Natural History

Posted in Testudines | Tagged box turtle, Eastern box turtle | 2 Comments

2 Responses

1. on June 14, 2014 at 7:53 am Clondaw

   One wishes we had turtles,terrapins or tortoises occurring naturally here in the British Isles, although with climate change now a proven fact who knows what will turn up next. For example from being a country with just one species of swallowtail we’ve graduated to two in just a couple of years. And what a beauty the continental swallowtail is with its large size and exotic appearance. It is both much larger than our native swallowtail and of a lighter hue. However,the number of sightings has been below twenty,but breeding results are under close watch and protection. Hopefully there will be an explosion in numbers in years to come.
   One of my favourite newcomers to the UK is the ring neck parakeet. Who could have imagined a parrot species doing so well on these chilly northern rocks in the North Atlantic but they are very adept at exploiting the heat island effect around London. They take over tree trunk holes from other species,get food from orchards and bird tables. They are utilising similar places around cities in other countries too. And they are so attractive. Who would have thought it – a Parrot added to the British list.

   
   
2. on June 14, 2014 at 12:50 pm massugu

   Saw our big female box turtle in the backyard yesterday–not sure where she laid her eggs this year.

   
   

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