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  1. Mis

    Big Garden Birdwatch..30th-31st January 2010

    It's a long time since I last posted on the ex-beeb! I did my count on Sunday and had a hectic few minutes when a small flock of blue tits and finches turned up in the lilac tree beside the feeders. 1 blackbird 8 bluetits 3 dunnocks 7 great tits 3 greenfinches 1 magpie 2 robins 2 wood pigeons 1...
  2. Mis

    The Ladybird thread

    I've been catching up on this thread and the mention of cold resistance in ladybirds has reminded that I'd forgotten to post my first sighting of 2010. Last Saturday, 30 January, a lone pine ladybird was on the smooth bark of an ash tree here. We'd had a sprinkling of snow overnight which had...
  3. Rose-ringed parakeet variant

    Rose-ringed parakeet variant

    This male grey variant was visiting feeders together with several green parakeets. Its status is unclear. It may be a recent escapee or be the result of a mutation in the feral population. There are breeding colonies in the area.
    • Mis
    • Media item
    • rose-ringed parakeet ring-necked grey
    • Comments: 1
    • Category: Britain & Europe
  4. Mis

    An unusual ring-necked parakeet?

    This has arrived on the feeders today along with the normal ring-necked parakeets. It appears to have the same markings, and be the same size, as a male ring-necked parakeet. It's not an albino. I know that breeders have produced colour variations, but this is the first time I've seen anything...
  5. Mis

    A hawker and some birds

    I haven't posted for a while and thought I'd better bring some pictures along! The migrant hawker was patrolling over the garden and decided to sit in the sun for a few minutes. Five magpies were sitting in the top of a horse chestnut tree. Just as I pressed the button they started flying off...
  6. Mis

    Another insect from Turkey for ID please.

    I don't know whether they are found in Turkey, but it is similar to Gonocerus juniperi.
  7. Mis

    Name that pupa!

    I think I've found it. It could be Cassida rubiginosa, the thistle tortoise beetle. I'll have to search the area for adults but it seems they aren't easy to spot.
  8. Mis

    Name that pupa!

    I found this pupa on a thistle leaf today (SE edge of London). It is flatter than a ladybird pupa and about 7mm long. I say pupa rather than exuvia because it appeared to still have contents but may have been a failure and in the process of drying out. The two dark spots give it the appearance...
  9. Mis

    Mantid ID from south of France

    The best I can find is Empusa pennata. The male has feathery antennae and it's found in the south of France.
  10. Mis

    An unexpected visitor

    That brambling stayed around for most of Thursday and gave a few more photo opportunities (all through window glass, unfortunately), but hasn't showed up today. According to Time to Fly, bramblings migrate at night, so I suppose it would have been feeding and sleeping during the daytime before...
  11. Mis

    An unexpected visitor

    It's a while since I've been in here! It seems to be the time of year for firsts. I'd never seen a brambling until this morning when this one decided to clean up the fallen sunflower hearts beneath the feeder. It stayed around for a couple of hours but has moved on now. I think it is a female...
  12. Mis

    October moon

    I took this at about 20.50 GMT tonight. The comet is the fuzzy spot at the left. The stars at the right include part of the constellation Perseus. I used a Canon 100-400mm IS zoom lens with a 2x teleconverter. 4 seconds at f5.6, ISO 400.
  13. Mis

    The Ladybird thread

    I said earlier today that the invasion had started! Here are two pictures taken today of harlequins tucked up in cosy corners. There were large numbers flying around all afternoon.
  14. Mis

    The Ladybird thread

    The invasion of the harlequins began yesterday. I thought I wouldn't have any trouble this year because I'd seen very few all summer but they are beginning to squeeze into gaps round the window frames and in the corners of the windows. I'm having to go round the house gathering them up before...
  15. Mis

    Hobbies

    Great pictures, Tony! Must be the time for hobbies!
  16. Mis

    Help needed - is this a hobby?

    I think the bird photography gods are smiling on me today! I've just seen it again and much closer! I think it's a male.
  17. Mis

    Help needed - is this a hobby?

    I've been spending too much time looking skywards recently and today I saw what I at first thought was a kestrel circling over the meadows. It seemed higher than usual for a kestrel and was slowly gaining height until it was little more than a speck. I took some photos and when I looked at the...
  18. Mis

    Giant spider web found in Texas

    This is a link to Lake Tawakoni State Park's website and here's a bit more about the web and it's possible makers. The BBC report is just a version of something that appears on any number of websites and is probably a rehashed press release. Google 'giant spider web texas' and see how many hits...
  19. Mis

    Shieldbugs.

    I found this today. I think it's a box bug, Gonocerus acuteangulatus.
  20. Mis

    Why do they call it that?

    It demonstrates why there's a need for scientific names as well as common names. The comma is Polygonia c-album, derived from the Greek for many-angled and Latin albus (white), so I suppose an angular butterfly with a white C is as good as any! There's been a rash of dubious common names given...
  21. Mis

    meteor shower tonight!

    I saw the ISS pass over soon after 10pm. I woke at 1.30 and looked out of the bedroom window for meteors. I saw a few but there was a fair amount of cloud around. It got better though. A large pale shape settled on the roof of my shed. I think it was probably a tawny owl. It flew off and within...
  22. Mis

    Happy Birthday Mis!!!!!

    Thank you all for the birthday greetings. I know I don't contribute often here but I do look in every day.
  23. Mis

    Moth ID help needed

    Thanks for that. It must have been out in the rain! I've looked at the original full size image and there are traces of markings similar to a rustic. I don't think it's possible to pin this one down to anything more specific.
  24. Mis

    Moth ID help needed

    I found this indoors this morning. I can't find it in my books but it looks as though it is a rather worn specimen. Wingspan is about 30mm. Can anyone suggest a name please?
  25. Mis

    Where have all the tails gone?

    I was interested to see this topic. A few days ago I saw a ring necked parakeet which seemed to be missing tail feathers. At the time I just thought it may have been a juvenile. I'll have to see whether it comes back again.
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