WHAT'S BUZZING OR FLYING NEAR YOU 2019

American Black Tern, a few Eurasian Black Terns migrate through the UK from Africa to Eastern Europe and back but this American Tern couldn't fight the recent Atlantic hurricanes and was blown off course and ended up on a lake not far from Bournemouth airport. This time of year they are not particularly black!






Garganey, a juvenile drake without the attractive adult plumage. This is the only duck to come here for the Summer, all the others are resident or Winter visitors.It will soon be off to Africa, these ducks are never seen in flocks, mainly singles and pairs.

 

This young Thrush was one of three. The parents took them/chased them away as usual but neither parent has returned so far, not even for home-bred mealworms which is unusual. Though often 'flock' with other thrushes such as Blackbirds about late Autumn, as the good books tell us. For years a male has treated us to his lovely song early December onwards so just have to wait and see.

 

You are so lucky, I haven't had a Song Thrush in the garden for three years!

A small mixed flock came through the front garden this morning stopping in the Box Elder tree, 2 Blue Tits, 6 Long Tailed Tits and 2 chiffchaff , 2 chiffchaff came through the back garden last week.
The 'white' Ruff and a sleepy Shoveler at Lodmoor reserve in Weymouth.

 

I photographed this Great Egret feeding on the Mohawk river yesterday.

 

I've been catching glimpses of what I thought was a woodpecker on the feeders for a few days luckily i managed to get the binoculars on it today and really pleased to see it was a nuthatch hanging upside down on them, very surprised as I'm in the middle of a fairly large built up area, just wondering if the recent rainfall is upsetting it's natural habitat?

 

A large flock of Redwings descended on the garden this morning..Sadly no photo as no matter how slowly and carefully I tried to grab my camera they knew exactly what I was doing and flew off..Lovely sight though.

 

@shiney, Blue Tits only nest once, in the spring, yours is probably looking for a suitable place to roost at night for the Winter. Unlike Sparrows they roost singly. Nest boxes are frequently used to roost in, ours has been used in the past but never to nest in!

@mazambo, it could well be it is searching for food a little further away than normal.

 

Goldies.

 

I heard a fluttering in my utility room today. A wren had found it's way in through a slightly open window.

 

Male Downy Woodpecker.

 

First Fieldfares of the Autumn for me at Arne this morning, a flock of around 30/40 plus a few Redwings, both recently arrived from Europe. Both of these Thrushes are extremely wary and fly off as soon as they see you!

 

Not my picture but couldn't pass this by.

 

Ring-Billed Gull.

 

Ring Billed Gulls are infrequent visitors here, I have never seen one. Do yours over winter further south? @hydrogardener

Lots of Black Redstarts around Portland Bill today, I saw 7 and there were more scattered around the Island. Most are passing through to winter in the Med (sounds like a good idea!)






Sparkling Starling.