WHAT'S BUZZING OR FLYING NEAR YOU 2020

I've got a number of Carrion and Hooded Crows here but I haven't seen them preening but they fight quite viciously on the lawn.

 

Never seen a Hooded Crow here, only abroad.

A sunny day so it had to be Brownsea Island again.
Probably same birds as last time!
Avocet.


Greenshank.


Mediterranean Gull (Black Headed Gull in foreground).


Oystercatcher.


Brent Geese.

 

This one I took some years back on Mann @strongylodon. It was me that was feeding him. The ones I have here have much darker markings, but they are skittish and I haven't managed to get any shots yet.

 

A couple of my snaps

Kingfisher Crop by Scott Thomas, on Flickr

Grey Wagtail by Scott Thomas, on Flickr

Reed Bunting by Scott Thomas, on Flickr

 

Maybe not a great deal of interest to many but as I was asked the difference between Crows and Ravens I thought I would show the difference between our common Black Headed Gulls and Mediterranean Gulls as I have shown both and might be confusing.

Mediterranean Gulls are a fairly recent coloniser but are now quite common in certain areas.
'Med' Gull has no black feathers on the wings or tail and has a completely black head and bright red bill and legs.
The Med gull here is in between the Black Headed which are really chocolate brown!


In winter both gulls loose their black heads but the Med Gulls are have no black on the tail.

 

Went for an 'isolating' walk along the cliffs at Durlston Country Park.
Fulmar Petrels were performing well and in open view as were the Razorbills.










Saw my first Wheatear this year but distant, a smart male.


A few Blackcaps had arrived.


One large female Adder was out cloud bathing.

 

Lovely pictures Strongy with the exception of the last one. Sorry, snakes revolt me!

 

Our temporary lake here where the river Piddle has burst it's banks has become a bird hot spot.
Yesterday a pair of Garganey, our only summer visiting ducks (all the way from Africa) turned up in the afternoon and left this morning!





This morning a flock of Black Tailed Godwits came in, some males in breeding plumage and a Ruff was spotted amongst them. This one is half white. Again it has over wintered in the Med or Africa briefly stopping on it's way north.

 

They're on their way back Strongy. The geese have started flying over here in great numbers.

 

@shiney that's because the large ones on the ploughed fields are Lesser Black Backed and Herring Gulls.

 

We seem to be getting more and more of what I think are herring gulls.
Great big things.

 

Both of these gulls appear in large flocks so it could be both. Nearly all gulls follow tractors in fields.