Who wants to play "Observation Challenge"? Hone your skill set for CNC!

Observed in 2023 but the Observation was only just now added (second date), which is impressive to remember having seen it and be able to locate the photos.

The challenge either sharpens the eyes or the memory but the end result is the same, no matter how or when achieved:

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Ah! - Just added, yes that’s cool!!

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Good luck! The Swallowtail (interestingly it has the same name in English) is probably my arch nemesis. I saw it once, fleetingly. It flew by when I (of course) didn’t have my camera with me.

I’ve been on ā€œthe huntā€ ever since, unsuccessfully. I’ve even spotted its bigger cousin, Iphiclides podalirius, Segelfalter (Scarce Swallowtail). But the ā€œā€œCommonā€ā€ Swallowtail continues to elude me.

@ItsMeLucy if you have the time and feel like doing so, I’d love a challenge too! :D
I should have more opportunities to go outside during the next few weeks/months. I’m basically limited to NRW, Germany unless something unforeseen (such as winning the lottery despite not even playing) happens, and generally interested in everything. (Just please no Swallowtail haha)

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:sweat_smile::hugs:

But you got the Segelfalter! - How awesome!!!
I thought it is only around in the ā€œAlpenā€.

I hope Lucy will find time to give you a challenge aswell.

  • I am very curious how the challenges will go on and who can find what and when…
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I am already planning for my challenge bird. It is nothing one can observe here just like that but requires a trip, as they only occur above 1700m altitude.. but I know where I will be able to see them nearby and will probably be able to do so in the next few weeks.
The butterfly is a different thing. Read up on this species and the caterpillars are apparently very polyphagous, so it comes down to luck in the end.

(other then the swallowtail btw.. rarely observed the butterfly but one can find the caterpillars once you know where they are .. hilltop with Daucus carota is the best place to look for them.. not the worst place to look for your challenge beetle as well, blooms of Apiaceae )..

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Yes, I read about carrots meanwhile as for the swallowtail. - I had a Daucus carota subsp. carota in my garden last year. Don’t know, maybe it comes back.
And I had some insects friendly flower seeds, which I have planted a while ago… Maybe something grows, what they like. Butterfly and caterpillar.

Actually, I still have some seeds for eatable carrots… - I haven’t made up my mind yet, if and where I plant them…
I know, carrots take like forever and can’t remember how and when I saw a bloom on them…

I just remembered a place nearby, where I have seen a lot of ā€œwilde Mƶhreā€ last year.:grinning_face:

  • So they seem to flower in Juli…

As for your challenge: Oh cool, you go for an ā€œAlpendohleā€! - I don’t know, if I ever have seen one. And of course they aren’t around in my area, so that won’t change easily.

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Saludos @eyekosaeder for you I have not one but two butterflies:

Please also keep an eye out for this boldly handsome flower.

As a special bonus, please try to find this fabulous looking beetle whose numbers seem to be diminishing.

Good luck!

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By the way, I checked a big pile of printed photos from the times when you couldn’t do photos with a mobilephone, earlier in the day…

  • Thought there is the chance that I did a photo of this one swallowtail, which I have seen in my life…
  • Couldn’t find a photo though… :laughing:

But think how many other species you may have come across you could upload, if you remember with accuracy the location and general accuracy the date!

These would fall into:

:D

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Yes, I saw two butterflies. - One, which I upload very often and… a different one.
I agree, I could have looked at them a bit closer and decide, if I could upload them.
Missed that chance… :sweat_smile:

But I will be together with family probably on Sunday and at that place, where I have seen the swallowtail so many years ago and my father has seen one last year!

It seems to get a sunny day and hopefully I feel a bit better, and who knows…

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Oooh. Great challenges, and a tough ones! I’ve never even seen any of these before, so it’ll be cool to find them. Thank you! :D

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Well, the first one’s done: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/279743333 :D
I thought I’d better get the flowers sooner rather than later since I don’t know how long their flowering season is…

I knew that they had been observed in my city, so I included the area where they have been found in my walk. Sadly, there were only very few (7 or 8 in total). Apparently their population is declining throughout Germany. :(

The other ones will take significantly more time, though. I look forward to finding them, I expect I will find loads of new stuff, since I’ll have to go to places where I haven’t been before. (Even today I found many new lifers despite being very close to my usual iNat-Area. :D

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I am interested in a bird challenge or two if you are still challenging people :eyes:

I am open to non-birds too but realistically I likely won’t have time find others :)

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Wow!!! - Awesome!! - I think, I have never seen that plant.

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Saludos @emjtheartist ! Birds are tricky for me since many migrate, so it’s possible some of these are less calendar-friendly to where you are. (Just save those for the appropriate months.)

See if you can find:

Let me know if I am wildly off the mark; pre-apologies if so. I am happy to find other birds!

Good luck!

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You can stick one or two in this thread!

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