WHAT'S BUZZING OR FLYING NEAR YOU 2019

Brownsea Island yesterday.

Sandwich Tern.




Common Terns.

 

I had the privilege of spending about an hour and a half with a family of Barred Owls (Strix varia) yesterday. It was a mother and four well behaved, well-fed owlets, so mama must be a good provider. Although they can be aggressive when their young are near, Mother Owl paid absolutely no attention to me. She intently studied the undergrowth and would silently glide in to pounce on her prey, then return to her perch to continue hunting. What a magical experience to share time with this little family in the wild.

Their call sounds like: Who cooks for you? Crazy.

 

Little Egret

 

Eurasian Cranes

 

Awesome

 

Any ideas what this is, anyone?

 

@SimonZ It is a Longhorn Beetle but I am not sure which species as there are many in the UK.

 

Great shots @Scrungee I presume that they were distant.

Great White Egret.

 

Taken with a 820mm (full frame equivalent) telephoto lens and those images are approx. 10% cropped from the middle of the originals.

When they visit my local reserve they mainly stay at the far side of a meadow, but occasionally come close to one of the hides. A new hide has been constructed across the meadow, but the newly planted hedge along the path to it needs to grow so the nesting Curlews don't get disturbed by hordes of birders wanting to get close to Cranes.

Was that Great White Egret at Middlebere? I'll be there on Thursday.

 

@Scrungee no it was at Radipole reserve in Weymouth but it goes between it and Lodmoor reserve a mile away.

 

Yards With Non-Native Plants Create ‘Food Deserts’ for Bugs and Birds

 

Terns at Brownsea Island (again!).
Common.




Sandwich.


Oystercatchers.


This poor one has been here for a few years now with it's mate and has always had a foot missing and is always right next to the cafe.