's young fish... it may have put them off.  :unsure:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on March 12, 2017, 13:25
Generally speaking frogs tend to avoid ponds with lots of fish while toads will spawn there quite happily .
Tadpoles are fish food but toadpoles taste nasty .

There is quite often a second spawning period a month after the first so there is time yet ! :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Paul Plots on March 13, 2017, 22:19
Generally speaking frogs tend to avoid ponds with lots of fish while toads will spawn there quite happily .
Tadpoles are fish food but toadpoles taste nasty .

There is quite often a second spawning period a month after the first so there is time yet ! :)

I thought the frogs may have been discouraged by all the little black goldfish... seems sensible to move on but sad not to have them in the pond.

Second spawning.... I'll keep an eye out. Thanks
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on March 14, 2017, 08:15
I only heard frogs in our fish pond on Sunday night for the first time, ours always seem later than other people's. They usually lay plenty but this year I'm going to attempt to stop the fish eating the taddies
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on March 14, 2017, 10:47
As i have mentioned in the past an open topped water butt with a good layer of green algae is great home for excess taddies.

They will grow faster than taddies in the pond but do not overload it and provide an escape ramp when they have legs.

Bash the watering can on the surface and the taddies dive to the bottom so you can submerge the can safely !
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on March 14, 2017, 20:18
My mum doesn't have a pond but frogs lay spawn every year in the hand holes of her drain covers and shallow pots she uses as drinkers for the birds. I undertake to rehome all the spawn and keep it in washing up bowls with water and weed from the pond. When it hatches and the tads are a reasonable size they get put in my pond.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Paul Plots on March 15, 2017, 12:51
Time to sink another pond I think - ours is full of small fish from last year and I'm sure the local frogs (and newts) would appreciate a bit of extra space.

I just need to decide where to put it... edge of the Veg Plot? End of the other garden?

Presently it has filled with winter rain and is sitting above ground like a large fibre-glass washbasin.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyR3d on March 15, 2017, 20:43
Beautiful day and wonderful walk through fields and woods today with my JR. Saw Bullfinches, Chaffinchs, Peacock butterflies, small tortoiseshell, lots of Bumblebees. Coltsfoot in flower, and nearly trod on a pair of coupled up toads on the grassy path. Blow me 20 yatds on there were 2 more.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Paul Plots on March 16, 2017, 00:17
Beautiful day and wonderful walk through fields and woods today with my JR. Saw Bullfinches, Chaffinchs, Peacock butterflies, small tortoiseshell, lots of Bumblebees. Coltsfoot in flower, and nearly trod on a pair of coupled up toads on the grassy path. Blow me 20 yatds on there were 2 more.

Brilliant to have our beautiful country-side.

(Worried that locally ours is vanishing under housing estates)
Title: Bees"
Post by: Dave NE on May 24, 2017, 07:47
We have a bee nest/hive in an old bird box and last week we noticed the outside of the box was becoming covered in what we thought was pollen. we then noticed that the queen would come out and deposit a yellowish liquid every 15 minutes or so, the nest is very overcrowded and i think the queen is aborting her eggs, we have seen grubs being dragged out of the nest and to cap it all there are at least 4 queens in this small nest box. The queens leave the nest on a regular basis and are set upon by the constant swarm outside, i think these are boy bees as they are always on the queens backs, very strange, Dave
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: compostqueen on May 24, 2017, 10:47
I was looking up at our nest box the other day, for signs of life, and noticed a bit of twig or something sticking out the hole at the front (where else  :D)  I climbed up for a look-see, touched it and found it was connected to something else. It was a dead mouse! A very dehydrated dead mouse. It looked completely untouched.  Weird! 

There is no nest in the box as far as I could tell
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: aelf on May 24, 2017, 11:36
I have bumblebees in my robin nesting box. Dozens of them flying about it but they are not bothering me. The nuisance is that the box is next to my hedge and the hedge needs cutting  :(
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: robinahood on May 24, 2017, 18:49
Aelf, I have the same thing, I think they are tree bees, the ones hanging around outside are males waiting for a female to come out, they don't have a sting. The nest will be gone by the Autumn.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: aelf on May 25, 2017, 14:40
Cheers
Robinahood, I'm not concerned about them as they are on a part of the plot that I don't generally go near. Still thanks for the info  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: lettice on May 27, 2017, 12:16
Not sure if others are finding this, but we keep seeing Frogs very dried out.
We have a large grassed and semi wild area that we all as neighbours own and there are usually many frogs in there, but each day finding another dried out.
Plenty of ponds around here on that area outskirts that they use and I often get a few frogs in an area behind my greenhouse, that I've setup for them with a few old tins with water and stones in that they often frequent, and today found a dried out frog a short hop from it.
Wonder if this long dry spell is affecting them.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on May 27, 2017, 12:36
In dry spells the frogs insect food will be harder to find so the frogs only source of water is gone.
I'm sure they hide and wait it out for as long as possible not moving until seriously dehydrated .
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: lettice on May 28, 2017, 10:27
We often get dragonflies, but last few days have seen loads in our gardens here.
Nice blue bodied ones and four spotted ones this morning, regularly see those.
But we saw a bright blood red one this morning, that from what I can tell googling was red scarlet, just amazing colour.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on May 28, 2017, 10:38
We often get dragonflies, but last few days have seen loads in our gardens here.
Nice blue bodied ones and four spotted ones this morning, regularly see those.
But we saw a bright blood red one this morning, that from what I can tell googling was red scarlet, just amazing colour.

Sister in Southampton sent me a photo the other day of a pair of red Damselfly's which had landed on her stainless steel kitchen sink to try and lay eggs .
Shiny must mean water to them ! :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: madcat on May 28, 2017, 15:21
Aelf, I have the same thing, I think they are tree bees, the ones hanging around outside are males waiting for a female to come out, they don't have a sting. The nest will be gone by the Autumn.

We have tree bumbles that have taken to nesting in the roof of OH's workshop.  Right by an apple tree covered with clematis and cotoneaster nearby.  Must be bee heaven.  OH has to keep the door shut on the workshop so he doesnt get company ....  they dont like the vibration/noise of the drill!   ::)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Aled on May 29, 2017, 21:21
Headed to the river, and I've seen two otters this week!
Cheers
Aled
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Mr Dog on June 17, 2017, 00:01
Aelf, I have the same thing, I think they are tree bees, the ones hanging around outside are males waiting for a female to come out, they don't have a sting. The nest will be gone by the Autumn.

We had a tree bumble bee nest in the house cavity wall last summer - searches suggested they'd be gone by mid July and hey presto, they were. The hole was blocked up after they'd gone, but they have come back and are nesting under the decking. They come out right next to the garden greenhouse but don't seem interested in my aubergines that are carefully placed every morning next to their exit hole, preferring to visit the clover in the lawn and the heucheras :nowink:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Mr Dog on June 17, 2017, 00:05
Pleased to see this little fella has visited the garden for the last few nights. Hopefully a few mealworms and suet pellets will keep him coming back.

Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: frizzy on August 13, 2017, 11:57
Saw this dragonfly (?) at the allotment yesterday. Not sure what kind it is
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on August 13, 2017, 13:29
Brown Hawker i believe .
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: DanielCoffey on August 13, 2017, 15:57
We saw and heard a female Horntail today (Giant Wood Wasp)...

We are in a rural area surrounded by mixed woodland and were aware of something about an inch long making heavy, noisy flight past the windows. The overall colour was black and ginger. It settled on our paving slabs for a rest in the sun and was perfectly happy for me to get some closeups on the iPad before taking off again.

Hopefully she is on the way to find a suitable tree.

(http://www.dcoffey.co.uk/images/misc/Horntail.jpg)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on August 13, 2017, 18:34
Headed to the river, and I've seen two otters this week!
Cheers
Aled

How lovely, what a treat
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: frizzy on August 13, 2017, 19:54
Lovely thank you
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: mumofstig on August 14, 2017, 17:14
Head down weeding in my garden at home and became aware of 'something' at my side. I looked to the side and was face to face with a young fox  :D

It stopped a while, looking at me, before deciding I wasn't safe to be near and darted off into next door's wilderness garden  :lol: I'm still not sure how he/she got in, there appears to be no access point from that side, and neighbour was sitting in his garden and didn't see the fox.

Wildlife is always closer than we think..
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Paul Plots on September 14, 2017, 13:50
How lovely MUM.

Had a similar experience years ago picking raspberries from a long high and thick patch. As I made my way along the row the whole patch around me seemed to "spring". I thought it might be a hefty bird until I looked over/through the raspberries and saw a flash of reddy brown vanishing only to stop a few meters away.

I had disturbed a young snoozing fox - we both looked at each other rather stunned. I'm not sure if I had trodden on its tail by accident or it had simply woken in a start.

Lovely looking creatures when they are in good condition but I'm not encouraging them to visit me. So pleased to no longer have all my potatoes unearthed every time I earthed them up... an no unpleasant calling cards around the place.

PS - they are brilliant at scaling fences and walls!!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on October 17, 2017, 13:34
Portuguese men of war on the beach !
The tentacles are long and hard to see !
Dog walkers and bathers beware !
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on February 14, 2018, 12:45
Spotted the first clump of frogspawn in the pond yesterday.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on February 14, 2018, 16:39
Spotted the first clump of frogspawn in the pond yesterday.

Wow that’s early, I need to get on then with my pond transformation from a fish pond(that sprung a leak last year) into a wildlife pond.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: robinahood on April 04, 2018, 05:26
After the cold wet Easter it was an absolute joy to walk along the canal towpath and see the Blackthorn flowering, the first green on the Hawthorn, and Celandines, Cowslips and Coltsfoot in flower. The Dunnocks were singing beautifully. Maybe Spring has come!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: upert on May 02, 2018, 12:34
I was watering my greenhouse so up and down the plot I walked (butts were too far, which I've since rectified) I looked up to meet the eye of a fox sat watching me from about 8 metres. Maybe the same fox that dug into my chicken run and killed most of them. - something I thought impossible given the wire I'd buried and other precautions. I bear it no ill will.

I have relays of hedgehogs in my garden. I've been feeding them for years and so did my neighbour. Eight years ago I'd built a hedgehog home yet nothing bothered with it until this year when I picked it up to move it and noticed it was very heavy. My wildlife camera videoed the hedgepig taking 30 minutes to emerge later that night. He must've been wary after having his/her home picked up.

The camera picks up a lot of activity at night - mice, one rat since departed, local cats. No fox yet.

I'd like the council to put ramps on the roads to slow the cars down on our estate, as people often drive far too fast and squash the hedgehogs. I'm putting up a sign for all the good it might do.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on May 22, 2018, 18:31
Mr S is henceforth to be known as The Molecatcher, as that is exactly what he did yesterday, caught a mole in his (gloved) hands as it wriggled near the soil surface.

It didn't seem phased at all, and very quickly burrowed down into the ground in an unused plot across the road, completely disappearing in about 10 seconds with those huge, amazing paws

I did add the photo to my diary but I thought others might like to see it too...
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: DanielCoffey on June 05, 2018, 20:38
I don't know which of the Scottish blue Damselflies this is but we have a lot of them. Sorry the picture isn't a little sharper but it was hand-held and auto-focus cos the thing kept moving around...
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Debz on June 07, 2018, 14:01
Doing a spot of pond dipping with the kids at the weekend and we caught 4 newts.  Husband took pictures of them and the staff at the RSPB site we were dipping on think one might have been a great crested newt.  Much excitement and the pictures were sent on for further analysis.  I'd never seen a newt before so was completely unaware.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on June 08, 2018, 08:28
Doing a spot of pond dipping with the kids at the weekend and we caught 4 newts.  Husband took pictures of them and the staff at the RSPB site we were dipping on think one might have been a great crested newt.  Much excitement and the pictures were sent on for further analysis.  I'd never seen a newt before so was completely unaware.

That’s exciting, newts are lovely little creatures, they moved into our pond at the old house,not crested though.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on June 17, 2018, 19:08
The slow worm spas, a.k.a. my compost heaps, are in full operation.  I got some looks from these 2 when I lifted the cover to put more stuff in.  I took the hint and moved on to the next bin  ;)  :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: DanielCoffey on June 17, 2018, 19:16
We have a somewhat portly (and possibly pregnant) visitor every evening around 7pm...
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: madcat on June 18, 2018, 09:40
The slow worm spas, a.k.a. my compost heaps, are in full operation.  I got some looks from these 2 when I lifted the cover to put more stuff in.  I took the hint and moved on to the next bin  ;)  :lol:

Ah yes - we get the same look from the grass snake on the allotment compost heap!  But she likes extra green stuff on top to keep the heat up .... so when we appear, she disappears into the heap, the grass goes on top and half an hour later she is back on top of the new stuff ..... No wonder we don't have as many frogs as we used to get, given the number of hatched eggs we find in the heap each early spring when we dig it out.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on June 21, 2018, 08:17
The slow worm spas, a.k.a. my compost heaps, are in full operation.  I got some looks from these 2 when I lifted the cover to put more stuff in.  I took the hint and moved on to the next bin  ;)  :lol:

Looking at the top slow worm your spa is about to become a nursery ! :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: DanielCoffey on June 21, 2018, 15:56
Was checking the building for Swallow's nests and spotted this unwelcome colony instead... persistent little devils kept coming back even while I was trying to wash the remains off the underside of the eaves.

There were one and a half decks of comb inside, pretty full of larvae. A few dozen adults were attending them too. At least the robins and blackbirds had a feast for their youngsters.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on July 01, 2018, 19:28
We have lots of caterpillars on the plot eating all the groundsel.  They were around last year as well, but they only eat weeds, so I don't mind them. 

There are also loads of pollen beatles.  How many exactly fit in a pumpkin flower - errrr many seems to be the answer  :lol:

Then I discovered someone looking very relaxed in a pot at home.  There are bulbs in here that came out of a larger container and have died down.  I'm keeping the compost moist so they don't dry out, but someone thinks it is for his benefit instead  :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on July 03, 2018, 08:09
We have lots of caterpillars on the plot eating all the groundsel.  They were around last year as well, but they only eat weeds, so I don't mind them. 

There are also loads of pollen beatles.  How many exactly fit in a pumpkin flower - errrr many seems to be the answer  :lol:

Then I discovered someone looking very relaxed in a pot at home.  There are bulbs in here that came out of a larger container and have died down.  I'm keeping the compost moist so they don't dry out, but someone thinks it is for his benefit instead  :D
Cinnebar moth caterpillars ?
As the colours show they are not good for froggy to eat ! :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on July 03, 2018, 09:58
Cinnebar moth caterpillars ?
As the colours show they are not good for froggy to eat ! :)

That rings a bell.  Sunshineband saw them on my plot last year and I think that is what she said  :)

Froggy is at home, so he won't be eating any.  I have a wildlife pond where most of the webbed fraternity hang out, but this one has moved to the mud baths  :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: moose on July 09, 2018, 20:20
We have just spent the last 5 minutes watching a hedgehog wandering around the garden. We have an upturned rubbish bin lid full of water and spotted hedgehog as it moved away from there, had a good look around the tomatoes and disappeared among the Jerusalem artichokes. Now I know where the strange bits of poo that started to appear a week ago have come from.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: moose on July 17, 2018, 13:41
Just spotted a Jersey Tiger Moth, a very pretty creature. Sorry no camera to take a picture.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: DanielCoffey on July 23, 2018, 07:46
I had an unexpected encounter late last night... a neighbour's house alarm triggered and stayed on so I went out to investigate. While I phoned the alarm activation in to the local boys in blue (the owners were out of the house it seemed), I prowled the outside looking for signs of forced entry but there were none.

We had suffered a short power cut in the area for a few seconds about half an hour previously so one neighbour thought perhaps their breakers had tripped, resulting in the alarm triggering onto battery. He said he had a key (but not the alarm code) and would check the consumer unit. While he went off to get the key, a movement caught my eye.

Inside a ground floor conservatory window was a dark object about two inches in length. I had an LED worklight with me so I looked closer. Inside the room behind the blinds was a Pipistrelle bat... inside the house.

There was probably an upstairs window cracked open for ventilation so I called the Police and let them know it was not an incident that needed their attendance. Then it was off to my house for gloves, a bag and something to reach up for it. The owners have a very young girl so there was all the clutter that comes with having a three year old for it to hide in.

I shut it into the kitchen and made two attempts to coax it into the bag to no avail. It took off and moved under things. A Thomas the Tank Engine 4-piece jigsaw puzzle frightened it so much it started flying round the kitchen and flopped down on top of the units. One clear plastic bowl and a "Furry Pets Sticker Book" and it was secured!

Pipistrelles are really small when landed - about an inch wide, an inch and a half long and covered in really fine fur. Tiny little eyes too. They are audible when making chirps. I took it outside and released it.

Adventure over... and when they are back they can close that window!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: DanielCoffey on October 05, 2018, 20:16
This tiny little Common Toad was warming himself on the tarmac yesterday. It was about 2cm from nose to butt and let me get really close!

I was quite surprised by the colour as most of the adults I have seen round here are much duller than this.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: robinahood on February 04, 2019, 18:10
Thrilled to see a starling murmuration just a few minutes walk from my home in the city outskirts this evening, they dropped en masse into some big conifers, silent when flying except for the short of their feathers, but what a noise once they landed! Absolutely beautiful sight, it made me smile.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: DanielCoffey on February 04, 2019, 19:08
We have something like that here in Ayrshire with the Jackdaws. In the late autumn and winter they gather in huge social flocks around us at dawn and dusk making a total racket (and crapping on everything) for half an hour then split up into their family groups.

There are always a few crows and rooks mixed in but they play very energetically in the air in enormous groups of several thousand before settling into the largest trees.

This is what a very small group of them looked like the other morning when it was snowing...
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on February 21, 2019, 10:47
First clumps of frogspawn spotted in the wildlife pond at home  :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on February 21, 2019, 13:36
First clumps of frogspawn spotted in the wildlife pond at home  :D

Exciting, I keep looking & listening for their croaking
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on March 01, 2019, 20:22
I keep looking & listening for their croaking

I didn't get out of work until 11.30 last night (sigh), but it had its bonuses.  Our bathroom is on the back of the house on ground floor. After my shower, when all was quiet and still outside, I could hear a full chorus of them purring away with their night time 'come hither' calls to the females  :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on March 02, 2019, 12:18
Just been watching a scurry of four grey squirrels rushing hither and thither round the gardens looking as though they were having  a great time in the sunshine
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: RubyRed on March 16, 2019, 20:05
We have been at this house for 20 yrs and the first thing we did was dig a large wildlife pond. 18ft by 12ft. The first year we had over 30 frogs. Fab. Lots of spawn. Over the years it levelled out never getting so many but keeping a healthy amount. In the last few years I've been saddened by only seeing about 8 frogs and small amount of spawn. As an aside one year we had a clump of white spawn that developed but was eaten by birds. Also all our spawn has been laid by st Patrick's day,17th March. Anyway, 2 years ago I dug a smaller pond and this year the big pond is empty and once again we have over 30 frogs. I'm over the moon. In these days of dwindling wildlife i move mountains to provide for all mine insect or mammal. Chuffed to bits at so many frogs to go with my newts and toads.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on March 22, 2019, 07:19
St Patrick’s day hubby spied the first clump of frogspawn & it’s grown progressively over the week, and from how much croaking I’ve heard over the last 2 nights there’s more to come. So pleased as our pond was rejigged last year from our old fish pond that had sprung a leak the year before. So we made it smaller so I could have a bog garden, irs quite formal looking & needs an edge or two finishing but I’m so happy with it(I never did want fish, but the ‘children’ bought me some for our old house & pond)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: DanielCoffey on March 29, 2019, 20:47
I saw this Peacock butterfly resting on our waste filter mound today. The soil is open, scattered with wood chips and was sown with a "dry roof flowering mix" last year so there were plenty of daisies open.

It rested a good ten minutes with its wings closed and when I approached, it flicked them open a few times as a warning so I managed to get this picture.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Amylowson on April 11, 2019, 10:21
The most exciting thing i have seen so far at my allotment are pigeons..... :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: jezza on April 19, 2019, 20:21
hello spring is officially here I have seen the first Brimstone butterfiy jezza
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on April 19, 2019, 21:22
Frogspawn doing well in the pond. Saw butterflies at the allotment today, a lovely little blue one, don’t know types
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: DanielCoffey on April 29, 2019, 15:11
Since Aidy was talking about Mason Bees earlier, here is a shot of mine exploring their new box of tubes. It only took them three days to find it and they have already moved in!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: robinahood on April 29, 2019, 17:25
I have inherited a dilapidated home built greenhouse on my plot, I had stored some stuff in it over winter and decided to have a tidy. I lifted a plastic box and underneath was a sleeping hedgehog. How chuffed was I! I am 57 and that's only the third I have ever seen! I quickly put the box back and retreated, that job will have to wait for another day.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on May 12, 2019, 21:56
Does anyone recognise this insect? It was on the bee house, but didn't look like a bee. It didn't go in any of the holes. It is not the best photo but it only landed briefly. Incredible colours

PS look at the little face peering out from the tunnel to the right of this insect... the bee pulled back inside when the other one landed. It is a Mason Bee, a bright yellow one, not a red one, and not a leaf cutter either 9Both of these are using the tubes though)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: DanielCoffey on May 13, 2019, 07:08
It looks like a Ruby-tailed Wasp. They are pretty uncommon and also called Cuckoo Wasps.

They are parasitic on Mason Bee nests and lay their eggs inside an uncapped cell. Let's just say next Spring only one will emerge!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on May 13, 2019, 09:50
It looks like a Ruby-tailed Wasp. They are pretty uncommon and also called Cuckoo Wasps.

They are parasitic on Mason Bee nests and lay their eggs inside an uncapped cell. Let's just say next Spring only one will emerge!

Thank you Daniel!! I have never ever seen one before so I am glad you were able to ID it for me... no wonder that mason bee was waiting inside its nest, presumably to repel boarders  :ohmy:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on May 13, 2019, 11:58
It looks like a Ruby-tailed Wasp. They are pretty uncommon and also called Cuckoo Wasps.

They are parasitic on Mason Bee nests and lay their eggs inside an uncapped cell. Let's just say next Spring only one will emerge!

Thank you Daniel!! I have never ever seen one before so I am glad you were able to ID it for me... no wonder that mason bee was waiting inside its nest, presumably to repel boarders  :ohmy:
Having put up a nest box hoping to help the bees does one squish the wasp to improve their chances more or
let the wasp wreak havoc !
I know what a wooly minded Chris Packham would do* !

* make wasp squishing a crime !
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: DanielCoffey on May 13, 2019, 15:22
I would leave them all be (no pun intended) and make sure the Mason Bees have plenty of pollen producing flowers and a choice of nest sites. That way next year you will get the colourful wasps AND plenty of Mason Bees.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on May 14, 2019, 23:04
I would leave them all be (no pun intended) and make sure the Mason Bees have plenty of pollen producing flowers and a choice of nest sites. That way next year you will get the colourful wasps AND plenty of Mason Bees.

Preeesizelly!! I even put a further box up near the existing one and hope the bees spot it, as the one being used is almost full... I haven ver had such swarms of bees nesting in holes before, and this is before the leaf cutters join the throng!!
And I saw the Ruby Tailed Was again today, lurking around the side of the box waiting for bees to fly away, but the bees spotted her and buzzed her off alright. Pretty though. Squishing her is quite unnecessary.

Here is a pic I found, for anyone who wants a closer look
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on May 15, 2019, 18:03
I would leave them all be (no pun intended) and make sure the Mason Bees have plenty of pollen producing flowers and a choice of nest sites. That way next year you will get the colourful wasps AND plenty of Mason Bees.

Preeesizelly!! I even put a further box up near the existing one and hope the bees spot it, as the one being used is almost full... I haven ver had such swarms of bees nesting in holes before, and this is before the leaf cutters join the throng!!
And I saw the Ruby Tailed Was again today, lurking around the side of the box waiting for bees to fly away, but the bees spotted her and buzzed her off alright. Pretty though. Squishing her is quite unnecessary.

Here is a pic I found, for anyone who wants a closer look
I do hope you are right and you are not helping form a Ruby Wasp hotspot to the detriment of the bees .
When man interferes with such stuff it quite often does not go to plan .
Only time will tell ! ;)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on May 16, 2019, 13:45
No, given the dozens and dozens of bees there, I reckon they will be OK  :D :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: blackberryjam on May 27, 2019, 12:08
While I was on my plot this morning this little thing fluttered down and settled near me. As long as he's a good bug he's welcome.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: DanielCoffey on May 28, 2019, 07:01
Looks like it might be a Cinnabar Moth.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on May 28, 2019, 08:19
Looks like it might be a Cinnabar Moth.
Their caterpillars are bright orangey yellow and black hooped stripes and feed on ragwort and groundsel.. definitely a good guy  :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: sunshineband on May 28, 2019, 08:23
These are the (not very imaginatively named) Large Red Damselflies from a mass hatching at the weekend. They take 2 years to grow from egg o adult, and we have a fairly healthy population of these. The females her (lower insect) have yellow hoops round their abdomen, but in some areas these are black hoops, or even almost completely black. SEcond pic shows their nymph cases on the pond iris leaves
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: jezza on June 09, 2019, 21:02
hello found this on a yew hedge  jezza
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: jezza on June 09, 2019, 21:07
hello I just tried posting a photo it seem to have disappeared anyone know what ive  done wrong   jezza
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: jezza on June 09, 2019, 23:13
Hello found on a yew hedge  jezza
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: jezza on June 09, 2019, 23:17
A grass snake I think  unfortunately it was run over by a tractor  jezza
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Paul Plots on June 18, 2019, 12:33
A newt spotted yesterday wandering across the end of the lawn towards the fish pond (no tadpoles in that pond this year). I knew there were newts there but firsts sighting out of water this year. Maybe a young one.

Froglets ( a real party of them) seen moving in the grass path near the nature pond - no photos as they were finger nail size and hopped it too quickly. I do have a video of my son helping to round them up and move them off the path for their safety... but didn't post.

Pleased to have both -  even spotted a hedgehog the other night.  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: DanielCoffey on July 01, 2019, 17:09
I think this is a White Ermine Moth. They are in the UK between May and July and lay their eggs on docks and nettles. They are unpalatable to birds.

This one was demonstrating their other talent on my door mat. Apparently they "play dead" when threatened. I poked it onto a piece of card to get it out of the way and it rolled over and seemed sluggish and ill. I transferred it outside into the mulch around the Tomato plants and five minutes later it was out of sight.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on July 09, 2019, 19:17
The slow worm spa basking party in one of my compost bins today.  I relocated them to the next door bin, so they could snooze on under the black plastic cover, while I topped the first bin up  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on July 12, 2019, 10:54
Spotted at the plot yesterday.  I assume a stag beetle  :unsure:  It was on the small plot which is next to the boundary edges on 2 sides.  There is a row of scrub and trees at the back, which I leave as is for the wildlife, so there are plenty of old branches and bits of rotting wood in there.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: DanielCoffey on July 12, 2019, 17:14
Was it around an inch in size? If so, it could be a Lesser Stag Beetle, according to the pic.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on July 13, 2019, 07:20
Was it around an inch in size? If so, it could be a Lesser Stag Beetle, according to the pic.

No it was twice that size at least.  Female stag beetle I think  :unsure:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: jezza on July 14, 2019, 12:57
Hello a photo of a moth caterpillar can any one guess which moth   jezza
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: DanielCoffey on July 14, 2019, 21:53
It might be a Mullein Moth.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on July 15, 2019, 09:52

Thought for the day courtesy of Prof Brian Cox .

"Green is the colour nature throws away !"

Plants reflect green light but use the other colours to grow !

Those science chaps can scramble ones brain !  :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on July 20, 2019, 17:47
Comma butterfly spotted today in my garden at home  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: greenjay on July 20, 2019, 20:11
driving home from work and a deer stood in the road. saw me coming jumped the fence and run up the field by the side of the hedge. never seen one before!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on July 25, 2019, 18:31
Comma butterfly spotted today in my garden at home  :)

They do love that Verbena , i'd like to grow some here but the wind would flatten it !

Used to get the Commas in our Privet hedge back in Hants !
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on August 20, 2019, 12:07
I'm finding lots of baby slow worms in my compost heaps at the moment. I posted a picture of more mature ones basking on this thread on 9th July, but this is 1 of the babies.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on August 25, 2019, 22:40
I'm finding lots of baby slow worms in my compost heaps at the moment. I posted a picture of more mature ones basking on this thread on 9th July, but this is 1 of the babies.

Oh I think I could cope with them, it’s the adults I’d struggle with, I really don’t like snakes & they’re just too similar ugh
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on September 14, 2019, 10:58
I had a funny encounter on Thursday night.  I got home from work late and as I went to the front door, the light came on.  Then I noticed some little legs frantically kicking away under the side gate.  It was a fat toad, who had obviously misjudged the size of his belly v the clearance he had under the gate  :lol:

I carefully teased him out and put him on the big raised bed at the front, where he waddled off to disappear into the plants none the worse for wear  :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: DanielCoffey on September 18, 2019, 13:23
Who would have guessed that slugs were that fattening!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: 8doubles on September 18, 2019, 19:09
Who would have guessed that slugs were that fattening!

They may just give you wind ! ;)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on September 25, 2019, 09:48
A seal! Spotted from our apartment window up here in Sunny Scotland  :D
Still waiting for dolphins though & whales!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on January 05, 2020, 20:08
The first frog of the year  :)  He bobbed up out of the water to see what I was up to, then watched me for a while.

I had my little wildlife pond netted over autumn to keep leaves out, so was taking that down and clearing up round it.  I like to get this done early, then I can leave it alone before the web footed brigade start the party in a few weeks time.

Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Mr Dog on February 08, 2020, 18:54
Sleepy local in Southwark Cathedral gardens.....
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on February 10, 2020, 10:57
My wildlife pond is suddenly frog-ville.  Lots of jostling and lurking around at the moment, but I reckon they are gearing up for spawning.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: jezza on February 13, 2020, 12:19
Hello I come every Thursday to a garden there's always holes to fill in on the lawn I thought it was dog walkers passing through a wood and letting the dogs loose,it's  a Badger wouldn't mind if it was digging where the moles are can't say where it is as I don't want the local Badger baiters showing up    jezza
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: jezza on February 14, 2020, 14:15
Hello I found a mussel shell on the side of a beck yesterday afternoon does any one know how to post photos on this site as it's getting very bad the site tells you to go into files which I do then when I click on post it says file to big for site  5000mb yet pic are 24kb been bad ever since I refused to pay a subscription for this site through amazon  jezza
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: John on February 18, 2020, 10:45
Jezza - I don't know what you're on about. This site is nothing to do with Amazon for starters.  If you want to post a photo along with your post, you can just drag'n'drop it into the box or click select files and select the file you want to load.
I've posted loads of photos without any problems. There is a size limit - I forget what offhand but it's quite large but definitely less than 500mb!
It's actually very easy.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: WeavingGryphon on February 20, 2020, 09:42
We saw a dead fox yesterday  :(.
We were 2m away so really close to the spot and there was no fox. Went for a walk, stopped there as the children just had to throw stones in the stream. When we came back 2 1/2 hours later it was lying there dead and unmarked lying up against a tire under a pipe next to a foot bridge.
We think it was poisoned or ate poisoned rats because it was down near a stream and a certain rat poison induces thirst-not sure if it's still used actually. I stood not 2 meters from the spot looking at the dumped tire thinking about the morals of the person who dumped it there. So it definitely wasn't there when we went past the first time. If it was under the bridge the children throwing rocks into the stream would have scared it so it went up the gully and the effort killed it.  :( Tragic.

Modify, we phoned the SSPCA asap despite the fact it wasn't moving because we didn't take it's pulse.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on February 21, 2020, 19:56
We had the first clump of frog spawn appear in the pond earlier this week.  Now there is loads and the frog chorus has started.  If you are in the back of the house late at night when all is quiet, you can hear them calling  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: jezza on February 22, 2020, 11:06
Hello  it says drag or drop files how do I do that there's no explanation on this site where the files are kept I haven't a clue how this phone works I can see that there's a gallery with photos in it but that's as far as I can get  as for Amazon it keeps coming up as a pop up under where the login button is saying subscribe to this site as some features won't work  jezza
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: JayG on February 22, 2020, 11:41
Hello  it says drag or drop files how do I do that there's no explanation on this site where the files are kept I haven't a clue how this phone works I can see that there's a gallery with photos in it but that's as far as I can get

Do you have a PC or laptop?
If so, this article may help:
https://www.wikihow.com/Send-Pictures-from-Your-Cell-Phone-to-Your-Computer
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: John on February 22, 2020, 23:39
Jezza - I haven't a clue how your phone works. Perhaps you can go to where you got it for advice or find a tame youngster to show you how to use it.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: jezza on February 23, 2020, 10:33
Hello found this on a gate post hope you can see picture,  jezza
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: John on February 23, 2020, 19:29
Hello found this on a gate post hope you can see picture,  jezza
That's an amazing fungus! Glad to see you've figured out your phone, too :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: jezza on March 24, 2020, 17:59
Hello just put an old memory card in  my phone found some good photos can't think where this one was taken  jezza
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Kleftiwallah on March 24, 2020, 18:19

New inhabitants (neighbours)  next door, down came the large Laylandi.  Sad because this tree was the message post for so many local birds. Happy because now our small pond will be getting quite a bit more sunshine so hopefully a better showing of aquatics than last year and the frogspawn is looking good.

Cheers,  Tony. :( :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: mumofstig on April 12, 2020, 10:38
So happy to see a small greeny-brown lizard sunning itself on the rocks around the raised garden bed  8) The last time I saw one must have been in 2007 before I moved back from Greece
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: MrsPea on April 12, 2020, 15:33
We have a Robin nesting in hole in an old Apple stump
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: wighty on April 12, 2020, 16:54
Driving from Sandown to Freshwater each day we are seeing more and more wildlife than usual.  The most surprising though was a hare on the grass verge.  (We knew it was a hare as it was standing up on his long legs and looking around).
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: MrsPea on April 13, 2020, 11:25
We have a Robin nesting in hole in an old Apple stump

Just realized put this in wrong section sorry  :ohmy:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: John on April 13, 2020, 12:52
Just realized put this in wrong section sorry  :ohmy:
Six days bread and water for you! :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: MrsPea on April 13, 2020, 14:12
Just realized put this in wrong section sorry  :ohmy:
Six days bread and water for you! :)
Lovely  :D

Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: jezza on April 18, 2020, 19:19
Hello I have seen  3 Brimstone butterflies in the last 4 days usually it's one all year   jezza
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: jezza on May 15, 2020, 19:38
Hello found a baby Hare yesterday accidentally gave it a shower didn't see it in the flower bed till it shot out across the lawn I have photo  but can't post  on site   files bigger than 5000kb jezza
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: wighty on June 12, 2020, 15:57
Stopped at Compton Beach this morning on our way to work, walked to near the cliff edge and looked out at the sea.  My eye was caught by a black head in the water which then disappeared.  Paul went and got the binoculars from out the car.  When it popped back up again Paul confirmed it was a seal.  There were in fact two of them, never seen seals off the Island before so went to work in a really good mood.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on July 01, 2020, 17:57
Five-lined skink.  He is chief of insect control at my new raised beds.  Here he is, on the job, patrolling the borders.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on July 16, 2020, 00:35
Another lizard, this is an anole (pronounce it "uh-KNOLL").  They are capable of changing color from brown to bright green.  They rarely or never seem to be trying to match color with what they are sitting on.  Nevertheless, they are also great insect hunters.

I also found one of their little eggs, which they lay in the leaf litter.  Mama anole does not tend the eggs, the warm soil is enough.  I put the egg back after taking the picture of course.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Aunt Sally on July 16, 2020, 12:07
Delightful pictures  :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Mr Dog on July 18, 2020, 13:45
Wondered what the racket was as these approached!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on July 19, 2020, 16:10
Baby anole picture!

This guy is tiny, the distance between front and back legs is less than 2 cm.  The egg that I posted a picture of a few days ago is now empty, so I am guessing that egg is now this little guy.  I'm calling him Egbert (and handing out virtual cigars). The babies tend to stay close to where they hatch, so I likely will see him throughout the summer.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on July 19, 2020, 16:16
Wondered what the racket was as these approached!

Mr. D, do you know any bee keepers? they may be interested in this swarm.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Mr Dog on July 19, 2020, 17:14
Wondered what the racket was as these approached!

Mr. D, do you know any bee keepers? they may be interested in this swarm.

I do, an old work colleague! However, the swarm was was actually a week or 2 ago and they didn't hang around for very long. Funnily around 20mins before they arrived Mrs Dog was joking about us getting trapped in the shed by the bumble bees nesting in one of the compost bins  :D They've moved out of the bin now and into a corner of my greenhouse, between the wall and a large planter - did the same last year and apart from distracting me from working as I get drawn in to watching their comings and goings are very welcome.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: jezza on July 23, 2020, 19:51
Hello just a photo I took today hopefully it'll down load
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Enfield Glen on August 20, 2020, 15:08
One of our plot holders that had been clearing an overgrown section of their plot recently was bitten by a snake. Considering our location, next to David Lloyd sports club in Enfield, a bit of a rarity. no idea what sort it was as their English  is not that good, It did require a trip to A&E for them.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: DanielCoffey on December 22, 2020, 18:45
It turns out some spiders are flexible! I got a bit of a surprise today when opening the garage door to find a large spider had deliberately squeezed its way into the tiny gap between the two halves of the door.

I couldn't miss it as it was at eye level. The body was well over 1cm end to end and it was significantly flattened. The colour was brown/bronze with a couple of dimples on the back.

My first thought was "Some sort of huge tick..." since we are in a rural location with deer but as I watched it started to unflatten and moved a little.

I gingerly shut the door giving it ample time to get away if it wanted to and fetched the camera. It was still there so I grabbed a shot as fast as I could before it inflated again.

I thought it might be some rare "Greater Tick-bodied Spider" but it turns out it was just a perfectly ordinary female Bronze Orb-Weaver which are the ones you find in your garden in the middle of a huge web. When you get too close to them they start to vibrate the web back and forth really quickly in the hope that you lose sight of them.

It turns out their bodies are "leathery" rather than "brittle" and they can squeeze themselves into narrow cracks in the bark of trees in the winter. This one has selected my garage door as an apparently suitable place to overwinter so I will have to persuade her there are better places.

She was much flatter when I opened the door and is returning to her "normal" rounded shape as I set the camera up.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on February 25, 2021, 15:20
First clump of frog spawn in the pond and the water is heaving with frogs.  There is a lot of loud singing at night and goodness knows what come daylight  :ohmy:

As you go past to let the chickens out, the revellers all dive to the bottom  :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: mrs bouquet on February 25, 2021, 15:38
I would have to move, absolutely paranoid about them.   Have had treatment for it.   But really no.  If I did by chance ever see one in the garden, I lock my self into the house, and got OH to drive it 5 miles away to a pond we know.    :ohmy:  Mrs Bouquet
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: JayG on February 25, 2021, 19:15
Some splashing in my pond yesterday - probably not my goldfish because there's only one left.  :(

Seems like the frogs think it's spring anyway.  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Hungry Caterpillar on March 02, 2021, 18:52
My first butterfly of the year turned up today, a small tortoiseshell. Then a second about an hour later! The earliest in the year I've seen them here by about a month.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: jezza on March 31, 2021, 19:08
Hello just found these in the garden Cowslip primrose cross,, jezza
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)" Deer living in back garden (fawn??)
Post by: Subversive_plot on July 22, 2021, 21:03
We often get whitetail deer jumping the fence into the back garden, but now we seem to have a doe that has taken up residence in the back garden. She is there multiple times a day, hops the fence if she sees us.

This type of behavior often means she has a speckled fawn that she is raising somewhere in the brush in the back garden.  We have not seen the fawn yet, but this has happened many times this year with various other neighbors.

Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on January 27, 2022, 09:05
A couple of whitetail deer crossing the road in our neighborhood.  Several does crossed the road ahead of these two bucks.

Why are they called whitetail? When they run, the tail is up, and the underside of the tail is all white. It's probably an adaptation so they can see others in the herd when they run through the woods.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: wighty on April 06, 2022, 17:50
I know they're 'birds' but we treat them as pets.  Every year FIL has a mother duck nest in the raised flower  bed round the swimming pool.  This year she has a brood of eight ducklings and they learn to swim in the water that has collected on the cover over the pool.  FIL bought some chick feed yesterday for them.  Mrs. Duck has four 'admirers' hanging around trying to attract her attention.  We also have a home made ramp built so they can get out the pool.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on April 28, 2022, 20:27
I bought 8 Impatiens plants for Mrs. Subversive today. I didn't realize that when you buy 8 you get a bonus. See photo, look close in the center.

This tree frog appears to be one of our common ones. He hopped out of the plants when Mrs. S started planting.  I got him to jump on me, then put him in this small oak tree, near the vegetable garden and bird feeder.

Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Aunt Sally on April 28, 2022, 23:40
I’d like a free frog with my purchases too  :D
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Rob the rake on May 12, 2022, 23:03
Two very different animal-related experiences today.

Looking for my sprinkler, I turned the corner down the path between two beds and came across a medium sized rat, busily digging up the chippings to get at the goodies beneath. It was facing the other way and the sound of a nearby rotovator must've masked my approach since it was blissfully unaware of my presence until I said "Oi, what d'you think you're doing then?" at which point it did a two foot vertical standing jump followed by a Scooby Doo-style scrabble and run. Most amusing!

The second encounter was more poignant. Driving back down the narrow lane from the allotment site there was a baby rabbit "playing" in the road, rolling over and over then coming to rest and repeating the whole sequence. After applying the handbrake and watching for a while it became clear that it was more like distress than play, so I walked up to it. It made no attempt to run away, so I gently picked it up, popped it in my open bag and motored round the corner to the local vet. Myxomatotis was the (expected) diagnosis and, with my permission, it was taken away to be euthanised, bless it. It weighed next to nothing and fit comfortably in the palm of the hand...only had the briefest glimpse of life, poor thing. I was so overcome I almost reversed into another car on the way out.  :(
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on May 27, 2022, 19:05
Baby fawn in our back garden today.

I realized this little guy was near me when I was working with some bamboo, and heard some movement nearby. I looked up, he looked at me from less than 5 feet away.  He came over to me, started touching my knees with his(her?) nose. He followed me around a bit, staying quite close to me. He seemed quite healthy, but very young. Body size about the same as a small to medium cat.

The mothers often go into our back garden areas to give birth (lots of cover, low risk of predators). The mothers leave the fawns to go forage, and come back at dawn to dusk time for nursing.

Wildlife experts say don't handle them, and I didn't. Just in case, I called the veterinary teaching hospital at the University of Georgia to get the numbers of a couple of local wildlife rescuers, in case mama doesn't come back.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on May 29, 2022, 00:21
Baby fawn update:

Mom has been coming back to take good care of it.  The fawn does not approach us anymore (so we think mama has warned it off of approaching strangers).
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: lettice on May 29, 2022, 09:08
I have been trying to get a photo.
But failed miserably so far.

Every day for about six months or so now we get a visit from a blackbird that has a white wing.
It looks like one long feather is all white.

It loves the mealworms I think on my bird table, mostly the dropped to floor ones.
But so far has been very wary of any company, so not managed to get close enough.
It even evades my back of house cctv camera, that just does not capture it well enough.
I will keep trying.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: DanielCoffey on May 31, 2022, 16:00
I spotted this moth pretending to be a dried oak leaf today. It was on my mailbox lid minding its own business. It is supposed to be a Purple Thorn Moth and tends to be nocturnal (although this one is clearly having a day-trip and ignoring that advice).
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on June 05, 2022, 16:32
Last baby fawn update.

We read that after a week or two, Mother deer will move the fawn to a different bedding-down area. So, night before last, we left the garden gate open.  Happy day, the mother apparently took the opportunity to move her baby.  It was fun having our "guest" for a week though!
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on June 09, 2022, 11:39
Last baby fawn update.

We read that after a week or two, Mother deer will move the fawn to a different bedding-down area. So, night before last, we left the garden gate open.  Happy day, the mother apparently took the opportunity to move her baby.  It was fun having our "guest" for a week though!

Well, apparently I was wrong!  Fawn is back in our back yard again, so he must have been hiding and staying quiet. He's quite loud when he wants to call mom, sort of a short goat-like call (mah!)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on June 26, 2022, 12:15
Half asleep on a tomato leaf...
Someone toad him to wait there.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on July 08, 2022, 15:45
No picture unfortunately, but on this morning's dog walk, we saw an armadillo in a neighbor's yard.  The dog (Murray) didn't notice it at first, until it started walking, then he was VERY interested! I can imagine Murray's thought processes were "what am I looking at?  Turtle? Possum? A turtlepossum hybrid?" In the end, Murray barked at whatever-it-is (which hopped away).

Armadillos have poor eyesight, and poor hearing. It is not uncommon to accidentally walk close to the wild ones (within 5 feet or so) because they don't sense that you are there.  Clap your hands or stomp your feet, and you will startle them, then they usually jump straight up in the air, then hop away from you.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on July 24, 2022, 21:15
I saw a red fox running through the woods behind the back garden (TBH, Mrs. Subversive saw it first).

We had to sequester Murray (dog) behind the gate on our deck or he would have gone after it.  I explored the back fence, and found a spot under the fence that looked like the place the fox had been coming and going from our yard. I blocked up the hole to prevent future problems.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on August 22, 2022, 10:31
I keep forgetting to post this, but we have a regular garden visitor these days.  This was just after a drink from my wildlife pond (hedgehog friendly).  I put a few cat biscuits soaked in water out each night as well and they are getting regularly eaten  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Growster... on August 22, 2022, 18:34
Several chums have spotted Roe Deer nearby - five together in one bunch!

Sadly one ran in front of a car just down the road and made a huge mess of itself and the front of the car, which also had two cars behind which couldn't stop in time...
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on September 19, 2022, 19:40
We had a visit from son (or daughter) of hedgehog today.  This little one was looking around under the bird feeder for dropped snacks, but was quickly won over by cat biscuits and water  :)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pacRh-pa1rQ (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pacRh-pa1rQ)


Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on September 20, 2022, 09:42
Oh I do love hedgehogs, how lucky are you NS. We used to see evidence of one around this time of year but not seen it for a few years now, used to eat the figs as they fell off & then leave a deposit!  :lol:
A couple of weeks ago I spotted this on our lawn! Eventually it dawned on me where my watercress seedlings in the green house had gone & then the 2 big beef tomatoes that had definite teeth marks in….the louvres in the greenhouse had stopped closing. One morning last week I went to open the green house doors & a little Bob tail shot out through the Louvres  :lol:. Hang on I’ll be back the photo hasn’t transferred from my phone to iPad
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on September 20, 2022, 09:46
Here’s Peter! Think he’s got in at the very bottom of the garden, there’s a gap on a fence panel from the garden at the bottom , & they’re not far from fields. My grandson asked if we could keep it lol
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: jaydig on September 20, 2022, 16:42
We don't seem to see anywhere near the number of hedgehogs that used to roam around.  I recall some years ago when we had the three huskies, I was taking them for their last evening walk when they spotted a hedgehog crossing the road. All three went to have a look, nudging it with their noses when it curled into a ball. When they got no response I was just about to walk them away from it when the youngest gave it one more sniff, no response, so he turned round a peed all over it.  Poor hedgehog.  I moved the dogs away and made sure that he got safely to the other side of the road before continuing the walk.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on May 13, 2023, 22:30
It doesn't stink, to be a skink!

Do you see the skink in the photo? Close to the bend in the big root, and right next to my courgette planters.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: DanielCoffey on May 19, 2023, 13:07
Stay off the moors, lassie!

This was a couple of days ago when we had a Sea Fog blow in. Under 50m visibility and total silence.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on May 19, 2023, 16:37
It doesn't stink, to be a skink!

Do you see the skink in the photo? Close to the bend in the big root, and right next to my courgette planters.

No I can’t see it & I don’t know what a “skink” is but I know what a skunk is :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on May 19, 2023, 16:55
It doesn't stink, to be a skink!

Do you see the skink in the photo? Close to the bend in the big root, and right next to my courgette planters.

No I can’t see it & I don’t know what a “skink” is but I know what a skunk is :lol:

A skink is a type of lizard.  It is hard to see in the photo because I was taking the photo as close as I could without scaring it away, which was not close enough really.  Also, my current phone insists on turning photos taken in portrait mode 90 degrees to make them landscape mode (I haven't found a way to consistently correct this). So, apologies for the photo.

To see the skink, look to the left side of the big root. There are 3 ivy leaves close together.  The blue tail of the skink lies along the edge of the root, near those leaves.  The striped black and pale brown body of the skink is oriented vertically in the photo, above the root, head pointed up.  This is a five-lined skink, better pictures can be found here: https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=skink+georgia (https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=skink+georgia)

Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on May 19, 2023, 21:41
It doesn't stink, to be a skink!

Do you see the skink in the photo? Close to the bend in the big root, and right next to my courgette planters.

No I can’t see it & I don’t know what a “skink” is but I know what a skunk is :lol:

A skink is a type of lizard.  It is hard to see in the photo because I was taking the photo as close as I could without scaring it away, which was not close enough really.  Also, my current phone insists on turning photos taken in portrait mode 90 degrees to make them landscape mode (I haven't found a way to consistently correct this). So, apologies for the photo.

To see the skink, look to the left side of the big root. There are 3 ivy leaves close together.  The blue tail of the skink lies along the edge of the root, near those leaves.  The striped black and pale brown body of the skink is oriented vertically in the photo, above the root, head pointed up.  This is a five-lined skink, better pictures can be found here: https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=skink+georgia (https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=skink+georgia)

Yes I can see it now ! Thanks for the detailed chat
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on May 28, 2023, 00:51
Last baby fawn update.

We read that after a week or two, Mother deer will move the fawn to a different bedding-down area. So, night before last, we left the garden gate open.  Happy day, the mother apparently took the opportunity to move her baby.  It was fun having our "guest" for a week though!

Well, apparently I was wrong!  Fawn is back in our back yard again, so he must have been hiding and staying quiet. He's quite loud when he wants to call mom, sort of a short goat-like call (mah!)

Well, last summer, we had a fawn living in our back garden, per quoted message.

This year, after our dog Murray had an altercation with a very large doe in our back garden (he's recovering), I surmised that we had a fawn in the garden again.  I was VERY wrong! Instead, we have TWIN fawns in the garden!  :ohmy:  ???
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Oddpod on May 29, 2023, 07:48
Oh , amazing! I hope you are able to enjoy them and that Murray continues to recover!

Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on May 29, 2023, 19:52
Unfortunately the twins are less enjoyable after the emergency vet bill we received. Mama doe apparently decided 25-pound Murray was too close to the babies and kicked the stuffing out of him.

Not the twins fault though. Yes, they are still cute.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on June 03, 2023, 16:38
Pic of one of the twins, near the vegetable garden. The other twin was nearby, but stayed back in the woods.

I am leaving the gates open to allow / encourage the doe to lead the twins out of our back yard and into the world beyond. This is good for them, a doe does not usually keep the fawns in one place for more than a week or two.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: snowdrops on June 03, 2023, 19:40
A true Bambi,wonderful to behold ( not that I’m sure Murray will agree, how is he now?)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on June 03, 2023, 20:08
A true Bambi,wonderful to behold ( not that I’m sure Murray will agree, how is he now?)

Murray is doing much better, thank you (though today he is having back problems - unrelated to the doe, mostly to do with age, we think). He still does not want to go off the deck (where it is safe  :) ) and down to the lawn (where he thinks it is still dangerous!  :ohmy: )
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on June 11, 2023, 15:16
The twin fawns are much more bold now.  Today, they were romping and playing, chasing one another around the back yard while I was digging holes in the garden for cucumbers and tromboncino less than 100 feet away.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: vikingraider on July 05, 2023, 17:58
Look at this beast that was in my allotment today. A Privet Hawk Moth
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Aunt Sally on July 06, 2023, 11:07
Lucky you.  They are stunning creatures. 
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: mumofstig on July 06, 2023, 15:48
They are gorgeous aren't they!

Where I used to live a neighbour had a fuchsia hedge and we used to see Elephant Hawk moths (the pink ones) and their caterpillars.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: mrs bouquet on October 20, 2023, 14:12
I have just counted 12 butterflys on the small buddliea.    Lots of bees still feeding on various flowers and the Hawkshead Moths are whizzing around.  Lots of insect life still going on in my garden.  Mrs Bouquet
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Growster... on October 21, 2023, 08:55
A chum who lives out in the wilds locally, noticed that since the field next to his house has been left uncultivated for a year, he has been inundated with hornets and other creatures whenever he turns the lights on!

They're not the dreaded Asian variety, but still make a racket - especially when they're caught in the door as he rushes out to shut it...
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: mumofstig on October 21, 2023, 10:21
hornets and other creatures whenever he turns the lights on!

Had a couple in the kitchen a few weeks ago  :ohmy: I shut the door and left them to it! I just waited 'til they left.....
Title: White-tail deer (buck) Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on November 10, 2023, 21:02
Attached is a photo of a buck (stag) that the Mrs. snapped from our driveway. I cropped the photo a bit before posting. She saw him hopping from garden to garden at different houses like the fences were not even there.

With those antlers, he is not at all concerned about people being a threat!  Best guess, he is between 3.5 to 4.5 years old.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Yorkie on November 10, 2023, 21:13
Magnificent
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Goosegirl on November 11, 2023, 08:37
How wonderful for you to see that.  :)
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on November 11, 2023, 15:11
How wonderful for you to see that.  :)

GG, we have a very large number of deer in our neighborhood.  The most hilarious recent incident that I observed was a herd of about 20 deer at once, crossing en masse out of our neighbor hood, across a road, and and into an adjacent park. The part that was funny: they were all crossing at a marked pedestrian crosswalk!  They had traffic on the road stopped at the crosswalk for about a minute, but they were following the rules for pedestrians, and all crossed safely.

When I go for my daily walk, it is unusual if I don't see at least one deer. About two or three months ago, this bloke and another of about the same age were hanging out together in another corner of the neighborhood (older bucks are fairly easy to distinguish from one another by the antlers; his friend has distinctive antlers that stand very upright). I was walking in the early evening and passed by where they were standing in someone else's front yard. They snorted quite loudly, clearly telling me "on your bike".  I kept moving, no need to anger the large creatures with pointy things on their heads.  Right now, we are in the middle of rutting season, so the friends have parted company until that's over (rut is a dangerous time, bucks can be aggressive to each other, people and dogs, and are more likely to be a traffic hazard).
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Goosegirl on November 12, 2023, 08:59
Ha! I remember years ago when we lived in an old cottage on Thurnham Moss near the Lune estuary. I happened to be out the back and saw a stag in the field next to us. Later on I told my husband about it and he said what I saw was a big dog. My reply was - A big dog? With antlers?  :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on December 27, 2023, 14:18
A couple snaps of Marshal (cat) viewing an Eastern Gray Squirrel from the cover of his wildlife blind... er, I mean couch.

It's the Lord Marshal's job to keep an eye on the wildlife at Subversive Headquarters.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Goosegirl on December 28, 2023, 09:23
Does Marshal make "chattering" noises like some cats do when they see birds?
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on December 28, 2023, 13:24
Yes, he chatters at them. Seems excited to see them.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Goosegirl on December 29, 2023, 09:14
I believe it's due to their jaws chattering together in anticipation of a good meal.
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on December 29, 2023, 23:15
I believe it's due to their jaws chattering together in anticipation of a good meal.

Possibly on an 'instinct' level. Marshal is a totally indoor cat (we have coyotes here). A such, he has never had a meal in its feathery (or furry) casing!  :lol:
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: New shoot on February 21, 2024, 19:58
Saw the first frog of the year in my little wildlife pond at home. 
Title: Re: "Nature Watch (other than birds)"
Post by: Subversive_plot on February 22, 2024, 18:31
I had to chase five does at once out of our back garden yesterday morning.  I was flapping my arms at them and yelling, using some "choice words".  The neighbors probably think I've gone a half bubble off center (maybe a full bubble).

The previous two years a doe has had fawns in our back garden during the spring.  No more please.  The fawns are cute, but the mama deer are destructive, and also dangerous (especially to our dog).  I'm clearing brush out of our patch of woods to prevent the deer from getting any ideas.