Anything For Animals

posted by admin on Jun 2

There are many types of roundworms that could infect mammals; but the 2 most common types found in domestic cats are:

Toxicara felis:
Kittens can be infected after birth by their mothers milk. Towards the end of her pregnancy, hormones trigger any dormant larvae in her muscles to pass into the mammary glands. These larvae migrate through the milk glands and straight into the stomachs of the newborn kittens.

Once ingested, these larvae grow inside the kitten and can become adult worms while the kitten is still young - obviously they will use the nutrition from the milk instead of the kitten itself.

The kittens can also ingest futher larvae from infective eggs in the environment (on their bedding, etc) or more commonly, through the bitches milk until they are weaned. 

Kittens with a heavy burden of worms will have their growth stunted, and very likely have distended, swollen bellies and will often vomit and have diarrhoea.  Severe infections of worms have been known to totally block the intestines.

However, kittens should have naturally expelled all their adult worms by 7 months of age. Any eggs or larvae ingested after this time won’t become adult worms in the gut, but will pass through the intestine wall into the body of the kitten (now an adult cat) and settle as their resting state (as cysts) in the muscle tissues.

Any eggs that were ‘passed’ by these kittens or the queen onto the ground or bedding, usually in faeces, have very protective cases and can survive outside for up to 2 years waiting to be eaten or licked up by an animal or human (not washing their hands before eating).

If these eggs are ingested by any animal other than a dog (their specific host) they will not become adult worms in the body - it is host specific to only cats.

However instead, they will travel through the body to the muscle tissue and remain temporarily inactive in a ‘cyst’. This animal (or person) then becomes their temporary host as the worm larvae are hoping that one day, when this ‘animal’ dies, it will be eaten by a cat (or other animal that is then eaten by a cat) and they can complete their lifecycle.

Basically this worms job is to live in the female cats muscle tissue until she becomes pregnant so it can infect her kittens.

Toxicara leonina:
This roundworm will infect both cats and dogs as part of it’s life cycle, but it is not a zoonosis - it has not been known to pass to humans in it’s live state.

There is no infection before birth from the mother to her unborn young, or through the mothers milk - infection is commonly seen in young adolescent animals as they begin to explore their enviroment and ingest eggs or temporary hosts containing inactive larvae (i.e; a cat eating an infected mouse or beetle, or a dog eating undercooked offal and game).

There are normally no outward clinical signs of light or heavy infestation with this worm, as they are well tolerated by both cats and dogs, so you wouldn’t know that your pet even had them!

A good a reason as any to regularly worm your cats!!!

posted by admin on May 26

There are many types of roundworms that could infect mammals; but the 2 most common types found in domestic dogs are listed below:

Toxicara canis:
Puppies can be infected before birth by their mothers (bitches). Towards the end of her pregnancy, hormones trigger any dormant larvae in her muscles to pass into the uterus. These larvae migrate through the flesh of the unborn puppies into their liver and lungs.

Once born and breathing, the puppies will cough these larvae up and normally swallow them stright back into their own intestines where they become adult worms.

The puppies can also ingest futher larvae from infective eggs in the environment (on their bedding, etc) or more commonly, through the bitches milk (dormant roundworms would have migrated to the mammary tissues and were also triggered by the bitches hormones).

Puppies with a heavy burden of worms will have their growth stunted, and very likely have distended, swollen bellies. They may even vomit or have diarrhoea. Severe infections have been known to totally block the intestines.

However, puppies will have naturally expelled all their adult worms by 7 months of age. Any eggs or larvae ingested after this time won’t become adult worms, but will pass through the intestine wall and settle into their resting state (as cysts) in the muscle tissues.

Any eggs that were ‘passed’ by these puppies or the bitch onto the ground with faeces have very protective cases and can survive outside for up to 2 years waiting to be eaten or licked up by an animal or human (not washing their hands before eating).

If these eggs are ingested by any animal other than a dog (their specific host) they will not stay in the gut to become adult worms.

Instead, they will travel through the body to the muscle tissue and remain temporarily inactive in a ‘cyst’. This animal then becomes their temporary host as the worm larvae are hoping that one day, when this ‘animal’ dies, it will be eaten by a dog and they can complete their lifecycle.

Basically this worms job is to live in the female dogs muscle tissue until she becomes pregnant so it can infect her pups.

Toxicara leonina: 
This roundworm will infect both cats and dogs as part of it’s life cycle, but it is not a zoonosis - it has not been known to pass to humans in it’s live state.

There is no infection before birth from the mother to her unborn young, or through the mothers milk - infection is commonly seen in young adolescent animals as they begin to explore their enviroment and ingest eggs or temporary hosts containing inactive larvae (i.e; a cat eating an infected mouse or beetle, or a dog eating undercooked offal and game).

There are normally no outward clinical signs of light or heavy infestation with this worm, as they are well tolerated by both cats and dogs, so you wouldn’t know that your pet even had them!

A good a reason as any to regularly worm your dog!!!

posted by admin on May 7

Why not create a fun game to teach your kids or friends about dog breeds?

In the same way that wildlife books help you identify random plants by following a simple flow chart - you could split up and identify common - or not so common - dog breeds.  Or cat breeds, rabbit breeds or horse breeds etc…..

Obviously, it is far easier to learn something new when it is simple and you get fast results - so using technical terms is out of the question as well as things that can only be found out through serious study!

This should be fun!

The Key:

Now you need to decide whether this is for the very beginner - or whether they have a certain amount of doggy knowledge as otherwise this could become quite tedious - or just make 2.

The basic one assumes that they know no breeds at all - and the other can be more specific to rare or unusual breeds - after all if they know what a dalmation looks like - they won’t be using your guide anyway!

Now to get started you need to group your dogs in appearance related groups rather than show groups - as people who see a dog in the street might not know whether it is a working breed or toy dog - so go for looks alone - and start with the simple and most obvious breeds to get them out the way.

For example you may want to filter out Dalmation and Komandors straight away as they are unique in their looks and can’t be mistaken for anything else.  You could also look to be filtering out whole colour groups, like the blues, tri-colours and black and tans - as these groups are easy to spot and can then be further reduced to split up your Dobermanns from your Manchester Terriers.

You could also go on coat type early on if you wanted - although this might be better for later stages - however, a Mexican hairless and a Chow are also very easy to spot!

Problem Areas?

Yes, I know a German Shepherd can be white, black, black and tan, sable, long-haired or normal-haired - but you leave these till you need them - rule out the Maltese, Patterdales, Rottweilers, Collies and Shelties first before proceeding to the more variable breeds.

Try out different ways on scrap paper first as there will be more than one way to get to the same answer - and certain breeds may be at the end of several threads depending on your style of filtering.

Here’s a simple one to give you the jist.  Lets take a Rottweiler, GSD, Maltese and a Sheltie.  Now more than one could be black and tan; more than one could be white and more than one could be long-haired - so how do you filter them out?

Well, here are 2 ways:

1) Has it got very short hair - Yes - Rottweiler (leaving GSD, Maltese and Sheltie)
No: Could you pick it up easily? - No - GSD (leaving Maltese and Sheltie)
Yes: Is it White? - Yes - Maltese - No: it’s a Sheltie

2) Is it really fluffy? - Yes - Maltese
No: Could you pick it up easily? Yes - Sheltie
No: Has it got long hair? - Yes - GSD
No: Rottie

I know that this is only a small group and assumes that all the dogs are present - but it gives you an idea of how to avoid lengthy questions or variable breed descriptions.

These keys can also be used for the very basic teaching or breeds even - like how to tell the difference between all the common pet rodents, pet reptiles or caged birds etc.

It doesn’t have to stop at German Shepherds!  

posted by admin on Apr 20

There is only 1 species of mink found in the UK - The American Mink.

As you can probably guess, the American Mink is an introduced species and is wreaking havoc across this ‘newly discovered’ landscape and is now a ‘pest species’ - which can be (humanely) trapped and killed.

But how can one species of mink be so destructive when their are other species of mink across Europe?

American Mink:
As their name suggests - these mink have not evolved to live in a European ecology.  They were brought to the UK for their furs and have since escaped or been ’set free’ into un unsuitable environment and in large numbers.

Mink are semi-aquatic mammals and love to eat anything they can fit in their mouths including our much loved and very endangered water voles!  They are very territorial and will not tolerate other minks coming too close - often fighting to the death…..

They will also take birds and eggs and are not liked amongst farmers, wildlife enthusiasts or conservationists to name a few parties.  Although they are a wonderful sight in themselves when seen wild - they are persecuted wherever they go.

They are black in appearance although can be more brown in cases due to inbreeding when farmed - however their tail is always very bushy and can be almost as long as their body - and they have huge whiskers on their face!

Their bodies are much longer than the average cat, but they have very short legs.  As a result, they move about by ‘hopping’ rather than walking like a cat, with their back slightly raised. They will also be seen in or near water - which is also very unlike a cat.

Not An Otter!
Some people get them confused with otters - which can be disastrous - as otters are very rare in most parts of the UK and shouldn’t be disturbed or trapped - and certainly not killed! In the UK they are also a protected species and even getting too close for a picture can be stepping over the ‘legal’ line! 

The easiest way to tell them apart if you can only see one animal on it’s own is that the otter has tiny ears for it’s head!

Other differences include the following but aren’t always so easy to spot with one individual passing by in a flash (however if you see a long mammal in the water or on the ground in daylight infront of you for a long time - it will most likely be a mink as otters are very shy and mainly nocturnal).

Eurasian Otter: (Lutra lutra)
Brown, mainly water-based mammal - nocturnal and very wary of humans and dogs.
Rounded, wide face with tiny ears compared to the size of it’s head!
Pale, creamy colour band from the ears, down the throat and to the front legs.
Around 1 meter long (medium dog sized) - with thick, heavy-looking tapering tail.

American Mink: (Neovison vison)
Black, land and water-based mammal - active any time of day or night and not shy!
More pointy face with larger ears - more like a polecat.
Generally the same colour all over - but commonly with a bright white chin.
Up to 50cm long (large cat sized) - with a long, full, fluffy-looking light tail.

All Change:
Luckily for UK wildlife, mink occupy the same habitat as otters but otters are so much larger that the mink move away.  Eventually as the otters recover their numbers in the UK, mink numbers will drop to a manageable low - and they will stop eating all our precious wildlife!

However, the European Mink (Mustela lutreola) isn’t so lucky and are listed a endangered!  As the American Mink are bigger than them - they are the ones wiping out whole populations in Europe!  Unless trapping and habitat loss are dealt with on the continent, European Mink could be seeing their last few strongholds lost to the Americans!

Unfortunately - introduced species rarely ever settle in naturally to a new environment and will always be classed as pest if their habits badly affect other species.  So the people who ’saved’ a few farmed mink from becoming coats - could possibly have doomed several other species to extinction! 

So, ’save’ one common and hugely widespread domesticated individual from instant painless death - but allow it to painfully kill at least 2 other already restricted and endangered mammal species as well as numerous threatened birds and their eggs. 

Not such a well thought out ‘animal rescue’ after all!

posted by admin on Feb 8

We all know that rabbits love dandilion leaves - but what about other plants?

There are many plants that your pet rabbit or guinea pig would just love you to bring home from a walk in the countryside - or for you to grow in the garden where their run is - but do you know which plants are actually toxic to your pet?

Yes, they grow in the wild and wild rabbits don’t get sick all the time - but they have had certain knowledge or experiences passed down to them through their parents. 

Your pet has no idea what is safe to eat - and they will give anything a try.

How you know this is true is the fact that a rabbit or guinea pig left to run free in your home would no doubt chew through your electricity cables - a very dangerous thing to do!  But they just don’t know the danger.

You have to do the thinking for them to make sure that they are safe - I mean even the common buttercup can upset their tiny tummies!

So before you let them loose on your lawn or givet hem a handful of plants as a treat - take a look at the following list of toxic plants:

Wild Plants:
Here are some wild growing plants that you may find in woodlands, footpaths and open coutryside.

Ivy: Very common throughout the year - but very toxic to nearly every living creature.
Holly: This winter fruiting evergreen will upset anyone’s tummy - unless you are a bird!
Ragwort: This plant is even an irritant if you hand pick it - so no eating…..
Yew: And most evergreen trees - highly toxic and can cause death in large doses!

Wild Flowers:
They might look pretty in the woods - but can cause you to itch or your pets to get sick.  Leave these plants where you find them!

Bluebells: Cover the woodland floor in Spring - but look and don’t touch!
Foxglove: Grow tall in the grasses - but can damage your pet’s heart muscles.
Poppies: Can cause many problems in a small pet - so leave in the fields please.
Daffodils: The flowers, leaves, or bulbs can kill a human in just hours……..

Garden Flowers:
You may be growing these in your own garden - so make sure you use a run for your pets or fence off the flower beds instead…..

Tulips:  A definate no-no for tiny tummies - and they look better in a vase anyway!
Rhodedendron:  Always a problem for pets - and will cause stomach problems too.
Lobelia: Highly toxic to small mammals and can cause your pet to salivate.
Dahlias: These pretty flowers could give you a trip to the vets if you aren’t careful!

Other Considerations:
It is also worth thinking about where you pick your plants from in the first place - as you have to think ahead.

For example, dandilion leaves picked from along the pavement would almost certainly be covered in layers of dog urine from all the dog walkers using the same route - and all the dogs scent-marking the same spot.

Leaves picked from the side of a busy road or car park could well have been exposed to all the exhaust fumes from passing traffic as well as the potential for having been sprayed with weedkiller by the council or car park owners.

Neither of which would do your bunny any good!

So, either stick to plants, treats and nibbles from a reputble pet store - or do a bit of forward thinking before you start feeding your pet unknown plants as treats.

It won’t be very much of a treat if it makes your pet poorly! 

posted by admin on Jan 16

Have you seen something unusual - or the wrong colour - and want to share it with others?

As long as you have a picture of it, then there is a new way to find out what on earth you have just seen or share something different with like-minded people.

It could be that you have just photographed a white squirrel and thought you’d share it - or you may think you are the first to see a species that isn’t usually found in your  area and you have been one of the first to identify it.

The Open University in the UK has basically set up a database of images for exactly these types of things.  Everything in the natural world can be shared here - as well as a whole bank of people who can tell you what it is and why.

Rather than just asking a few work colleagues, having a quick look through your old field guides or just keeping the photo to yourself to admire - you can now share it and let others enjoy your experiences too.

iSpot:
Not another iPhone application as its name might suggest - but a growing online nature database that can sort out your greater and lesser spotted woodpeckers, your wood and yellow necked mice or even your crimson from your scarlet waxcaps! 

You can sign up for free, then easily upload your photographs - as many as you like - to the community.  Whether you know what they are, or have no idea what they are - as long as you upload them - others can help. 

Once signed up, you can start to help with the identification of other people’s pictures. It may be that you have experience in amphibians - but have just taken a picture of an unusual plant that it was feeding on.  You can find out what the plant is in exchange for identifying some garden newts or a river tadpole!

The basic areas are divided clearly into categories including: plants, birds, insects, fish, etc so you can browse images that are already on the system.  You can then just look at some unusual images, admire colour variants of common species or just use the labels to find out where these animals were seen so you can go out and look at them yourself.

Other Information:
It’s not just identification that you can find on the site - there are also a whole load of related links for your further reading, nature surveys, plenty of tips on what to look for when identifying different species as well as links to other useful id and specialist websites.

If you are taking a wildlife course - then this website goes to show that nature is everywhere - and by working alongside the experts on iSpot, you can find out what is living in your local countryside and why - and anything you can do to keep it there or improve the number and diversity of plants and animals there will be a bonus!

So, if you have been meaning to get qualified in something ‘outdoors’ or to help brush up on your basic skills before embarking on a longer or higher level course - then maybe this website could help you keep on top of everything you find on your walks.

It’s lovely to just walk through the countryside and admire the views - but it is even better to know what animals live in it and why.

Also You Might Like To:
Obviously, volunteering with wildlife or landscape-related charities and societies in your local area will help you to experience nature first hand, give you access to great habitats that might be off-limits to the public, and to learn from local experts. 

It could even lead to a larger project or a permanent job somewhere down the line.

And get a camera with a good zoom and an even better macro - and practice observing things. Trying out the myriad of settings at home is one thing - but knowing what to look out for in the field is another. 

Say you take a wonderful photo of a brightly coloured mushroom - only to find out when you get home that there were 30 mushrooms that colour - and the only way to tell them apart was to have photographed the gills and measured the height on it. But until you make those mistakes and get annoyed with yourself - you won’t get any better at identifications.

It is fine to rely on ‘experts’ for identifying those rare species or all those ‘very similar’ lichens - but you should really start to build up your basic id skills in the field if you are planning any sort of career based in the field.

So pack your camera, field guide and sun cream - and get out there!

posted by admin on Sep 21

There are actually 5 different types of hamster available as pets, although they are called all sorts of things!

You can divide these 5 types into 2 main groups: 1) Syrian Hamsters and 2) Dwarf Hamsters although there are as many differences between most of the smaller varieties as there are between them and the Syrians!

So, here is a quick heads-up on the different types available and their main traits as a pet - and if you want more detailed information, please look at the indepth articles using the Categories list.

Syrian Hamsters:
Sometimes called Golden Hamsters, Siberian or Teddy Bear Hamsters - these large hamsters come in a variety of colours and hair types ranging from a smooth-haired white to a long-haired black and everything inbetween!

They can have red or brown/black eyes with each colour and hair length as well, making them very interesting pets to choose from in the store.

Generally, they are large enough to hold in your one hand circling their body: head poking out 1 side and bum hanging out the other, although might be smaller and more wrigley as youngsters.

These hamsters only ever live alone as adults (which is from about 12 weeks old) and should only be kept together in the pet store as single sex groups from about 6 weeks - otherwise your single lady hamster could become about 6 overnight!

Syrian hamsters can be kept in any rodent cage, glass tank or plastic tube-connected maze (!) however, they can chew through plastic - so make sure the joins, edges and openings are hamster-proof!

Russian Hamster (Campbell’s Dwarf Hamster):
These are the most popular of the smaller hamsters and come in a variety of colours based on differing amounts of grey, agouti, cinniman and white, can have normal, satin, rex or wavy coats and can have either red, ruby or black eyes.  So there is quite some variety.

However, as with all the ‘dwarf’ hamsters, they are not the best pets for young children to handle as they are fast, jumpy and are very shy by nature.

The Campbells are more compact than Syrians, and need to be held in a cupped hand as they have a tendency to leap in the air when picked up (unless very well handled when young). 

They can live together in same sex pairs, or maybe larger groups in a big enough cage, but are prone to some serious squabbling as adults.  If severe or continued fighting occurs they may need to be permanently separated.

Due to their tiny size, they need to be housed in a cage with especially close together bars - and an extra bar over the opening clip area - otherwise they are likely to escape without much effort!  Ideally you should house them in a glass or plastic tank - as they can’t always climb up the tubes in the regular hamster cages!

Russian Hamsters (Winter Whites):
These hamsters are almost identical in appearance and size as the Campbells Hamsters, but are infact a separate species.  The Winter Whites change colour in nature - just as do Arctic Hares and Foxes!  They are the agouti colouring in spring and summer and can moult completely white in winter to match the snow in their homeland.  It doesn’t always happen in warmer climates with artificial lights and temperatures - which unfortunately allows pet stores to mis-sell them!

In fact they are so often confused by pet stores and casual owners that they don’t even think they are different - and so you will find them labelled as simply ‘Russian Hamsters’ or ‘Dwarf Hamsters’ rather than 1 or the other type. 

Of course, this isn’t so important if you just want them as pets as they will live together whatever they are - but if you are breeding them then it gets more serious.  By getting the breeds confused, you could end up with hybrid individuals and potentially pass on dangerous gene combinations between the species, causing mutations and long term illnesses. 

Chinese Hamsters:
These small hamsters are easier to handle than the Russians as they have a tendency to cling to hands when picked up regularly and are quite ‘mouse-like’.  They are also very similar in shape to the Syrians (only much much smaller) whereas the Russians are more stocky with no clear neck and waist!

These come only in the grey or agouti and white with black eyes and the ‘wild’ dorsal stripe down their backs.  At the moment they haven’t been as popular as the Syrian or Russian Hamsters, and so have not been as well bred for colour varieties.

As with Russians, they can live together when adults in single sex pairs or small groups as long as the cage and food supplies are well catered for.  And they also need the special cage requirements too:  if you use a cage where you can put your fingers through the bars - you may not have a hamster in the cage the following morning!

Roborovski Hamsters:
These tiny little hamsters have got to be the smallest of the 4 types - and look so cute!

As with the Chinese, they come in different varieties of the same colours: grey, agouti and white, so you could have a very dark individual and also an almost completely white individual - always with dark eyes.

These animals are best suited to a tank environment as they are so tiny that escape from cage bars is almost certain - and they can’t climb up tubes or ladders as their legs are just too short!  They love burrowing and running fast from place to place, so a lower 1 level cage is the best option for them.

posted by admin on Jul 30

There are hundreds of wetland birds and waders - and even avid birdwatchers don’t always get them right!

So why should you try to get them right either!  Why not get really really good at identifying the basic ones first and then if you spot something different, you can take them as they come. 

If you already know the obvious birds, you can more easily spot when something is slightly different - like knowing how to identify an adult herring gull - a very common British seabird.  Identifying this bird is very easy when you know how, but without knowing this one 100%, you could find it difficult to spot a Yellow-legged gull, which is virtually identical to the Herring gull apart from - you guessed it - the yellow legs!

And believe me - if you have stared at and identified Herring gull after Herring gull - when a Yellow-legged appears - you will definitely spot it!

So, lets look at 5 wetland birds that you can easily identify, so that you can spend more time looking for those rarer birds amongst them!

The Mute Swan - Cygnus olor
The only UK swan with a bright orange bill - and it has a knob on the top to make it extra obvious!  The other 2 common swans that are resident in the UK (the whooper and Bewicks swans) have yellow and black bills.

The Mute swan is the only one of the 3 species to nest in the country too - so if you see one on a nest or being followed by a chain of cygnets - or an older cygnet on it’s own (baby swans are grey, or patchy grey and white) - it must be a Mute!

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis
Out of all the common geese visiting the UK, the Canada goose is an obvious one.  It is a large bird and has a white strap under it’s chin on a long black neck, and a black head.  It also has a lovely pale chest and underbelly.

It looks like someone has wrapped a white neckerchief under it’s chin - although it doesn’t meet at the back.  They are a very common bird throughout the year and breed here too - so will be seen with goslings.

The Eider Duck - Somateria mollissima
This - some say ugly - duck is a spectacular species (when adult male) - and strikingly black and white.  You can’t get an eider duck wrong as they have a yellow huge bill that starts right at the top of their head on top - but the sides of it are the same colour as the face with very low nostrils.  It is a very unique profile.

Once you have seen one - you won’t ever get it wrong again - and only the 1 species is commonly found in the UK - all year on the northern coastline but only in the winter to the south of the country. I love them!

The Oystercatcher - Haematopus ostralegus
If you see a group of large black and white waders (black on top, white underneath) with a giant straight orange bill probing the sand - then it will be an oyster catcher.  These chunky birds are often seen along the tide line on many of the UK’s beaches - and they are nearly always in a small group although can be seen alone in nature reserves.

They have quite a noticeable thick beak and matching thick orange legs - slowly walking through mud or sand-flats probing their bill into the soft material. 

Avocet- Recurvirostra avosetta
This is another black and white wader, but you can’t mistake this one - and you certainly won’t get it confused with an oystercatcher!  They are mainly white all over with a black outline to it’s folded wing and a black stripe across the back of it’s head and neck - and if you can see them: blue legs!

These feisty little critters are tall dainty little things with a very noticable curved tip to it’s thin black bill - and it goes upwards!  Often seen in the wet mud or sand,  they feed by swinging their heads from side to side with the bill open and are also seen pecking at the surface.

This final species was all but extinct in the UK until recently and still found mainly in the south - and is the adopted emblem of the RSPB today!

Good Luck Twitching These 5!

posted by admin on Jul 15

How many times have you watched a delightful and brightly coloured butterfly waft past you on a breeze?

Or sat in your garden watching a dainty little butterfly flutter between plants in your borders?

But what was it so you can tell people you saw it!

Well, there are several very common butterflies in the UK that you can learn without too much trouble to make your gardens a more interesting place!

And once you have learnt the few regular visitors to your garden - you will spot a new one when it arrives more easily - and know which key features to look out for.

Butterfly Identification:
Being aware of the general colouring and wing patterns of butterflies can help you to make a correct id.

For example, butterflies have 4 wings; 2 on each side with the uppermost segment on each side usually being the same size or larger than the rear.

They also have very different colourings on the undersides of their wings that can be quite unique - although not quite so obvious as the topside.

Most common species have a combination of spots, white or black patches or even stripes (of a kind) and it is these that can make all the difference.

For example, the small tortoiseshell and the painted lady can appear almost identical at first glance to a ‘learner’, but when you look at their fore-wings the difference is obvious:

Small Tortoiseshell:
Yellow and Black ’squares’ along the top edge with 1 terminal white square.

Painted Lady:
Only small patches of white amongst larger black patches - no neat squares at all!

Of course there are numerous other visual differences including blue edging all over the Tortoiseshells wings and dark spots on the Painted Lady’s rear wings - but the above is the most obvious feature to observe.

Why Learn Them?
Well, not only will knowing by name all the butterflies that visit your garden or live in your local woods be interesting in itself - but it can help the wider world too.

By knowing and reporting your species to specific charities and biological groups, you could help them to create butterfly distribution maps for your region and the country as a whole.

This will allow for a wider impact assessment of the areas and habitats involved.  As butterflies only frequent certain plants throughout their lives - they can be a great indicator of the state of the plants, their habitat and therefore the other animals that live in the same area.

This can be a really useful tool in trying to help local biodiversity in these changing times.

Also at the moment, Butterfly Conservation and Marks & Spencer are funding a ‘Big Butterfly Count’ at the end of July 2010 to take a quick stock of whats out there this year - and as a result have produced a fantastic colour butterfly identification guide for you to refer to.

Even if you end up not doing the count, you can still learn from the id guide about which species you should be expecting to see visiting your garden plants!

And if you want to do more to help these vital species - then visit the Butterfly Conservation Trust online and think about donating or becoming a member.

posted by admin on May 27

If you took part in the 2010 Birdwatch earlier this year, then you may be interested in the results.

Those who registered their results should get a letter from the RSPB any-day now with the results inside, but if you didn’t, then here they are:

1) The House Sparrow - Down in overall numbers, but still number 1!

2) The Blackbird - This bird has increased in numbers, and so moved up the chart….

3) The Starling - These sociable birds seem to be dropping in numbers as this moves down from number 2 last year.

4) The Blue Tit - Taking full advantage of all the extra feeders out this winter - they increased in numbers slightly.

5) The Chaffinch - Not seen on any of my 3 counts - but must be popular in other areas.

6) The Woodpidgeon - RSPB stats show that the numbers of this bird are up by 855%!

7) The Robin - Always a popular bird, but as seen alone most of the time, this stays low in the list.

8.) The Great Tit - Numbers of this little chap are increasing - and there were loads on my counts too!

9) The Collared Dove - A quiet little bird that only arrived in the UK from Asia in 1953 - and has spread all over!

10) The Goldfinch - Attracted by the feeders we put out - and knocking the Long-Tailed Tit out of the Top 10!

Wales had similar results with virtually the same birds in the Top 10 - although in a different order: with the Dunnock and Jackdaw replacing the Greenfinch and Woodpigeon. 

In Northern Ireland, virtually the same 10 were again found with the Woodpidgeon losing out again - this time to the Coal Tit. The Starling was in 1st place here with the House Sparrow relegated to 2nd place. 

Scotland came in with the Chaffinch first, with the House Sparrow again second, but with the Dunnock and Greenfinch in 9th and 10th place.

If you want to know more about the survey, taking part in other surveys or joining the RSPB as a supporting member, then visit their website for more information and advice.

Source: The RSPB Big Garden BirdWatch Leaflet & Website.