WHAT'S BUZZING OR FLYING NEAR YOU TODAY - 2017

She'm got a way with birds

 

Lovely European Eagle Owl

 

When we leave the EU ... do we go back to using the blanket term "foreign"? In which case, would it then be renamed: Foreign Eagle Owl?

 

@shiney I always call them European Eagle Owls but I think they are regarded as Eurasian Eagle Owls.Not sure if Asian is the same type of bird.I always call Sea Eagles White Tailed Sea Eagles for my reference but I think the proper name is just Sea Eagles.It can get a bit confusing at times to say the least

"M" not too sure what is going to happen after we leave Europe but will saying something is foreign be derogatory to the puritans

 

Talking of Ospreys, this one was on the 'Osprey' pole at Arne RSPB this morning.
It has been here for a few days, fishing and resting a lot. Someone has (with a huge lens) ID'd the ring as a Rutland bird. It is very early to see one here, usually half way though August.
Distant shot.

 

@strongylodon this Rutland bird could be a youngster that has come back from Migration as the urge to get to this country to breed is strong especially if it is a bird a couple of years old.It would be a bit too early for any of them to be Migrating back to Africa and we have had the odd one or two seen in our county nearly every week as we are on one of the Migration routes with lots of reservoirs to fish in.

The Rutland birds which are close to us have had a few males flying on to North Wales to breed so missing out Rutland altogether.

Good photo though

 

We went butterfly hunting in the Exmoor valleys on Saturday, and saw High Brown Fritillaries



Green Hairstreaks



and Small Pearl Bordered Fritillaries, which I failed to get a good photo of..

 

@Heucherella Sadly it seems that the High Brown is one of the fastest declining butterflies in the UK, I only see Silver Washed occasionally here.

@Kandy This one is a second year bird, so I'm told.

 

Goldfinches are eating late this evening

 

This little chap was busy in the garden this evening.

If I had to name two things which for me, are quintessentially summer it would have to be these - lavender and bees.

 

@strongylodon so this one should come back to breed next year as by then it will be just the right age.Problem is there are not enough platforms on various sites for them all to breed so some of the youngsters are trying to take over nests which are already occupied by older birds so are having punch ups and disturbing the settled birds like has happened up in Scotland at Loch Garten and Odin disappeared and the female deserted the nest after the last of the three chicks died of starvation. The female couldn't leave them to predators to go and fish so they just starved to death.Just a sad time this year and no one knows what happened to Odin so he was lost plus three chicks