Backyard wildlife

[BluTuna]

It's strange how a type of insect suddenly appears in multitudes. I suppose it's the time of year that they hatch.

I saw the first of these moths about ten days ago and now they are everywhere.




There are plenty of other types of moth around too.





A beautiful Silver Striped Hawk Moth.


And there were several Cream Striped Owl Moths around even though the Insect Field Guide says they don't occur in my area.

[Flutterby]

The first one is very pretty.

And there were several Cream Striped Owl Moths around even though the Insect Field Guide says they don't occur in my area.

They obviously didn't read the field guide!

[BluTuna]

Then there's the ones with eight legs.... Eyes closed Nan & BC....

I spotted this one on a daisy flower - not easy to see as they almost match the colour exactly.


I found it the next day on the same bush but this time it had a late lunch. When they have caught something they are even harder to see, the giveaway is the strange attitude of the prey. I thought this fly was standing on its head.



The Silver Marsh Spider is in its regular spot, it seems to get bigger every time I see it.


The business end of the Spider.


Even the ones that aren't perfectly colour matched are pretty difficult to spot. This is a Green/Grass Crab Spider.

[BluTuna]

Other things that were about..

A Leaf Beetle.


A Lacewing Larva.


A Planthopper.


Grasshopper or Locust.


A Slender Ant.


Two Hispine Leaf Beetles mating.


An Antlion that occurs in my garden, this one wasn't imported from Hartebeeshoek.



A Yellow Lacewing?


A Common Green Mantid



And a Midge.

[BluTuna]

The Goslings at work are getting big now, I think whey will be flying soon.




The parents are still quite protective and make lots of noise when I approach them. They have been outstanding parents, all eight that I first saw back in early December are still alive which is surprising because there are many feral cats on site.


They aren't the only birds around. These Wattled Lapwings also make plenty of noise.

[Flutterby]

Beautiful pics!! Although the birds should be under the birding thread.

[BluTuna]

It's my backyard when I'm at work!

And why is this thread under "Mammals"?

[ExFmem]

Wonderful pics! Thanks for sharing with us

[Toko]

Must we lock this topic, delete some posts and ban some members asap?

Beeeg problems here for some obviously, but not for me - IMO, a very nice topic for mammals and other garden wildlife

[BluTuna]

Have I signed on the the green side by mistake? I haven't named any animals, honest!