Some Nature Pictures I Took Recently - II (Seasonal Photos)

Alun

Rescued this young robin (?) out of our conservatory the other day. I was alerted to the noise caused by my cat trying to get at it and knocking a load of plant pots down. He got away safely in the end though.

gzoladz

A small selection from Portugal...I could not get over the amount of birds and raptors over there, considering that it is in July: Sardinian Warbler, Little Owl, Black-winged Kite, Osprey, Hoopoe, Bee-eater, Red-legged Partridge and a moon!

Some pics were impacted due to heat distortion (i.e. black winged kite), but it is such a nice bird I thought I would share it anyway.

OpenYourEyes

gzoladz wrote: »

A small selection from Portugal...I could not get over the amount of birds and raptors over there, considering that it is in July: Sardinian Warbler, Little Owl, Black-winged Kite, Osprey, Hoopoe, Bee-eater, Red-legged Partridge and a moon!

Some pics were impacted due to heat distortion (i.e. black winged kite), but it is such a nice bird I thought I would share it anyway.

Fantastic set of shots and a really great mix of species! Did you report the Osprey ring? A local bird or from further afield?

Pretzill

Hopefully will turn into peacock butterflies?



Have been watching them grow the last couple of weeks, they are flying through the foliage!

gzoladz

OpenYourEyes wrote: »

Fantastic set of shots and a really great mix of species! Did you report the Osprey ring? A local bird or from further afield?

Thanks OYE. Is this the link to use?
https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/bblretrv/

I couldn't get the full reading tho.

OpenYourEyes

gzoladz wrote: »

Thanks OYE. Is this the link to use?
https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/bblretrv/

I couldn't get the full reading tho.

That looks to be an American site.

For any European colour-ringed birds the link below is your starting point:

http://cr-birding.org/colourprojects

Even with a partial read and knowing the colour etc you might be able to narrow it down to the right project!

gzoladz

OpenYourEyes wrote: »

That looks to be an American site.

For any European colour-ringed birds the link below is your starting point:

http://cr-birding.org/colourprojects

Even with a partial read and knowing the colour etc you might be able to narrow it down to the right project!

Thanks OYE, there is only one project with a black, 4 digits alphanumeric code, I have emailed them and see what I get.

Assuming that is the right project, the bird was ringed in Germany.

Let's see what I get back!

NEW WAVE

Black Cap

HoteiMarkii

Megachile centuncularis (female): Love these beautiful Leaf-cutter bees. I've seen loads in the garden in recent days. I created a solitary bee hotel about two years ago, but had never seen anything go into it in that space of time. However, just this weekend, I saw a female Megachile centuncularis bring leaf cuttings into one of the bamboo burrows. She will create a small package/wrapping from leaf cuttings in which she will lay an egg; she will also deposit pollen within the package before sealing it up. The entrance to the burrow is then sealed up using a round leaf cutting. The pollen left within the leaf package will help feed the larva that will eventually hatch. I had wondered why I was seeing so many holes in the leaves of many of my shrubs and perennials!






Hummingbird Hawk-moth: If you plant Centranthus ruber (Red Valerian) in your garden, I think you can be sure of seeing one of these turning up at some point - they find it irresistible. A word of caution though, it spreads like wildfire in time.




Sphaerophoria scripta (male): I've been planting more and more pollinator friendly perennials in my garden over the past few years, and am definitely seeing an increase in hoverfly numbers in the garden.




Eupeodes luniger (female):




Merodon equestris (male):




Episyrphus balteatus:

NEW WAVE

Heron

Thud

Noticed a lot of red valerian this year, is it invasive?
It's all along the dart line from Greystones to the Killiney.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Thud wrote: »

Noticed a lot of red valerian this year, is it invasive?
It's all along the dart line from Greystones to the Killiney.

Not invasive and here since the 17th century. It favours old walls, roadside verges, railway cuttings and cliffs, and is a wonderful source nectar for insects. The dart line is a very typical location for it.

gzoladz

gzoladz wrote: »

Thanks OYE, there is only one project with a black, 4 digits alphanumeric code, I have emailed them and see what I get.

Assuming that is the right project, the bird was ringed in Germany.

Let's see what I get back!

No response from the project yet...

NEW WAVE

Chiffchaff

Keplar240B

Larvae of Harlequin Ladybird. Recent invasive arrival

Keplar240B

black garden Ants "farming" some sort of small black insect on a thistle plant. I think its the black bean aphid.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_bean_aphid

NEW WAVE

Chiffchaff

NEW WAVE

Robin

fryup

Peacock butterfly amongst my verbena...

NEW WAVE

Heron trying to feed

Tiercel Dave

NEW WAVE wrote: »

Heron trying to feed

I'd say he's in deep water!.....

gzoladz

Common Darter, Silver-washed Fritillary, 2 x Kingfishers (very active in the Dodder), Willow Warbler and young Peregrine Falcon

Livefornow

4 from the lakes

Be right back

Gap of Dunloe.

Be right back

Another one taken in the Gap..

NEW WAVE

First Shot. Sedge Warbler. Can someone confirm please.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Yes, a Sedge.

NEW WAVE

Jeffrey Panicky Jockey wrote: »

Yes, a Sedge.

Thanks Jeffrey Panicky Jockey.

NEW WAVE

NEW WAVE

Mallard Duck in flight