Naturewatch - today I saw....

[PatsyMFagan]

WOW

[Herbidacious]

Something to look out for in the UK

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49041006

[Pepper Pig]

Funnily enough Herbi I was saying to a friend yesterday that I have seen more butterflies this year than usual. I must look more carefully.

[Herbidacious]

Saw all sorts today. We went for a walk in a wildlife/wetlands place near Sevenoaks. Didn't spot a kingfisher (of course) but lots of insects. Dragonflies, butterflies, caterpillars. Hard to take photos and I didn't really have the right lens with me (I was more prepared for birds.) I should go back.

Banded Demoiselle?

[Herbidacious]

And party time...!

[PatsyMFagan]

And I see you've captured a cinnabar moth caterpillar

[cyprusmoira]

The Painted Ladies flew through Cyprus earlier this year. Meanwhile the Swallowtail caterpillars are chomping their way through the parsley.

Moira

[suffolk]

We had a gorgeous Comma butterfly spending some time in the garden yesterday morning .,, lovely

[Seatallan]

We have a bumblebee nest by the shed!

[cyprusmoira]

Earlier this morning I was gazing out of the kitchen window when suddenly a bit of carob tree moved, it was a chameleon. I have seen them here before but usually at ground level, Very disconcerting


Moira

[Herbidacious]

cinnabar moth caterpillar

Thanks for that. I should definitely go back to see if I can spot some of the actual moths. They are very striking.

[icelesley]

Not just today but for the last week we have had seagulls squarking at all hours. I wouldn't mind we are nowhere near the sea. We also have some lovely red admiral butterflies on the budlia.

[Herbidacious]

I think I saw a peacock (butterfly!) too on my trip. We've had a lot of seagulls as well. I have heard swifts, but not seen them.

[scullion]

we have a solitary bee, that looks very much like a cornish black honey bee (not solitary) that's building/built a nest in the corner of a small pot containing a cavolo nero plant that i didn't get round to planting out - looks like i'll have to forgo planting it now.
i have 'wasted' a lot of time watching it.
it started digging yesterday while i was doing some watering and it's tunnelled quite far down the side of the pot going by the (levelled out) mound of potting compost around that corner.
it does a little dive down into the pot, comes out, flies around for a foot in diameter, or so, then dives back in again, doing it over and over - we are assuming it's cleaning its wings or cooling down (but don't really know).
i can't find a picture of one of close enough likeness in the books we have,

[scullion]

I wouldn't mind we are nowhere near the sea.

herring gulls have moved inland where there's richer pickings - remember eric cantona's famous quote!

[icelesley]

I wonder what they have found

[Herbidacious]

Did anyone see that BBC article about a gull snatching a chuahua...

[scullion]

mexican takeaway‽‽

[PatsyMFagan]

cinnabar moth caterpillar

Thanks for that. I should definitely go back to see if I can spot some of the actual moths. They are very striking.

Ragwort is their favourite food source

[Herbidacious]

Any ideas? Not very clear photo I'm afraid.

[Herbidacious]

[suffolk]

Have a look here Herbi https://www.naturespot.org.uk/taxonomy/ ... 338?page=0

I've been through them all and can't get a really good match but there are several possibles ... perhaps you, having seen it in the flesh so to speak, can get a better match.

[Herbidacious]

It was big. It flew into my face as well! I spent most of my time in its presense trying to photograph it. I am in Normandy.

I also saw a hummingbird hawk moth today (v hard to photograph!) Not seen one was this far north before (apart from that one time in my London garden.)

[Herbidacious]

Five long tailed tits on the feeder! Never seen this many together before.

[Herbidacious]

Butterflies in a garden centre near Sheffield:

Comma, Peacock, Painted Lady(?) and a Small Tortoisehell

[earthmaiden]

Beautiful pix Herbi .

[Herbidacious]

Thank you. It's clear now that a Buddleia is needed!

[Ratatouille]

I mentioned this on CB. Thsi morning we saw 2 storks flying low at the back of the house from west to east.

[Herbidacious]

How lovely.

[Herbidacious]

In the garden this afternoon. Not seen one this colour before - they are usually electric blue or emerald green. It obligingly kept still for several minutes - albeit on a cane a foot above my head so had to hold the camera out to get this close.

[Herbidacious]

And some of the long tailed tits from the other day (extra cuteness if you click on it.):

[earthmaiden]

One of the pair of heron who live near Waitrose let me get this close today before flying to the other side of the canal and posing for me!

[earthmaiden]

Posing!

[suffolk]

[aero280]

Two herons! I don't think that I've seen them other than singly.


Our green woodpecker was back in the garden this afternoon, but it flew off before could get the camera.

[earthmaiden]

That was just one, the other is usually to be seen about 1/4 mile down the canal and was there today. I have no idea what the visible differences between male and female are but the one in the photo seems like a male, the other is lovely but not quite so handsome.

[Herbidacious]

Herons do make good photographers' sitters, don't they Lovely spot and picture!