Local Wildlife

[Blodyn]

Nice picture of the butterflies, Hugo.

My garden has been visited by hummingbird hawk moths during the last few days, sometimes two moths at once.  They zoom in, hover about the red valerian sucking up the nectar and then zoom off again.  They're big, powerful moths and very fast flying - their wings make a low humming sound and you can feel the air move if they fly close by.  

By following them about the garden I've finally managed to get a couple of reasonable shots.  Has anyone else seen them?  

[Yorkie]

Fantastic pictures.  You even have the wings in mid beat and in focus!  Must be a good camera and a good technician!      

[Trojan]

Yes, great photo's!

An Olympus Camedia C-8080 Wide Zoom maybe?

[Blodyn]

Thanks for the nice comments, Yorkie and Trojan. 

Trojan, you've obviously been reading the wildflowers thread, too!

[Nemesis]

Nice picture of the butterflies, Hugo.

My garden has been visited by hummingbird hawk moths during the last few days, sometimes two moths at once.  They zoom in, hover about the red valerian sucking up the nectar and then zoom off again.  They're big, powerful moths and very fast flying - their wings make a low humming sound and you can feel the air move if they fly close by.  

By following them about the garden I've finally managed to get a couple of reasonable shots.  Has anyone else seen them?  

Not this year as yet, but we have had them in the garden in previous years. Lovely pics Blodyn.

[Trojan]

Trojan, you've obviously been reading the wildflowers thread, too!

 

[Yorkie]

And using his EXIF software by the look of it!   

[Blodyn]

Thanks Nemesis, I hope the hummingbird hawk moths come and visit you again.  I've seen more of them this year than last year. 

[DaveR]

I noticed that there were many thousands of these fish swimming in large shoals in the shallow water near the Jetty in Llandudno. Anyone know what they are likely to be?

[Barbiroli]

My OH says they are " whitebait", quite common this time of the year, usually pushed in by the mackerel.

[Fester]

My OH says they are " whitebait", quite common this time of the year, usually pushed in by the mackerel.

Known by the Spaniards as Bocquerones, yes Whitebait ... and sold in the Fat Cat Bar... as a crispy starter or main course. Mmmm

[Nemesis]

Yeuk--they look at you whilst you eat them-- not that I do , eat them that is.

[Hugo]

I remember them coming into Rhos in their thousands followed by the Mackrel and closely followed by the Dolphins.  I think that they even had boat trips from Rhos to see the Dolphins and that is unusual in this area.

[Blodyn]

The RSPB at Conwy is holding two "Bioblitz" days on Saturday 9 July and Sunday 10 July.  There seem to be plenty of things to interest anyone who's keen on wildlife. 

[Blodyn]

The shower of rain this morning brought out the snails in force.  Standing quietly in the garden I could hear them happily munching away.  I though that these banded snails were rather nicely colour-coordinated with the Senecio greyii flowers which they were busy devouring.