What's buzzing or flying near you 2025 ?

Cranefly on a zinnia leaf and longhorn beetle on bramble. There were lots of the beetles flying around today and they looked weird in flight and so caught my attention.

 

Lots of these down by the stream today, picture quality is not good as they are phone pictures.

 

Interaction between magpie and a woodpigeon today. The magpie was hoping to dunk its dry calci-worms, but found the birdbath occupied. The pigeon stayed put.

 

Parasitic wasp on astrantia.

 

Another busy day at the feeders.

 

I stopped feeding the birds a couple of months ago having got fed up with Jackdaws and Wood Pigeons clearing the food.

At the moment Seagulls, Jackdaws and Crows have become a nuisance in the village. The noise is continuous all day and is driving me mad let alone my neighbours. It's really annoying being woken at daylight by their din.

 

Fortunately our Wood Pigeons are nesting in a tree further away from the bedroom window. They have been a nuisance in the past.

Our crows are making a noise - I think it's the youngsters asking for food.

Luckily the parakeets haven't turned up early.

Saw a Little Egret on the way back from the pub tonight on a brook. It was next to two male mallards. It took off and relocated a bit further away from us.

 

We're plagued with magpies here @Sheal , and they've been worse since someone had one of the mature Scots pines taken down, so they fight even more with the crows for nesting sites. If idiots would stop feeding the gulls that have appeared since lockdown, that would help too
However, the cheeky bullfinch and his missus appeared the other day to eat the berries on the Amelanchier




He was back yesterday [twice]



but the 2nd time, he had a 'new friend' with him

 

Saw the first of the large Dragonflies yesterday. Hoping to spot again for a picture.

Green Woodpecker seen this morning, with magpies chasing it away.

 

A very young seagull made use of the bird bath in the garden. Barely fledged by the look of it and it sat there for some while having a good soak.

 

Thick-legged flower beetle being spoilt for choice.


Magpie youngsters


@Sheal I've been wondering what the adult gulls do about taking a bath. I live a decent distance inland and have regular visits from herring gulls who are raising chicks on a neighbours roof. I've seen them sitting by my ground-level bath (a small paint roller tray) and having a preen, almost as if they're taking a sponge bath.

 

They will find water somewhere @Escarpment, a stream, river or even a puddle if it rains...and bird baths of course.

 

Not many people have a bird bath big enough! I've got a decent sized one but I think the gulls would tip it over - I've never seen them try to land on it.

 

Mine's a glazed pot base about 16 inches across and is sitting on the ground waiting to be relocated. Surprisingly many birds use it despite the fact there are 12 cats amongst neighbouring properties.