What's buzzing or flying near you 2025 ?

Nice looking pheasant hanging around under the feeder picking up the bits from the Great Spotted Woodpecker.

 

Cattle Egret (with a Little Egret) in the afternoon sun yesterday.

 

Fulmar Petrels, Durlston Country Park cliffs, near Swanage.

 

This morning when I went out to feed the birds I could hear a song thrush, but couldn't see it. Then this afternoon just as the light started to fade, I heard it again - louder. I looked out of the window and there it was in my own rowan tree, singing its heart out. I don't see thrushes very often, and this is the first time I've found one singing in the garden. I hope that means I'm thrush territory now!

Also managed to capture some of the wren activity. I catch a glimpse of a wren most days but don't often get to the camera quickly enough. Also they are usually most active when the light is bad.

 

Fantastic photos @Escarpment especially with the wren! I’ve got a pair of wrens in my garden but I can’t imagine ever getting a photo of them as they’re so fast. Do you use a camera or mobile phone? I just wish I get could get better photos of my birds on my phone. Any tips from anyone?

 

Goosander (female)

this has been feeding on the river at the bottom of my garden all Autumn and winter , very shy .

 

The Goldcrest was back again and straight onto the fat balls but I couldn't get a decent shot due to the glass reflection and it's speed.

 

Thanks, I use a camera - a Sony RX10. It has a long zoom range, and the photos I post are usually cropped quite a lot. It's also got a very quick autofocus which helps with the birds.

If you want to see some really fantastic bird photography, look out for Carl Bovis. He posts on X and I think on Instagram too, and he has a shop where he sells prints, calendars, greetings cards, mugs etc.

https://www.carlbovis.com/

 

We were visiting friends not to far away and on leaving we watched a barn owl moving over a field for some time, all about 1pm. Lovely to see.

 

I've never yet managed to see an owl in the wild, but in the late afternoon just as it gets dark I often hear a pair of Tawnies calling. The sound is coming from a wooded hill at the end of my road.

 

Thanks @Escarpment yes I follow Carl Bovis and he often says he’s taken the photo on his mobile phone through his kitchen window. When I try it, sadly the results are nothing like his!!
Perhaps I need to get a proper camera as I get such a fantastic variety of birds in my garden and I’ve tried and tried on my phone camera but never have much success.

 

Another amazing person Carl Bovis. His photos like so many talented people are just superb.
My mobile phone can't take photos like those as it is just....well a phone!

 

This was my first sighting of a Short Eared Owl on Wednesday, it was late afternoon and my Nikon P950 can't cope with low light so all my photos were slightly blurred (or worse!).


The local Kestrel was not happy to have 3 or 4 of these overwintering Owls in it's patch, vying for the same prey.

 

Through his kitchen or bathroom window, yes often. Even through his catflap! But I don't think he ever uses a phone - unless he finds himself somewhere with nothing else to hand. He has some serious photographic kit.

I find it almost impossible to use a phone camera. I always end up with my fingers in the shot.

 

I also get frustrated with the camera on my phone, though it is very good, it isn’t good enough! I think I need an idiot proof, point and click (plus zoom facility) digital camera…

I love Carl Bovis’s photos, they’re as good as some on here