What's buzzing or flying near you 2024 ?

They mentioned that many of them stay in the vicinity @Sheal, as opposed to the thousands that move on. It was a very interesting item. It might have been a repeat of one of the series about Shetland or the islands etc. I've been watching those again. It's because there are suitable feeding grounds for them in the north east during migration.

 

I'll have to remember to take my camera out with me @fairygirl. I pass fields full of geese from time to time and curse myself for not having it with me.

 

Some of the 400 Golden Plovers recently arrived at Lodmoor RSPB in Weymouth for the winter Hopefully there will be more and get to see them again on a sunny day where they sparkle in the sun.

 

A single Barnacle Goose amongst a large flock of Canada Geese, uncommon here.

 

In autumn, the berry bushes are full of berries and our fine feathered friends are postponing their flights south to take advantage of the bonanza, decisions, decisions, decisions. American Robin.

 

It's getting manic in the garden as around 70 Goldfinches visited today with a lot of squabbling going on and a young green finch helped to empty the feeders so I had to refill them.

 

That's a massive amount of goldies @strongylodon - is that normal around your area?
Fantastic

Mine is a slightly more stark pic. They just looked like they were sitting there, contemplating the meaning of life....

'ere Kevin, what d'you think of that new song by Paul Heaton? Sh*te, innit?'

 

@fairygirl there have been up to 20 for some weeks but obviously the popularity of the 'Sunflower Heart Hotel' has spread, I thought 30 was unusual. I have never seen this number in the countryside.

 

That's where mine have all gone then @strongylodon- down to you
I usually have quite a good bunch visiting regularly, but they've been a little bit absent recently. I mainly feed sunflower hearts, plus a seed mix, which I also add s'flower hearts into. We have a lot of good habitat around though, so there's plenty of choice for them.
The sparrows have been very full on though. Very messy and very entertaining.
I think they must have had a 3rd clutch this year, which isn't usually the case, but we've had a longer, more benign season right from early on in the year, so I assume that's the reason.

 

Not many birds here at all i can count them on 1 hand so i don't know what's happen around here but bird numbers have drop big time for time of year

 

Can anyone let me know if this bird is a Crow or a Raven, I've been calling her Sheryl as I thought she was a crow! It visits most days and I leave a dog treat out for her which she loves. As it has a couple of white tail feathers I can tell it’s the same bird every day.

I just saw a similar sized bird in a tree near our house and the Merlin app says the call is a raven. I've not heard my bird call so I can't identify her that way, but I’m beginning to think my crow is a raven?

 

@CatDouch I think it is a carrion crow.
Yesterday we saw the first signs of starlings getting together. They line up on the electricity wires between the pylons. A sign that cold weather is sending them over to the UK.

 

I caught a fleeting glimpse of a bird today, I was alerted by its strange call at first and then it flew from a tall tree.
It had the look of a Kestrel in flight but looked bigger.

 

Not a raven. You'd know if you had a raven - they're huge compared to other crows/corvids.
I'd agree that's a carrion crow.
Rooks are different again - they have a quite distinct shape and angle to their beak, which is quite a light grey colour, and hooded crows are generally lighter in colour, with mostly a light grey body rather than that very dark grey/black. Jackdaws are smaller and also look quite different because of their eyes.
We have loads of rooks and jackdaws round here, and also carrion crows, but it can sometimes be tricky to see which is which if you're not seeing them close up. Ravens are common on all our hills, but less so in domestic settings.

Do you get Merlins round you @pete?