I don't know if I missed this paper at the time, but apparently Swallowtail larval frass (poop) contains a metabolite from the plants the larvae eat that has anti-colon cancer activity.

https://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/swallowtail-frass-and-colon-cancer.html

We had a second attempt at a trip to Tenerife earlier this month (we'd both been really ill when we visited last year). This time a bigger, family affair to celebrate my entering my seventh decade.

A few wildlife snaps and scenery shots

https://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/tenerife-redux.html

One from last summer #teamMoth to cheer myself up on these chilly mothless nights

Eyed Hawk-moths are among our biggest moths. When its forewings are covering its hindwings, the head with its dark markings might ward off a predator, because it looks like a furry face staring back, but if that doesn't work, then it flashes the ocelli (false eyes) on its hindwings and that often does the trick. #pareidolia

Dusting off my old telescope and hoping for some clear nights to get a look at Jupiter, while it's so close.

Meanwhile, here's the first moonshot I took with my phone camera through the scope.

#Astrophotography #Astronomy #Moon #Lunar #NightSky #Space #MoonPhotography

Whooper Swan at sundown, WWT Welney, 2nd January.

This bird is one of a handful that have been diseased or injured and can no longer fly north to their breeding grounds at the end of the winter, so they're resident on the wetland.

Several thousand migrants would eventually come to roost on the water after feeding across the farmland during the day, those birds will mostly depart at the end of the winter.

The "W" is silent, as it is in whooping cough, whole, wholesome, wholesale, etc

Meet Wesley...

First Snipe of the year (2 Jan, WWT Welney)

Common Snipe, Gallinago gallinago, a stocky Old World wader. Its' very cryptic plumage makes it difficult to spot among the reeds and marsh plants where it feeds, until it steps out into the open water.

Who doesn't love a starling murmuration? There was a good flock of 10-12000 over RSPB Ouse Fen, Earith. It was after sunset, not a lot of light in the sky #UKBirding

There's a Peregrine above the flock in this photo. The presence of a Peregrine or another raptor being the reason starlings do this.

Weird shape created by this flock of Starlings attempting to confuse a Peregrine before they dive down into the reeds to roost for the night

Two birding lifers for me in the last few days

Firecrest (3x)
Red-necked Grebe (juvenile)

https://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/firecrest-regulus-ignicapilla.html

https://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/red-necked-grebe-podiceps-grisegena.html