P-O Naturally – Test your Knowledge!

With Lesley McLaren

Let’s take another quizzical look over past articles – with one or two extra questions thrown in! Have you been paying attention?

Will you be the P-OL teacher’s pet or rather the class clown? (Answers at the bottom of the page)

Good luck!

A : MAKE YOUR CHOICE

1. What is the length of pellets that kestrels regurgitate?

  1. 2 – 2.5cm

  2. 3 – 3.5cm

  3. 4 – 4.5cm

  4. 5 – 5.5cm

2. How much rain did Perpignan get in November 2023?

  1. 6.6mm

  2. 10.5mm

  3. 20.4mm

  4. 30.9mm

3. How many eggs can female Blue Crabs lay?

  1. Up to 1 million

  2. Up to 1.5 million

  3. Up to 2 million

  4. Up to 2.5 million

4. What is this beetle called?

  1. Helm beetle

  2. Rhinocerous beetle

  3. Stag beetle

  4. Longhorn beetle

naturally

5. What type of orchid is this?

  1. Fragrant

  2. Early purple

  3. Western Marsh

  4. Pyramidal

6. In which season do Harvester Ants swarm?

  1. Spring

  2. Summer

  3. Autumn

  4. Winter

B : TRUE OR FALSE

  1. The maximum depth of Canet Lagoon is 3m

  2. Beech Martens like jam

  3. Only the male Blue Crab’s claw tips are blue

  4. Harvester Ant colonies contain several queens

  5. Griffon vultures nest on rocky ledges around Canigou

  6. Bonelli’s Eagle is the most common eagle in the Albères

C : DON'T YOU JUST KNOW IT

  1. What do Little Owls eat?

  1. What are Harvester Ants’ spoil heaps called?

  2. Name this common butterfly

  1. Name the three types of egret seen in the P-O

  2. Name this bird, common in our vineyards & orchards in summer
  3. How can you tell the Mediterranean Sea is friendly?

The Warblers

Lesley McLaren is one of “The Warblers”, a group of natural history enthusiasts based in the P-O.

For more blogs and photos, or if you’d like to contact them, visit www.mediterraneanpyrenees.com

You can also follow them on Twitter @66warblers

All photos by “The Warblers”, unless otherwise stated

Favicon for Author panel copy

Answers

A : MAKE YOUR CHOICE

  1. b. 3 – 3.5cm

  2. a. 6.6mm (that’s 89% less than usual in November, according to l’Indépendent!)

  3. d. Up to 2.5 million

  4. b. Rhinocerous beetle

  5. a. Fragrant

  6. c. Autumn


B : TRUE OR FALSE

  1. False. The maximum depth of Canet Lagoon is 1m

  2.  True. Beech Martens (like Pine Martens) have a very sweet tooth!

  3. True. The tips of female Blue Crabs’ claws are red

  4.  False. Harvester Ant colonies only ever have one queen

  5.  False. Canigou is unsuitable for griffon vultures, which like to nest in colonies on ledges in gorges and on cliffs at lower levels

  6. False. Short-toed is the most common eagle in the Albères. It’s often mistaken for Bonelli’s, which also has a pale body underneath, but is incredibly rare.


C : DON’T YOU JUST KNOW

  1. Small mammals & birds but also large invertebrates such as worms, crickets, & beetles

  2. Middens

  3. Cleopatra

  4. Cattle, Little & Great

  5. Woodchat Shrike

  6. It waves 😂

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