WHAT'S BUZZING OR FLYING NEAR YOU 2018

I forgot that one, Pied Starling!

 

Ive seen two today in my garden, one chased the other one away, there feeding on my berries .

 

There be a woodpecker trying to fell the poplar tree behind I now

 

You'm a good distance away then @Zigs?

 

About 10 feet

 

A few pictures from today tried getting the pigeon in flight again but hes blurred today.

 

On Wednesday this fox came into our garden, found a sunny spot sheltered from the biting wind, settled itself down and slept for at least 1.5 hours until it was startled awake by the barking of our neighbour's dog.




We saw it again this afternoon, patrolling its territory


The fieldfares, like many of the previous posts have shown, were driven into our gardens to search for food. In our garden there are still some ivy berries but I think this bird might have picked out the last few holly berries.

 

Wonderful aren’t they? Full of character.

 

Mr P's been out and about....getting his tail feathers wet! Hope they dont break because of it.

 

Shy Goldcrest.

 

The fieldfare has spent the day here protecting the berries other fieldfares have turned up and hes chased them off.

 

*****House Martin Alert*****

First sightings our house martins this morning. Think it is the advance group checking out the old nests and looking at a quote for repairs?

Thought it was too early (most especially after the past week's weather) but, sure enough, I saw them from the Office window flitting about up at their old nests Last year, they turned their one nest into a pair of semi-detached; now, I waiting to see just how many they could build alongside each one ... maybe an estate in the making? I don't fancy having to clean up all of *that* detritus though

 

YAY!!!

 

That is early @"M" none have been sighted around here, Sand Martins are usually the first to arrive but birds are often unpredictable.

 

Yes, I think it is early too @strongylodon but, there they were! I do know from observations since I've lived here (they have lived here longer) that they tend to send out a scouting party in advance. The scouting party tend to be the ones to examine the nests and assess any and all needs. Then, the mating pairs arrive a few weeks later.

Keep your eyes peeled. Mine can't be the only ones to have put in an appearance. I'm wondering if the strong easterly winds of recent days may have something to do with it?