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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

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  1. M

    Carnivorous Blackbird

    A few weeks ago a friend asked me if the birds which were feeding in my garden only ate seed as this is what I am feeding. I told him, no, because many eat worms, grubs etc. I did not realise until today that a British Blackbird would attack and eat a frog! The frog was obviously a 2007...
  2. M

    Bombardier Beetles / Pepper Bugs in W Africa

    I have just returned from working in Angola, West Africa, where we were sitting some distance offshore on an oil rig which had a steady influx of 'Pepper Bugs', AKA 'Acid Bugs'. These little beetles have the ability to spray boiling fluid from their abdomen as a standard Bombardier Beetle, but...
  3. M

    Spindle Tree Berries

    I photographed this Spindle Tree on the Nature Reserve near Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire on 12th November this year. I have never seen so many berries on this type of tree before - anyone else seen similar?
  4. M

    Mutant Daisy

    Seen growing on my lawn. Is this a common occurence? Mike
  5. M

    Birds and Bamboo

    I have been working in West Africa for a couple of years now and realised only during the last trip that, although we have a large stand of bamboo just outside the office, there are no signs of any birds' nests. The canes have a trunk diameter of about 5 inches (120mm), and are around 40 feet in...
  6. M

    One for Ken!

    Hi Ken, As mentioned earlier, here are a couple of shots of the 'thingy'! Pic number 3 (not sure if I can send 3 pics at once, if not, sorry, it will follow) is of the larval stage. Found: under the floor of my old garden shed in Norwich four days ago during demolition. Many sacs, presumably...
  7. M

    Owl catching fish?

    I may be repeating a thread here, but I've searched and can't find anything about it. A non-birding friend has told me that he saw a TV programme the other night which showed footage of a British owl (type unknown) catching a fish. This behaviour was not previously known about. Anyone else see...
  8. M

    Is this stress?

    Quite a funny pic which I thought some members might enjoy. BTW - not my keyboard!
  9. M

    Siskin numbers

    Haven't seen an increase in Siskin (C. spinus) or Lesser Redpol (A. flammea) as I would normally expect here (East Anglia) at this time of year. We normally have flocks of up to 100 spinus in the nearby alders, but this year not a single one so far. Is this a general thing, or is there too much...
  10. M

    Dying Spider

    Saw this tonight just as the light was fading so I had to use flash, hence the strong shadow. For those of you who do not know the size of a 1 Pence coin, it's 12mm (1/2 inch roughly) diameter. The second, smaller spider had caught and was busily injecting the larger with disolving fluids when...
  11. M

    Favourite Bird Artist

    Mine is without a doubt the late Dr Eric Ennion. His straight-line representation and ability to capture the essence of the bird - - - - leaves me speachless! He had the ability to capture the feeling of the bird. Tunnicliffe is excellent, no argument. But to capture the feeling of the...
  12. M

    Strumpshaw Fen Morning

    I got down to SF a little before 09.00 in order to open up the reception hide for the visitors. Hadn't settled in for long before I was able to point out a flock of 10 Bearded Tits to some people. The birds were flying in a fairly tight flock, and unusually were up at about 50 feet, not their...
  13. M

    Minority sports and nature

    Here's one to possibly open a can of worms I'm sure! 'The Broads Authority has recently decided to allow water skiing to continue in the Broads' and here I quote a publication from the RSPB. ('The Broads' for those members outside the UK are a series of inland lakes and rivers in Norfolk...
  14. M

    Two for ID please

    Sorry if I appear totally ignorant of fungi by posting these two - but in truth I am just about! Both found today at Holt, North Norfolk. One is growing on a Scotts Pine (didn't realise these trees were attacked until they died, does it mean it is an ex-tree?), the second is one of many...
  15. M

    White Rose-Bays

    Growing alongside the River Yare above Cringleford. Many plants growing alongside normal pink ones. Not true albinos - observe the slight pink tint inside the trumpet - but I have never seen this variation before.
  16. M

    British House Sparrow - an observation

    I have a healthy population of between 20 and 30 'sparrers' regularly feeding in my garden in Norwich. It occurred to me today as I watched young ones being fed that there are only 3 males. I realise that the juvs are very similar to females, but only 6 young (3 in the first and 3 in the second...
  17. M

    Publication - British Wasps?

    I have been watching some small wasps which were digging burrows in the sandy trails at Strumpshaw Fen reserve. I tentatively ID'd them as Spinipes from the Chinery book. This has sparked an interest in looking more closely at hymenoptera of the UK but can find no other books. Several years ago...
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