What's Buzzing or Flying near you today......2016

A bird heard rather than seen with it's abrupt explosive song from deep within thickets, this resident Cettis Warbler actually sat in the open singing. I've never seen one clearly before.


With a recently arrived Sedge Warbler in the next tree.

 

I saw my first Swallow today Very pleased to see it.

My garden is very busy at the moment, it's a wonderful place to sit and watch all that's going on. Mr and Mrs Blackbird have built a nest in a bramble bush outside lounge window, so able to watch them going in and out. Saw mum with beak full of worms earlier so maybe they have chicks now.

I also have Sparrows, Starlings, Dunnocks, Wrens, Bluetits, Great Tits, Chaffinch, Doves, Magpies, Crows, Green Finch and a Robin - there were 2 but just the 1 now. There is also a male Pheasant and 4 girls. Two of the girls are quite tame and will come to me asking for food

Some of the hedgehogs are awake, clear signs that the hog houses are being used and lots of food being scoffed. Our resident rat population has returned. They decamped during the awful winter we had, probably got flooded out poor little beans.

 

Blackbird having her daily bath, she's getting quite tame.

 

Watched mum and dad Blackbird taking food into the bramble patch this morning. Also, this afternoon I was sat on caravan steps with a coffee and listening to the birds singing. Daddy Blackbird decided to join me and get some food I had put out next to where I was sitting . The 3 male Chaffinches also came to join me. I think they are the 3 boys born last year. I see them together a lot.

No sign of anyone else gathering food for bubs yet, although there has been a lot of courtship activity going on. None of the nesting boxes have been used this year . Pair of Bluetits were very interested in one box but nothing became of it. One of them is still hanging around the box, other one seems to have disappeared.

Saw Cabbage White today too.

 

Buff-tailed Bumblebee in the garden this afternoon!

 

I had some very urgent business to attend to! I looked out of the window at work & oh my goodness, I saw this baby in the gutter! After standing on a chair (health & safety in mind....er not) I managed to pick the little dear up. He was so cold & hardly moving, so I held him in my hand to warm him up, after a short while he felt much warmer

Now here's the tricky bit, he had fallen from the nest just under the roof tiles somehow I had to pop him back into the nest do he was safe, I watched his parents fly off & knew I only had seconds to get him back, I couldn't do it , his parents were on their way back so down I came & waited for them to fly off again..his little head was now moving & his beak was opening, I knew he had to go back into the nest & I had to help, as soon as they were out of sight I tried again, this time I achieved it the little dear was back in the nest, standing on a ladder it was much easier , I waited for the mother to return & sure enough she did, she had a nice juicy worm in her beak,I kept an eye on them for the next half an hour & all seemed well .

 

Lovely peacock butterfly looking very healthy fluttered into the greenhouse, had a quick fly around the gone-to-seed kale, and flew out again

 

I noticed an eagle eyed 'fisherman' on the roof of the houses behind ours. Next doors pond was probably in it's sights but if flew off towards the river (Piddle)

 

Spotted a pair of Blue Tits collecting nesting material right outside the kitchen window today.

 

A cockney lady.

I saw my first Nightingale near Corfe Castle this morning but I only got a pic of his back.


Cettis Warblers are still showing themselves, this one looked 'cross' as I was staring at it so he stared back!!


Dartford Warblers are very active, their song can be confused with Common Whitethroats.

 

@wiseowl If I remember correctly you had a good photo of a Nightingale on here, may be a few years ago.

 

He is soooooooo adorable!!!!