WHAT'S BUZZING OR FLYING NEAR YOU 2019

Even before my morning coffee, I can tell there is more to this orchid stick than normal....

No idea what it is? Not a damselfly, as the wings are longer than the body, but resting it has a similar outline. Antenna, though....

As Olive would say: “Heeelp!”

 

Beautiful Demoiselle

 

American Goldfinches breed this time of year when the thistle plants are going to seed. The males are absolutely magnificent in their breeding plumage. I also observed a female collecting nest-building material.

 

A hover fly and a horse fly by the looks of it



And a bee

 

Hornet mimic Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria)



Common blue Damselfly

 

Scarlet Tiger (I think)

 

I saw a field full of geese today which suggests they are gathering to migrate. I'm sure this is much earlier than usual up here?

 

Some birds are already on the move @Sheal. they may have moulted and are just gathering as while moulting they can't fly. It would be a bit early for Geese.

Wasp Spider with lunch, first one I have seen this year.

 

I hadn't thought about them moulting @strongylodon but I should have. My resident pheasant is moulting badly and looking the worse for wear at the moment.

 

@Sheal Talking about birds on the move,at Ferrybridge, Fleet lagoon between Weymouth and Portland there was an early returning (distant) Wheatear, a very early Brent Goose and a Whimbrel.
Brent here for the winter (!) and the Wheatear and Whimbrel will slowly make their way back to West Africa for the winter.


Brent Goose.


Whimbrel.

 

Radipole RSPB (now unnecessarily renamed Weymouth Wetlands).
Cutie time!
Mallard ducklings half asleep.


The second brood for these Great Crested Grebes and the emerging young due to their colour and pattern are referred to as 'humbugs' and sit on the parents back






Great White Egret, 30 years after the first Little Egrets breed in the UK the Great White is now becoming a more frequent sight as it is now breeding in several places around the country and not a rare sight anymore




Cormorant hanging out to dry.

 

Hmmm....do they know something we don't @strongylodon ?

 

@shiney, I think that birds are able to recognise individual people, and are more intelligent than we give them credit for. Your blackbirds have probably realised that you are no threat, and indeed provide food for their babies...

As a teenager, I ended up with a hand-tame collared dove (lovelorn when his mate gave up on his awful nesting attempts, and went off with another bird), and robin (who developed a taste for my guinea-pig’s food). Both birds remained in the area after I went to university, and would fly down to say “hello” when I came home in the holidays, with much excitement.

When we lived in High Wycombe, there was a robin who narrowly escaped a cat, loosing his tail feathers in the process. I felt sorry for Tail-less, and so tossed him titbits whenever I was weeding/digging. He brought his missus and fledglings to see me each year. I hope he’s forgiven me for moving to Belgium!

 

Blackbirds often have three broods but early August would normally be the latest to have one. Some move around the country after breeding so they disappear from the garden for a few months and come back in the Autumn.