What's buzzing or flying near you 2024 ?

While doing the last bits and bobs in the garden, I had to stop when taking down my pea/tomato support when I saw this Ladybird sleeping. I found another two Ladybirds in the leaves of the Deutzia plant.

 

It has always seemed to me that species have an inbred knowledge of which fellow creatures they can trust and those they can not trust. Female wood duck and painted turtle.

 

I agree with you @hydrogardener.

 

Surprised to see 15 field fares over the garden this morning in the downpour. Must be very cold where they had been and so now coming our way.

 

A bit late putting these up but having caught Covid on our last couple of days in Austria I have only just sorted through my photos.
Alpine Choughs at Mittenwald over the border in Bavaria.




Crag Martin, high altitude version of the Sand Martin, Merano, Italy.


Pied Flycatcher, Innsbruck.

 

The owls have been making a fair bit of noise lately and sound so near to the house. Sometimes I turn off all lights so it's pitch black indoors and peer out into the garden to see where they are - there are a lot of oaks on the golf course at the bottom of the garden.

So I was surprised to find one sitting on my bird feeder, which is about 8ft from the windows. Looks like a tawny owl.

 

Good shots @strongylodon. I hope you're feeling better now.

 

Wow @cactus_girl what a fantastic sight on your bird feeder! When I’m in bed at night I regularly hear tawny owls calling and it sounds very close, perhaps I’ll peep out like you and see what I can see.

 

Yes @CatDouch I was very surprised. I expect it was eyeing up some wood mice or voles or maybe a rat, as we have lots in the garden. Hope you get to spot one.

 

Just had over 40 jackdaws flying around. Can't make up their minds as to their roost!

 

I think I saw the first signs of Trichomonosis in a goldfinch today so I've taken the sunflower hearts feeder in for a couple of days. This lot make me feel so guilty though, sat in the pouring rain, waiting for the buffet to be refilled!

 

One of my favourite butterflies appeared in the garden this morning. Small Copper feasting on Aster 'Mönch'. Gorgeous little thing.

 

A bird we always love to see spotted yesterday - Kingfisher. We have had pictures of these over the years and never anything but a blur, so now we don't bother and just enjoy the view. Never lasts long and mostly just a whiz past us low along the river, but yesterday it sat for a few minutes on a tree branch and turned a couple of times so providing a lovely view of its superb colours.

 

Always makes your day seeing a Kingfisher. We recently watched one fishing in salt-water in North Wales. I took this photo last year on the same rocks in the mouth of the Dwyfor.