Recent Posts

21

Nature. Flora and fauna / Re: Bee Eater birds

« Last post by Rustychain on August 27, 2018, 04:30:30 PM »

Like Geordie I always hear these lovely birds before I see them; a really nice warm, tumbling call. They tend to fly high above us & have an unmistakable silhouette when seen from below. And of course they look absolutely stunning when seen up close.

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Nature. Flora and fauna / Re: What have you seen today then?

« Last post by GeordieBorn on August 27, 2018, 03:06:24 PM »

I'm sure this post fits here.... This poor chap I found after strimming . Oddly I could not find a mark on it and I know they pretend to be dead, but the picture was taken near on two hours after I found it. The second of these spotted in two days, perhaps the same one as yesterday, but it was alive then What a shame as it's a lovely looking creature, but so are the wall lizzards and the babies around at the moment are likely what it is after...

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Nature. Flora and fauna / Re: Bee Eater birds

« Last post by GeordieBorn on August 26, 2018, 04:32:37 PM »

If you chuck your spiders up in the air the bee eaters might take them , but their favourite is the big hornets which they bang on a wire or branch and then throw it up in the air catch it and swallow it in one go. The wasp spiders are lovely looking and always around at this time in big numbers. I really like them and am sure I check that they are okay regards bite. I just wish they would not string their webs across between my tomato plants

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Nature. Flora and fauna / Re: Bee Eater birds

« Last post by old timer on August 26, 2018, 03:20:44 PM »

I think the wasp spider is not venomous.  It has a bite. It often kils the male after mating if it is not quick enough. They are a beautiful looking spider. You can often find then in the wood store. 

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Nature. Flora and fauna / Re: Bee Eater birds

« Last post by levissima on August 26, 2018, 11:55:21 AM »

I hope they eat spiders too. My friend has found two types she’s never seen before in her garden. One is the yellow and black striped wasp spider and the other is yellowish orange with markings like a face on its back, possibly a Halloween spider. Both venomous, so she’d be very pleased to see them gone!

26

Nature. Flora and fauna / Bee Eater birds

« Last post by GeordieBorn on August 26, 2018, 11:08:50 AM »

Has anyone else seen or heard these wonderful birds? We nearly always hear them long before we spot them. The other day we were privileged to see around 15 or more of these birds within 1-2 meters above us. They were stalling mid-air and one did so on the rise and back-flipped to catch something (wasp or hornet I guess). They always seem to be about this time of year and judging by the varied colour, size and activity there is a mixture of young and parents. If you listen to them on this youtube link with the volume down a little it’s an unmistakeable call to pick up for real. The picture with those wonderful colours does not really do it justice when you see them moving and the light catching them.

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Nature. Flora and fauna / Re: Wildlife Guides

« Last post by Rustychain on August 25, 2018, 12:06:19 PM »

Thanks Levi. I did a bit of Googling & found this lot. I have just booked the 4 of us on the bear spotting trip.....

https://www.wildlifeadventures.it/en_GB/wildlife-watching

I'm sure that others + / or their visitors might enjoy them too.

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Nature. Flora and fauna / Re: Wildlife Guides

« Last post by levissima on August 23, 2018, 05:50:56 PM »

If you can find a Tourist Information Centre(few and far between I’m afraid) they used to have flora and fauna guides for Campo Imperiiatore.

Or have a look for Fartbook pages, there are several which report on the wildlife of the area.

29

Nature. Flora and fauna / Wildlife Guides

« Last post by Rustychain on August 23, 2018, 01:51:21 PM »

We have some friends coming out next month & 'she' is mad on her wildlife, so I'm wondering if there might be some guides somewhere that could take us to the best areas & try to unearth some of the great wildlife that Abruzzo holds. Anybody any ideas?

30

Pets, vets and rescues / Superman Removals

« Last post by Tony on August 04, 2018, 01:49:54 PM »

A big thanks to Superman Duncan for all his help with all those removals he has carried out for people across the region. A brilliant service that will be very greatly missed.
Please be sure to stay in touch and visit us often. Best wishes. Tony & Lynne