WHAT'S BUZZING OR FLYING NEAR YOU 2018

We haven't had Greenfinches in our garden for years now @Sheal due to the disease which caused their decline but it's nice to see that you have them.

You must be seeing more/diffrent birds in the garden now, particularly the Yellow Hammer.

 

Yes, there's quite an assortment of birds coming now @strongylodon. Up to six Greenfinches that have been visiting for about a month or so now. Two pairs of Yellowhammers, the same with Goldfinches and various Tits excluding the Long Tailed - they've disappeared for the time being. Chaffinches, too many to count, a few pairs of House Sparrows that are nesting under my roof tiles - devils! A couple of pairs of Pied Wagtails and Blackbirds, but Robins have also disappeared for the time being. The Woodpeckers disappeared for a while but returned yesterday. I also have Blue Tits nesting in a box outside my kitchen window.

A big surprise today was hearing a Cuckoo in the distance, it's been many years since I've heard one of those.

On a different note, what I've just discovered I have got is bees, probably nesting in the space under my floorboards. Something that will have to be dealt with very soon so I will contact a local bee keeper (I think they're honey bees) to see if they can help me out.

 

Two Cuckoos this morning, one heard, and one at different location, seen and heard but it was so far away and had it's back to me that I couldn't get a decent shot.

 

I think this is a Chiffchaff it could be a warbler though ?.

 

@martin-f, it does look like a fledgling Chiffchaff (which is a warbler).

Dartford Warbler this morning at Arne RSPB.

 

@martin-f, it does look like a fledgling Chiffchaff (which is a warbler).

Dartford Warbler this morning at Arne RSPB.




Large red Damselfly.




Green Tiger Beetle.


Raft Spider not buzzing or flying but it had been swimming.


Another smaller one on the left.

 

Thank you S, from memory the dartford warbler was very rare in the uk a fair few years ago, nice shots lovely bird i would love to see one.

 

Dartfords are at the most northerly of their range in the south of England and only found on our ever shrinking heathland and can suffer badly in extreme winters fortunately it seems the recent cold snaps haven't done too much damage to the population.

 

Thanks S,

Dartford warbler's population crashed to a few pairs in the 1960s
Dartford Warbler Bird Facts | Sylvia Undata - The RSPB

 

This one looks cute...just look at the fluffy head

 

Great Tits have come regularly now after year's absence and holding sunflower hearts in their claws and pecking away is fascinating to watch.






Bees love the Grevillea flowers.


Young Sparrow having a dust bath.

 

I agree Strongy, in fact I often stop in my tracks to watch all the birds feeding. They're especially busy at the moment with young mouths to feed.

 

Nothing had hatched yesterday morning, but this morning the male was out of the water standing beside their nest and when we got closer ...




The female's still sitting on the nest, so there might be a second egg under her that'll be hatching soon.

 

First Red Kite this year, still an uncommon visitor to Dorset although there has been a sudden influx in the last three weeks. I saw it two minutes after seeing my first Hobbies which have just arrived but too fast for a bridge camera shot.


Jay.




Greenfinch, but not on my feeders.


Four Spotted Chaser.