WHAT'S BUZZING OR FLYING NEAR YOU 2020

Chris Packham Launches Online Birdwatching Community

 

'White headed' gulls, our three big ones! if this is any help for gull ID.
Great Black Back, very large and as it's names says black, never in flocks mainly in pairs(and a top predator) .


Lesser Black Back, mid grey back and yellowish feet.


Herring Gull, light grey back and pink feet.

 

I was surprised to see this on an Echium pininana yesterday.

 

Saw a peacock butterfly today on the heathers.

 

There is a wren comes to perch in the bare bushes to sing to me.... apart from that nothing stirs out here in the cold windy Atlantic... Not a fly etc.

 

Absolutely terrible photo I know, but do you think this is a bee-fly?

Nick

 

Managed to get better photos, thought they were here for the lungwort or primroses, but they seem to be feeding from the Viburnum tinus!

Nick

 

Definitely looks like the Bee-Fly Nick ...

Bombylius major - Wikipedia

 

Thanks for the verification @Victoria, yep, that's definitely them! Fascinating little creatures, there were actually two of them. Have never noticed any in my garden before but perhaps that's because I wasn't looking for them or the right plants weren't there for them. I found it strange that they were feeding from the viburnum, their long proboscis doesn't seem compatible with the flower.

Nick

 

I can do terrible photos also
Had a lot of these bees around yesterday, they hover and then dart off.

 

My Viburnum blooms November-February, more or less. Just nice and green now.

 

A few from the garden as I am not getting out to my usual haunts.
Never had any birds nest in the garden until now, this female Blackie has made a nest in the Abutilon by the garage wall.

 

RSPB Sites now closed, plus 'illegal' to drive to locations other than work or essential shops, only options now appear to be walk or cycle to nature reserves that are still open.