Lili
Member
- Location
- Aberystwyth hinterland
You're in Wales - thats a dragon! (Pretty sure it looks like a common lizard)
Conservation Thread
- Thread starter Kevtherev
- Start date
- Location
- Welshpool Powys
Yes my thoughts were common lizard soon scuttled off it did.
- Location
- CW5 Cheshire
The Shropshire Barn Owl Group ringed three chicks here today. 
- Location
- Near Colchester
Phacellia and a shy bee.
Patrick JE
Member
- Location
- North Yorkshire
Any clues as to what lives here, some sort of caterpillar?
- Location
- Huntingdon
Any idea what this mahoosive slug is - saw on a river bank ?
Patrick JE
Member
- Location
- North Yorkshire
Large Red Slug
Name: Arion rufus
Size: 6-15cm when mature
Appearance: Colour can be extremely variable, even within individual populations. Most commonly it is grey or orange, but extreme morphs of black and almost white are rarely recorded. The foot fringe is virtually always bright orange and is strongly lineolated. The sole is paler than the body sides, often with a distinctive orange tinge, particularly towards the head. Lines extending from the fringe can commonly be observed on the sole and can sometimes stretch almost to its center. Tentacles and head are almost always darker than the rest of the slug. Mucus is thick, sticky and colourless. Tubercles are large, but can often appear flattened. Juveniles can be strongly banded and are often brighter in colour.
Habitat: Ubiquitous in lowland regions; commonly occurs in gardens, woods, moors and agricultural land. Can also be found in several upland locations.
Pest Status: This species is known to feed on live plant material, however it has a extensive omnivorous diet and more readily feeds on decaying vegetation and food waste.
Similar Species: Adults of this species can be almost impossible to accurately distinguish from both Arion ater and Arion vulgaris; this is not helped by the fact that it is believed the three species may be able to hybridism. This species usually has a lighter sole and body, and brighter coloured foot fringe than the other two species. A. rufus also often appears chunkier and slightly less elongate; however these are by no means full-proof distinctions and dissection is often the only way to isolate this species.
Name: Arion rufus
Size: 6-15cm when mature
Appearance: Colour can be extremely variable, even within individual populations. Most commonly it is grey or orange, but extreme morphs of black and almost white are rarely recorded. The foot fringe is virtually always bright orange and is strongly lineolated. The sole is paler than the body sides, often with a distinctive orange tinge, particularly towards the head. Lines extending from the fringe can commonly be observed on the sole and can sometimes stretch almost to its center. Tentacles and head are almost always darker than the rest of the slug. Mucus is thick, sticky and colourless. Tubercles are large, but can often appear flattened. Juveniles can be strongly banded and are often brighter in colour.
Habitat: Ubiquitous in lowland regions; commonly occurs in gardens, woods, moors and agricultural land. Can also be found in several upland locations.
Pest Status: This species is known to feed on live plant material, however it has a extensive omnivorous diet and more readily feeds on decaying vegetation and food waste.
Similar Species: Adults of this species can be almost impossible to accurately distinguish from both Arion ater and Arion vulgaris; this is not helped by the fact that it is believed the three species may be able to hybridism. This species usually has a lighter sole and body, and brighter coloured foot fringe than the other two species. A. rufus also often appears chunkier and slightly less elongate; however these are by no means full-proof distinctions and dissection is often the only way to isolate this species.
- Location
- Huntingdon
great thanks - every day is a school day ! it was a big'unLarge Red Slug
Name: Arion rufus
Size: 6-15cm when mature
Appearance: Colour can be extremely variable, even within individual populations. Most commonly it is grey or orange, but extreme morphs of black and almost white are rarely recorded. The foot fringe is virtually always bright orange and is strongly lineolated. The sole is paler than the body sides, often with a distinctive orange tinge, particularly towards the head. Lines extending from the fringe can commonly be observed on the sole and can sometimes stretch almost to its center. Tentacles and head are almost always darker than the rest of the slug. Mucus is thick, sticky and colourless. Tubercles are large, but can often appear flattened. Juveniles can be strongly banded and are often brighter in colour.
Habitat: Ubiquitous in lowland regions; commonly occurs in gardens, woods, moors and agricultural land. Can also be found in several upland locations.
Pest Status: This species is known to feed on live plant material, however it has a extensive omnivorous diet and more readily feeds on decaying vegetation and food waste.
Similar Species: Adults of this species can be almost impossible to accurately distinguish from both Arion ater and Arion vulgaris; this is not helped by the fact that it is believed the three species may be able to hybridism. This species usually has a lighter sole and body, and brighter coloured foot fringe than the other two species. A. rufus also often appears chunkier and slightly less elongate; however these are by no means full-proof distinctions and dissection is often the only way to isolate this species.
- Location
- Near Colchester
Do you wish to conserve them?
Feck, no!
Tomr10
Member
The kids love seeing them
- Location
- Glen Clova, Angus, DD8 4RD
- Location
- Near Colchester
Walk like an Egyptian......
Actually they do walk more than the other geese that infest our fields, Canadas and Greylags will take off when you or your drone come anywhere near, the Egyptians will walk for ages, I can nearly land my drone on them before they deign to fly off.
If you don't get rid of them off the field they act like decoys for the others.
Actually they do walk more than the other geese that infest our fields, Canadas and Greylags will take off when you or your drone come anywhere near, the Egyptians will walk for ages, I can nearly land my drone on them before they deign to fly off.
If you don't get rid of them off the field they act like decoys for the others.
Campani
Member
Theres only three types of lizard in the uk. Common lizards which are found loads of places. Sand lizards which are rare and only found on sand dunes. And slimy lizard which is only found in Westminster
- Location
- South West Scotland
Looks like a good year for the Barn Owls, seems they're feeding a second brood this year.
I've never seen a second brood here ever.
- Location
- Welshpool Powys
Mr weasel
Patrick JE
Member
- Location
- North Yorkshire
We have had a "vole year" round these parts this year, think all birds of prey have had a decent year.
Do you mind me asking what model Browning trail cam your using?
- Location
- South West Scotland
Goweresque
Member
- Location
- North Wilts
My barn owl guy came yesterday to check the boxes, actually to clean them out, and instead found 3 active breeding pairs, with no less than 13 chicks between them (a 6, a 4 and a 3), all second broods of the season. All been rung, and fingers crossed that the autumn weather will be good enough to let the parents hunt regularly to keep them all fed.