nature notes II

[Rhiannon]

What I want to know is:

A. How a slug managed to find its way to my dining room door

B. Now that I have a chance to look at one close up, what are those tiny little white things running around on it?

I love slugs, and snails even more. Exquisitely beautiful. I can watch snails for ages.

As to how they end up inside, I think usually they hitch a ride on something. Plant pots, buckets, trouser turn-ups...I used to have a long-haired cat who often came in with slugs stuck on her fur, sometimes so deeply I had to cut them out with scissors.

[feelin_blue]

I will pick a couple of bucketfulls from my allotment Rhi, and send them to you!

Even they shouldn't be able to make it back from there....

 

[floo]

We find slug trails in our sun room, but no slugs. I can't for the life of me see how they get in, or where they go to. The floor is tiled, and there is no way they can get under the skirting boards, very strange!

[Rhiannon]

I have a suspicion my son brought it in. It was right in the middle of the door in a warm, dry room with not the slightest hint of a trail behind it and now I come to think about it he was talking about getting a slug for a pet just a day or so ago. He's fascinated by them.

For some reason I forgot to put it outside. I looked for it this morning and it had gone. I hope he put it out or god knows where it might have got to.

Bless him. They are fascinating creatures.

My boy loves them too. I am deeply proud to have a son who would rather make slug and snail homes than squash them.

Earthworms are also a big hit.

[Rhiannon]

I will pick a couple of bucketfulls from my allotment Rhi, and send them to you!

Even they shouldn't be able to make it back from there....

 

I was once at a coffee morning for the local cat's shelter when it was discovered that every potted plant for sale came with at least a couple of very large garden snails. I genuinely did offer to take them home and set them free in my garden.

But then I don't grow fruit and veg.

[torridon]

Bless him. They are fascinating creatures.

My boy loves them too. I am deeply proud to have a son who would rather make slug and snail homes than squash them.

Earthworms are also a big hit.

Maybe he has the makings of a great naturalist.

Charles Darwin spent years of his life studying humble earthworms.

[wigginhall]

We get slugs in the kitchen, when we have the window open, I guess they just crawl in.  I scoop them up and chuck them out, and then spend about half an hour washing my hands.  Yuk. 

I had a row years ago on the allotment, when the woman in the next plot saw me scattering slug pellets.  She ranted and raved, but I made the point, no slug pellets, no French beans.  And this is true.  Some years, they attack tomatoes.

[Enki]

My grand daughter loves slugs, snails, spiders, tadpoles, woodlice..even earwigs. When she discovered what a naturalist is, she then decided that when she grows up, she wants to become one.  We'll see.

[Rhiannon]

The boy currently wants to be a footballer. 

My daughter wants to be a naturalist. Her ambition is to study Sable Island.

[Samuel]

Just out of interest... does anyone take any notice of their local geology?

Its an oft forgotten element of the natural world, influencing everything we see around us. There are plenty of local sites, usually old quarries, dotted around the country.

Personally it helps me to gain a coherant understanding of my surroundings... but then I am bias, because its part of my job.

[wigginhall]

I do on holiday, Samuel.  I sometimes go to Hunstanton, and marvel at the cliffs with their vivid strata.   In London, it's not so obvious really. 

http://tinyurl.com/kxgl37l

Was walking by a lake yesterday, watching the swallows and house martins skimming low over the water, about 6" up at times.  They come very close, so you get very good views.  Off to African skies - please take me with you!

Sometimes we are lucky enough to see a hobby appear, to snaffle one of them for breakfast or lunch. 

[Enki]

Hi Samuel,
Yes indeed. I live in an area where the cretaceous and jurassic are close to each other. Over the years I've visited several quarries, and the coast, of course, to find examples of typical fossils of the areas. Incidentally, the Yorkshire Wolds with their chalk base, produce quite a distinctive flora.

[Enki]

Just come back from the Spurn area, where I had unbelievable views of a rarity, a great snipe. Usually, they are extremely difficult to see. This one was a doozy bird which has found a very convenient ditch, and, from time to time, comes right up onto the bank and walks amongst the birders' tripods. It must be because it has hardly ever seen a human being in its life, and, therefore, has no fear of humans. I saw it down to about a metre, and took some great video of it. It reminded people there(about 60 birders) of a certain steppe grey shrike a few years ago in Lincolnshire, which actually perched on a birder's head.

[wigginhall]

Great stuff.  One of my few rarities - a brown shrike - was pretty tame as well, just sat in the same bush for about 4 weeks next to the M25. 

[torridon]

Just out of interest... does anyone take any notice of their local geology?

Its an oft forgotten element of the natural world, influencing everything we see around us. There are plenty of local sites, usually old quarries, dotted around the country.

Personally it helps me to gain a coherant understanding of my surroundings... but then I am bias, because its part of my job.

Which is ?

(sorry being nosey)

[Rhiannon]

Just out of interest... does anyone take any notice of their local geology?

Its an oft forgotten element of the natural world, influencing everything we see around us. There are plenty of local sites, usually old quarries, dotted around the country.

Personally it helps me to gain a coherant understanding of my surroundings... but then I am bias, because its part of my job.

Kind of. I don't know much about geology, but here in East Anglia we don't have ancient stone monuments because we don't have large stones. We do have lots of flint though, and they are unmissable in the fields and in our buildings. We also get what looks to my inexpert eyes to be quartz pebbles.

As a gardener, I can't miss the fact we live on heavy clay soil near chalk hills.

[torridon]

Have you made any spiced bramble jelly this year ?

[OH MY WORLD!]

For those that are thinking of doing some traveling may I introduce the jewel of my province. Waterton Lake National Park. Where the Rocky Mountains meets the Canadian Prairies. Located in the southwest corner of Alberta bordering British Columbia and Montana.
I plan on making a day trip into the area this week to load up on pictures for a wildlife site i belong to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0wSbILb1us

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BNbphWPeiWo

[SweetPea]

Powwow, your national park looks stunningly beautiful. And your comments and YT links are good for local tourism too.

We are off to California next month to visit my sister-in-law and niece. Part of the holiday will include a four night stay in Yosemite NP.... (luckily our accomodation has not been burnt down!).

[wigginhall]

Great pix, powwow.  We are still thinking about our trip to Canada next year.  Currently, we are considering Quebec, plus of course staying with you for a month, as planned.  Only joking.  I think my wife sees it as a great opportunity to speak French without going to France.  There's method in her madness.

[wigginhall]

Yesterday, I saw a wasp catch a small bug and fly off with it.  This is the first time I've seen this happen, and all the gardening books say that wasps are the gardeners' friend, so now I have proof.

On the beach on Saturday at Titchwell, absolutely beautiful, warm, and summery.  Also lots of interesting birds about, as you would expect in Sept.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Nature Lovers,

One potato, which weighs in at 2 lb 11 oz, tis a monster

Gonnagle.

[wigginhall]

But does it look like a willie?  Yours, concerned nature lover.

[OH MY WORLD!]

Wigginhall NO! You can catch a glimpse of Quebec from the air as you fly out here to Alberta and holiday in the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific coast of British Columbia. Your wife won't regret it, I guarantee that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=76Bl_xiaVec



http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GimA4_3mLtY


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lww6Y4hlQR4

[Rhiannon]

Yesterday, I saw a wasp catch a small bug and fly off with it.  This is the first time I've seen this happen, and all the gardening books say that wasps are the gardeners' friend, so now I have proof.

On the beach on Saturday at Titchwell, absolutely beautiful, warm, and summery.  Also lots of interesting birds about, as you would expect in Sept.

Watched a wasp stinging moth to death one morning last week. Astonishing.

Anyone else noticed how small conkers are this year? So far, at any rate. Not much bigger than peas.

Orb web spiders are out! yay! One of my favourite autumn sights.