What's Buzzing or Flying near you today......2016

The only half decent shots of one of the three Ospreys in Poole Harbour and one Marsh Harrier. It tried a couple of times to catch a fish but seemed to not want to get it's feet wet! Possibly a juvenile which has not yet mastered fishing, need lessons from @Zigs
I still can't get an in focus shot.






Female Marsh Harrier, looking similar to the Osprey in the shot but it has a shorter beak and yellowish legs and prefers ducks.

 

True @wiseowl, declining bird and butterfly numbers, our rarest raptors are being poisoned, our farmland birds are disappearing due to intensive farming and millions are being shot or trapped on their way here.
There may be more Ospreys here soon, they are fantastic to watch.
My first Painted Lady yesterday (at last, in Butterfly thread).

 

Had quite a few, for round here anyway, red admiral butterflies.
They seem to be attracted by the over ripe figs falling from the tree.
Sorry no pics.

 

Young adult.


Young of probably the last brood.

 

Mrs Strongy pointed out a 'fluffy young Goldfinch' by the feeder but after a closer look it appeared to be a young Greenfinch, we haven't had one in the garden for three years and like @shiney's it didn't look to be 100% healthy so the virus may still be around.

 

It can be @shiney as it affects the gullet and causes eating/swallowing difficulties and sometimes swelling of the neck, so both our birds may be suffering from it. They usually starve to death.

 

@shiney it is no wonder that poor bird looks Ill as it has a very large Tick (Sheep) on it sucking the life blood out of it. I expect by now it will be dead and even if it survives when the tick drops off if it's mouth parts are carrying any virus's that can get into the birds system and kill it especially as it's immune system is down due to having the blood sucked out of it

The reason why a lot of birds are carrying deformities on their feet and bills etc is due to pathogens that are lurking in either stale food or on unclean bird feeders/bird tables so are able to pass on to either the feet or the birds beaks as they feed

When we were away last winter I saw a small chaffinch with cauliflower feet due to some pathogen getting onto its feet and infecting the toes somehow causing the toes to be turned into some sort of mutation.Eventually the toes and claws drop off which means the bird can no longer perch to roost so will eventually either starve to death or will succombe to being preyed upon by possibly a Sparrowhawk