What's buzzing or flying near you 2021?

Discussion in 'Wildlife Corner' started by Sheal, Jan 15, 2021.

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  1. strongylodon

    strongylodon Old Member

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    Black Headed Gull with a crab snack. Changed to winter plumage already so no 'black head'
    BH Gull.jpg
     
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    • shiney

      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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      • shiney

        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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        A few things here, no photos :sad:

        The other day I thought I heard one of our woodpeckers hard at work (there are a few nests at the bottom of our garden) but it turned out to be a nuthatch on speed. :heehee:

        A sparrowhawk flew into one of our windows (difficult to do as it's mainly hidden by shrubs :scratch:) and was stunned for a while. I was checking it to see whether it was hurt (wearing gloves) when it opened its eyes, gave a quick body shake (I let it go quickly :rolleyespink:) and it flew off. A very pretty bird with yellow eyes.

        Whilst I was working in the veg plot I got dive bombed by a red kite and it certainly made me jump as it screeched almost in my ear. After that it circled at about 15-20ft for half an hour before it got fed up with screeching at me. I couldn't see a nest in the trees around me so I don't know why it acted the way it did. It's only in the last year or so that we've ever seen kites around here.
         
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        • NigelJ

          NigelJ Total Gardener

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          Watched a Hummingbird Hawk Moth feeding on Salvia involuctra.
           
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          • strongylodon

            strongylodon Old Member

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            Young Wheatear passing through. Wintering quarters in Central Africa are a long way away.
            No sign posts, no one to follow but a very complex internal navigation system, and we think we are clever!!!:smile:
            wheat.jpg
             
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            • pete

              pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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              Notable in their absence, wasps.
              Hardly seen any this year, I think I can safely say I've seen more butterflies than wasps.
              It just doesn't seem right to be honest.
               
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              • strongylodon

                strongylodon Old Member

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                I Have seen very few wasps this year but plenty of Bees. I am not sure why either.
                 
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                • Nikolaos

                  Nikolaos Total Gardener

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                  It's a change I can definitely learn to live with! :biggrin: Oddly enough I've seen quite a large diversity of wasp species in my garden in the last year, but yes, far fewer of the yellow and black ones! :dunno: Could the 'standard' ones somehow be being outcompeted by the other wasps? :noidea:

                  Nick
                   
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                  • pete

                    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                    Not seen many bees either, but saw more towards the end of the summer than earlier.
                    The only upside to the cooler and cloudier than average summer has been less Red spider mite problems, hardly any in fact.

                    No, its just not the end of summer without wasps being their troublesome selves.:biggrin:
                    I've seen the other smaller ones, but I just think without the nasty ones something is going wrong.
                     
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                    • Jiffy

                      Jiffy The Match is on Fire

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                      Had thousands of ladybirds on the house walls looking for a hibo place for winter, 3rd year in a row for it

                      few wasps this year and qiute a few bees, down on numbers of butterfies
                       
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                      • Sheal

                        Sheal Total Gardener

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                        That's because they've all been nesting in various parts of my roof Pete. :doh: I've also had them in the shed and a bird nest box.

                        Very few bees here and the ones that are have been very small. The only butterflies I've seen this year are two Cabbage Whites.
                         
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                        • Victoria

                          Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

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                          We have no shortage of bees and wasps. Also have a lot of small brown flutterbys/moths?
                           
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                          • Victoria

                            Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

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                            We are suffering from "fly season". they seem to come out in October and are very annoying!
                             
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                            • Scrungee

                              Scrungee Well known for it

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                              Are they at Portland? I'm planning to visit Exmoor for deer rut next week and return via Dorset.
                               
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                              • strongylodon

                                strongylodon Old Member

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                                @Scrungee last pic (above) was near Wareham but there are still a few around at Portland although they will probably all be gone by the end of the month. These stragglers are normally found down at the Bill near the beach huts and surrounding area. Rock Pipits are very common there too even around the picnic tables.

                                Greenshank, Brownsea Island.
                                Green 1.JPG
                                 
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