Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Molluscs - Snails & Slugs Page 6

Image Taken on 07 Jul 2012 at 23:55 Image of day on 19 Aug 2012

A single frame showing the visitors who climb up the metre to the top of the tree-stump after a shower on a mild night. There is probably a feast of food particles and peanut butter caught in the cracks.

Ref: 20120819_d35_20120707_2355_085_fb4 2 snails + 5 slugs + assorted on tree-stump top (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 04 Aug 2011 at 23:05 Image of day on 27 Sep 2011

Even a little bit of rain brings out the slugs and snails (NOT a montage). The 'orange tower' that the slug has climbed is a segment of spoiled apple.

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Image Taken on 25 Jun 2019 at 16:13 Image of day on 06 Aug 2019

The seemingly endless rain has brought the Molluscs out into view. Here a couple of snails in the foliage over the main pond - the variety of shell patterns is amazing.

Ref: 20190806_d72_20190625_1613_009+1612_003 2 snails in foliage over pond (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 24 Jul 2021 at 07:39 Image of day on 02 Sep 2021

Down in the undergrowth, slimy passion in the morning from this pair of snails.

Ref: 20210902_pk1_20210724_0739_193 snails mating(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 19 Aug 2023 at 09:10 Image of day on 14 Oct 2023

A moment of snail passion - we left them in peace on their carpet of slime.
Snails are Hermaphrodites - both sexes at the same time.

Ref: 20231014_d71_20230819_0910_019 snails mating on field margin(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 08 May 2022 at 10:45 Image of day on 14 Jun 2022

Two Snails on old Teasel stems. You can see the form of the shell patterns are the same, but the intensity and consistency are very variable.

Ref: 20220614_df3_20220508_1045_422+1046_425 2 snails on dead teasel stalks (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 06 Sep 2008 at 19:08 Image of day on 21 Sep 2008

And down came the rain and out come the molluscs (slugs and snails). Here a couple of the latter.

Ref: 20080921_d3a_20080906_1908_051 fb2 2 snails on log(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 23 Sep 2006 at 02:02 Image of day on 09 Oct 2006

This assortment of snails (not an arrangement nor montage) shows the shell variations from almost plain yellow to almost all brown.

Ref: 20061009_d35_20060923_0202_022 fb2 snails on wet log(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 18 May 2006 at 01:38 Image of day on 27 May 2006

We often see the odd snail on the logs (almost in 'animation' as you flick through reject shots) but on this wet night these 3 beautifully shelled individuals appeared together.

Ref: 20060527_d35_20060518_0138_062 fb2 3 snails on wet log(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 29 Jul 2014 at 12:41 Image of day on 11 Oct 2014

"Clang - Clang - Clang"
"What on earths that" we said.
Through a gap in the trees we saw this Song Thrush beating a snail against the corrugated iron (placed to attract amphibians and snakes). Of well over 60 frames taken these 2 seem to catch the moment. On the left the top of the arc before swinging the snail down onto the metal, and 50 frames later (so maybe 10 seconds later) the now destroyed shell and the bird extracting the 'good bit'.

Ref: 20141011_df2_20140729_1241_082+131 song thrush breaking open snail on corrugated iron sheet (selected) 2+5 of 5 (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 27 Feb 2018 at 13:46 Image of day on 07 Apr 2018

A Song Thrush complete with snail in beak. We haven't found what we assume is a 'convenient' Thrush 'Anvil' as yet.

Ref: 20180407_e64_20180227_1346_125_fb2 song thrush with small snail in beak (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 15 Aug 2015 at 19:51 Image of day on 17 Oct 2015

90 minutes later at the same site what looks like the same Song Thrush with more traditional fare - a snail to smash open on the stone.

Ref: 20151017_e63_20150815_1951_331_fb1 song thrush with snail in beak (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 26 May 2011 at 10:28 Image of day on 22 Jun 2011

We have been seeing fresh broken snail shells in more places than usual, and here is one of the culprits!

Ref: 20110622_d5c_20110526_1028_087_fb2 song thrush with snail in beak (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 02 Aug 2010 at 05:57 Image of day on 14 Sep 2010

Various stony places are littered with broken snail shells. Here is the culprit - a Song Thrush. We think this is a youngish one - it has certainly taken the snail to where there is no convenient stone.

Ref: 20100914_d3a_20100802_0557_131_fb2 young (q) song thrush with snail in beak (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 29 Jul 2013 at 04:03 Image of day on 17 Sep 2013

Spider on the shell of a
    Snail clambering on
        Potato peel resting on the
            Tree stump top

Ref: 20130917_d36_20130729_0403_040_fb4 spider on shell of snail on food on tree stump (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 28 Mar 2023 at 01:25 Image of day on 04 May 2023

Another 15 minutes pass and then another attack. This time the Owl seems to have picked a slug on the stone. Like many genuine images of hunting animals there is nothing majestic about the attack - more a hungry pounce into the mud.

Ref: 20230504_e63_20230328_0125_150_fb1 tawny owl attacking slug (q) at hedge bottom (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 15 Nov 2011 at 00:46 Image of day on 25 Dec 2011

Another day on we see a landing from straight ahead, and maybe discover one of the attractions of this tree-stump - one claw has trapped one of the Leopard slugs - a nice easy meal for the owl? The next image was 4 hours later so we will never know!

Ref: 20111225_d35_20111115_0046_013_fb4 tawny owl landing on tree stump with claw on leopard slug (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 02 Oct 2012 at 01:37 Image of day on 05 Nov 2012

This is a Tawny Owl landing on the tree stump. We don't have CCTV at this site so have no idea how long the bird stayed, nor whether he ate the slug and snails (the next image is 9 hours later meaning nothing)

Ref: 20121105_d36_20121002_0137_020_fb4 tawny owl on tree-stump with 2 slugs and snail (crop 2)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 19 Dec 2009 at 15:11 Image of day on 25 Jan 2010

Long after installing and removing a camera at a known thrush anvil (which got some nice images) two existing sites each took some images of a thrush with a snail. At this site we found a few snail shells round the stone.

Ref: 20100125_d3b_20091219_1511_012_fb1 thrush with snail (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 22 Dec 2009 at 15:52 Image of day on 25 Jan 2010

This site doesn't seem to have a suitable 'anvil' anywhere near.

Ref: 20100125_d3a_20091222_1552_108_fb2 thrush with snail (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

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