What's buzzing or flying near you 2024 ?

Yes I agree @DiggersJo. I occasionally get a pheasant that will feed from my hand, the others that appear with this one scatter as soon as they see me. There are four semi-wild horses in the neighbouring field, two have got used to me and will take food, but not the other two.

 

I can give you tips on the horses if you like, equine psychology is my schtick. If not, ignore me.

 

Thank you @Mrs. B. Both they and I are happy with things as they are. I don't own them and they are all very old, spending their last years happily grazing and being offered the occasional apple or carrot.

 

When we lived a bit farther west for a while, there were resident pheasants who nested in the property across from us. The females often visited and stood on the windowsills, tapping the windows.

'Do you mind? I'm having a bath...'


I can't get a pic of the magpies because of the angle, but they're enjoying taking material from the mat at the back door

 

@Sheal Please make sure that any carrots offered to the horses are sliced/cut longways and any apples are quartered as this enables the horses to trap the offerings in between their teeth and chew them safely. The skin surface of carrots, and particularly apples, means that, combined with saliva, they can become very slippery and cause the food to get swallowed whole.
Sorry if you already knew this but I see so many folk offering whole apples to horses.

All quiet on our bird front with both the Robbins and the Blackbirds returning to their nests regularly.

 

Peacock butterfly sunning itself on the path. A Holly blue flitting all over the place. 2 ravens croaking up above and many jackdaws in the next field with the sheep. A blackbird singing nonstop on the top of our old bramley apple tree. A blackcap in the conifer and a robin living dangerously in front of the mower.

 

Just went out to pick some salad leaves and an orange tip flew by. Then a call. Looked up and 2 Eurasian (Common known in the UK but not) cranes circling above the garden. They did this for some time and then flew off in a determined line. Great to see them.

 

Watching telly last evening and my wife suddenly said "don't move but just look out the patio door" - and there sat on the top of the rotary clothes line was a Tawny Owl.

 

Glossy Ibis at Ham Wall RSPB this morning. They were feeding at the back of the main lake , hidden, so I only got this almost clear shot when they flew. Not the extreme rarity that they once were.

 

The female pheasant I spoke about yesterday has taken seed from my hand twice today. She also came up onto the back doorstep. I'll have to think of a name for her.

Thank you @Anna42. I spent time with horses when I was young so know a certain amount. I am friendly with the owner of the four in the neighbouring field and always ask him if there's something I'm not sure about.

 

For those of you who may be interested. This is the second year I've watched these Ospreys rearing youngsters on a live transmission. The birds are called Harry and Flora and currently have one, maybe two eggs in the nest.

SSEN Transmission Alyth Substation Osprey nest camera (youtube.com)

 

Thanks @Sheal , I often used to look in on the osprey at Glaslyn here. Not sure if it still functions. Friends live within walking distance of it.

 

I've taken a look @DiggersJo and the history suggests nothing has happened there for two years. Whether that's the camera or the lack of Ospreys I can't tell.

 

Ospreys were definitely there last year ..... I watched them through my scope from the roadside.