What's buzzing or flying near you 2024 ?

Yep. Ours usually come for an early recce one day and then disappear again for a week or more. I guess they need to feed up where the insects are concentrated (usually over water) before getting down to it.

 

Our first martins and swallows turned up in mid March but disappeared after a few good swoops. That's a full month earlier than I've spotted them before so I quickly reinforced a support in the garden shed where they nested last year but it's too late to empty all the stuff out of the old ruin where there are 3 nests.

They've been much more visible, numerous and vocal for about a week now. We have a large pond here and lots of wildflowers and hedgerow in and around our plot so I'm not sure where they disappeared to after arrival but there are several ponds, small lakes and wooded areas in the surrounding farmland.

 

A new one for our garden - a redpoll. Our local natural history newsletter mentioned they were around but this is the first time in 30 years I've seen one here.

 

That's interesting @steephill.

These little brown jobs all seem to be a similar size and colour with small nuances to identify them - unless you're good at recognising birdsong or actually get to see them long enough to see who's who and maybe even take a photo.

 

Been looking out for the first Redstarts to arrive on the local hillsides for the past week. Today it finally happened. Distant & much-cropped photo.

 

I have just been watching a starling on the mealworm feeder - it's one of those hanging ones with a tray and a cover over it. What a messy eater! Eat one and throw ten on the floor!

 

Some lovely spring sunshine and warmth here in Kent. Saw the first orange tip butterfly and whitethroat. Red kites are a common sight here now, and this morning we were lucky enough to see a pair of buzzards and a red kite together, the kite wasn't being mobbed, but it definitely seemed like the buzzards were being defensive.

 

Thank you fairygirl, the photos are great!

 

I'm so excited!! I was weeding and heard a bird singing his little heart out, and I spotted a chaffinch above the feeders in the tree. I don't think we've ever had one before, and I imagined he was shouting "oi missus, I've found dinner!"

 

They nest in the roof here, you want to see the amount of nest material I get!

 

Had a peacock and holly blue butterflies this morning. Heard another warbler (not seen) in the garden. Checked up the song and think it may be a willow warbler.

 

A busy day on the feeder. Great tit, goldfinch, female bullfinch and lesser redpoll all arguing.

 

Blimey! I've just watched 'my' blackbirds see off a jackdaw who just landed on nextdoors' garage roof! Don't know what that was about, but they hounded him into the next road!

 

Sorry to inundate the thread, but I've just heard baby starlings above me!!

 

He will steal their eggs and/or young!