What's buzzing or flying near you 2024 ?

Wasps, loads of them, all looking for nesting sites.

 

I’ve seen my first ladybirds in the garden today. Lots of them were just quietly sitting on some foliage but one was sunbathing on the door frame of the greenhouse.Lovely to see them. Have only seen one bee so far though.

 

Quite a few birds darting around the sky this morning suspiciously looking like swallows. A couple chasing each other flew right past the patio doors but I wasn't quick enough to see what they are. Could it be the swallows have arrived?

 

Swallows have definitely been seen in Devon @Jenny_Aster so they might have been swallows. I'm excitedly waiting for my 3 pairs to come back. Every year it’s a bit earlier, last year it was 10th April. I’ve got a wildlife camera trained on one of the nests and following some tweaks over the winter it will provide a fantastic view this year … fingers crossed they come back.

 

Even 10th April is about a month earlier than here for swallows. Early May for us. It'll be interesting to see if they're any earlier because of all the non winters we're getting.

I loved your pix of the nest last year @CatDouch - hope you get some takers

 

I soooo hope so @fairygirl this is the nest today, ready and waiting and the tweaks we’ve made to the camera give such a clear view. I’m counting down the days

 

@Jenny_Aster The usual order of arrivals are Sand Martin, House Martin and Swallow but some always arrive earlier than expected.

 

Thank you @strongylodon I only got a glimpse of them, I saw they were ducking and diving in the air like swallows do, they could have been house martins. I've not seen them since.

 

Great, birds as well!
We often get Spotted Woodpeckers in the garden, but yesterday we had a Lesser spotted woodpecker, first time I've ever seen such. Garden back on to old woods so we get quite a variation on what we had previously e.g. no sparrows, but dunnock and lots of nuthatch. I love them all, but at the moment the Bullfinch (missing a few weeks now) is my current favourite. It's taken 5 years or more feeding to get some of them in the garden, not even a chaffinch until 1-2 year back , but had nuthatch from day one... River is a short walk away so take a look for the kingfisher most days (and mostly they are not there ) Lots of dippers, wagtails and of course the heron.
Love some of the pictures on this thread, many thanks.

 

We saw our first brimstone butterfly yesterday and then again today. Numerous bees and then a peacock, comma and speckled wood butterflies. No signs of swifts or swallows yet.

 

We had a bit of sun today, so there was a couple of bees around/ There was a couple on another day recently when it was quite pleasant for them. Too early yet for butterflies, but it's usually the odd peacock that's overwintered when we do get them. Always a nice sight

 

I saw my first bumble yesterday afternoon as I was weeding (without a coat!) in the sunshine. It will no doubt be tucked up indoors today as it's grey and damp again.

 

First generation of swallowtail butterflies seen in the garden today, the second generation will be around from June.

 

I've seen a few Brimstones in the last week, very surprised to see a Hummingbird Hawkmoth this morning, enjoying the aubretia in a village in West Kent.