What's buzzing or flying near you 2025 ?

Opened the curtains this morning to see a Great Spotted Woodpecker on the feeders. That's the first time I've seen one visit these feeders, although years ago I did get one on my small window-mounted feeder!
Then an hour later he was in the silver birch drumming away on a branch. The wood chips were flying in all directions.

 

@Escarpment lovely photos, a very smart male. We regularly have both male and female GSWs on the feeders but never at the same time. However when they have offspring one of the parents will encourage the youngster to be nearby on the poles and will feed them there. Gradually it is encouraged further to the actual feeders to fend for itself.

 

A sparrow hawk settled in a garden chair just outside my conservatory door this morning, just for a couple of seconds then it was off.
I've found pigeon feathers fairly often in the garden recently, probably doves.

 

I bought a new feeder for mealworms a couple of weeks ago and it's very popular with all the little tits including the long tails. My old one was a tubular style and the bottom kept falling out and spilling all the contents. This one is all metal with a glass bowl so should last well and be easy to clean.

The robin can't get in but I make sure I spill a few around the edge where it can reach them.

 

A few of the 32 Cattle Egrets in the wind and rain a couple of days ago and not far from home.
Another recent arrival starting to colonise after the Little and Great Egrets.

 

I'm a little North of you, I always keep a lookout on my walks to see if they've arrived here yet. None spotted so far.

 

@Escarpment, that is surprising as there are usually a couple of hundred around the Somerset Levels or there have been in the last few years until early Spring when they disappear.
Their well established cousin, Little Egret in Poole harbour this morning.

 

Stock Dove, Not a common bird here so nice to see one clearly.

 

@Escarpment Catcott Nature reserve often has many many cattle egrets seen from the main hide.

 

Yes, I know they are on the big reserves near Glastonbury, but those are inaccessible to me without a car. I was hoping they would spread out into the ordinary farmland nearer to me.