Your day's wildlife

[annedonnelly]

A commotion outside while I was having my tea. Looked up to see a Sparrowhawk standing on the edge of the birdbath nonchalantly drowning a Sparrow. After making sure it was dead she flew off with it.

 

[MichaelW2]

We have a bunch of Chinese Water Deer in the leafier parts of my Fine City, where you find big gardens, quiet private roads and lots of trees. Today I saw one checking out the humble terraced streets of my neighbourhood.

 

[Tail End Charlie]

Some type of dragonfly. Amazingly it remained on the rose for about two hours, normally when I rush in to grab a camera whatever I wanted to photograph has gone by the time I get back out.

 

[Ripple]

This little fella decided to check how do we cope during the night shift.

 

[biggs682]

This Cricket has been sat on front door step since late yesterday afternoon

 

[BoldonLad]

Moth or butterfly?

 

[Gillstay]

This Cricket has been sat on front door step since late yesterday afternoon

View attachment 652344

Grasshopper. I wonder what is wrong with it ?

 

[biggs682]

Grasshopper. I wonder what is wrong with it ?

I tried asking but didn't get much response other than a clicking noise from its rear legs

 

[nickyboy]

Some type of dragonfly. Amazingly it remained on the rose for about two hours, normally when I rush in to grab a camera whatever I wanted to photograph has gone by the time I get back out.

View attachment 651581

Think it's a Brown Hawker

 

[annedonnelly]

Moth or butterfly?

Meadow Brown butterfly.

Moths don't tend to hold their wings like that at rest - though there are some exceptions.

 

[Tail End Charlie]

Meadow Brown butterfly.

Moths don't tend to hold their wings like that at rest - though there are some exceptions.

Are you sure? I thought meadow browns had an eye on the underwing. I'm only querying because I thought I'd cracked id'ing meadow browns, but maybe not.

 

[annedonnelly]

Are you sure? I thought meadow browns had an eye on the underwing. I'm only querying because I thought I'd cracked id'ing meadow browns, but maybe not.

No, I'm not :-) But the shape of the darker brown patch looks right and I think there are very faint dots on the underwing if you look closely.

And I'm guessing that the photo was taken in South Tyneside or at least in the north east which narrows the options down a bit.

 

[nickyboy]

Are you sure? I thought meadow browns had an eye on the underwing. I'm only querying because I thought I'd cracked id'ing meadow browns, but maybe not.

I didn't think it was a Meadow Brown for the same reason. But now I think @annedonnelly could be right. Take a look at this photo. The brown pattern looks perfect. Not sure at all what's going on with the lack of the "dot"

 

[BoldonLad]

No, I'm not :-) But the shape of the darker brown patch looks right and I think there are very faint dots on the underwing if you look closely.

View attachment 652572

And I'm guessing that the photo was taken in South Tyneside or at least in the north east which narrows the options down a bit.

You are correct, it was, on my garden fence

 

[annedonnelly]

I didn't think it was a Meadow Brown for the same reason. But now I think @annedonnelly could be right. Take a look at this photo. The brown pattern looks perfect. Not sure at all what's going on with the lack of the "dot"

View attachment 652574

There can be lots of variation. A quick google has found this page. I think these are all the known aberrations of this species. There are a few without the dots.

Fascinating isn't it?