What's buzzing or flying near you 2024 ?

Monarchs?? @shiney

 

I watched a dunnock do that yesterday @hydrogardener . They often like the gravel when it warms up, but this one had found a little empty spot at the edge of a raised bed

Another one also thought the bare bit of this, recently moved, saxifrage might make a nice spot for a little rest. It spent quite a while there




I spent a good while watching this wee soul enjoying the fennel too. We don't often get them in the garden, but it's lovely when they do visit.
I got some nice videos but I haven't yet worked out if/how I can put them on this site

 

Could be wrong @wiseowl but looks like a kestrel.

 

Looks like a Merlin to me, whatever, its lovely..

 

My first thought, but the tail didn't seem right?

 

Yesterday we had 2 little egrets flying over the garden in synchronised flying...have they been watching the Olympics?
Then 3 buzzards in a thermal calling out to each other.
Green spotted woodpecker very vocal but not seen.
A large dragonfly but too quick and far away at the bottom of the garden. One of the darters?

 

Yes, looks like Kestrel to me. Those dark bands would be much wider on a female/juvenile Merlin.

 

Its the presence of those numerous bands that put me off Kestrel and go for a Merlin. The flight and size would be the give away. The BTO here has a decent video on the subject.

 

@fairygirl Looks like a Willow Warbler, I have never had one in the garden, just Chiffchaffs.

 

That's a really useful video clip.

What I should have said is that on a female/juvenile Merlin the dark bands in the tail are wider than the light bands. On a Kestrel it's the opposite. But both have a wide dark terminal band.