WHAT'S BUZZING OR FLYING NEAR YOU 2019

Discussion in 'Wildlife Corner' started by shiney, Jan 9, 2019.

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  1. Sian in Belgium

    Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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    Even before my morning coffee, I can tell there is more to this orchid stick than normal....

    No idea what it is? Not a damselfly, as the wings are longer than the body, but resting it has a similar outline. Antenna, though....

    As Olive would say: “Heeelp!”

    33728F07-E98D-464C-8C67-72D21900D656.jpeg
     
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      Last edited: Jul 26, 2019
    • Scrungee

      Scrungee Well known for it

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      Beautiful Demoiselle

      Beautiful Demoselle.jpg
       
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      • hydrogardener

        hydrogardener Total Gardener

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        American Goldfinches breed this time of year when the thistle plants are going to seed. The males are absolutely magnificent in their breeding plumage. I also observed a female collecting nest-building material.

        American Goldfinch.jpg
         
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        • FlyFifer

          FlyFifer Gardener

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          A hover fly and a horse fly by the looks of it

          DSC_7637 (Large).JPG

          And a bee

          DSC_7641 (Large).JPG
           
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          • Scrungee

            Scrungee Well known for it

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            Hornet mimic Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria)

            hover 2019A.jpg

            Common blue Damselfly

            Damsel 2019A.jpg
             
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            • NigelJ

              NigelJ Total Gardener

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              Scarlet Tiger (I think)
              Scarlet Tiger.JPG
               
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              • Sheal

                Sheal Total Gardener

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                I saw a field full of geese today which suggests they are gathering to migrate. I'm sure this is much earlier than usual up here?
                 
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                • strongylodon

                  strongylodon Old Member

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                  Some birds are already on the move @Sheal. they may have moulted and are just gathering as while moulting they can't fly. It would be a bit early for Geese.

                  Wasp Spider with lunch, first one I have seen this year.
                  wasp 1.JPG

                  wasp 3.JPG
                   
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                  • Sheal

                    Sheal Total Gardener

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                    I hadn't thought about them moulting @strongylodon but I should have. My resident pheasant is moulting badly and looking the worse for wear at the moment.
                     
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                    • strongylodon

                      strongylodon Old Member

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                      @Sheal Talking about birds on the move,at Ferrybridge, Fleet lagoon between Weymouth and Portland there was an early returning (distant) Wheatear, a very early Brent Goose and a Whimbrel.
                      Brent here for the winter (!) and the Wheatear and Whimbrel will slowly make their way back to West Africa for the winter.
                      WHEAT 1.jpg

                      Brent Goose.
                      BRENT 1.JPG

                      Whimbrel.
                      WHIMBREL 3.jpg
                       
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                      • strongylodon

                        strongylodon Old Member

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                        Radipole RSPB (now unnecessarily renamed Weymouth Wetlands).
                        Cutie time!
                        Mallard ducklings half asleep.
                        DUCKLING.JPG

                        The second brood for these Great Crested Grebes and the emerging young due to their colour and pattern are referred to as 'humbugs' and sit on the parents back:smile:
                        GCG 6.JPG

                        GCG 4.JPG

                        GCG 5.JPG

                        Great White Egret, 30 years after the first Little Egrets breed in the UK the Great White is now becoming a more frequent sight as it is now breeding in several places around the country and not a rare sight anymore
                        GWE 3.JPG

                        GWE 1.JPG

                        Cormorant hanging out to dry.
                        CORMORANT.JPG
                         
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                          Last edited: Aug 6, 2019
                        • Sheal

                          Sheal Total Gardener

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                          Hmmm....do they know something we don't @strongylodon ?
                           
                        • shiney

                          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                          Our blackbirds are raising young for the third time in the Euonymous. Is it normal to have three broods in a season?

                          I'm only guessing that they're the same ones as they are nesting in the same place when there is an enormous amount of choice in our garden.

                          It's interesting to watch their actions. When they're bringing live food to the nest they either stop on the summerhouse roof or the lawn nearby and spend quite a long time looking around before deciding it's safe to fly to the nest. What I find interesting is that they don't take any notice of us and fly straight to the nest even when we're walking past the Euonymous.
                           
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                          • Sian in Belgium

                            Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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                            @shiney, I think that birds are able to recognise individual people, and are more intelligent than we give them credit for. Your blackbirds have probably realised that you are no threat, and indeed provide food for their babies...

                            As a teenager, I ended up with a hand-tame collared dove (lovelorn when his mate gave up on his awful nesting attempts, and went off with another bird), and robin (who developed a taste for my guinea-pig’s food). Both birds remained in the area after I went to university, and would fly down to say “hello” when I came home in the holidays, with much excitement.

                            When we lived in High Wycombe, there was a robin who narrowly escaped a cat, loosing his tail feathers in the process. I felt sorry for Tail-less, and so tossed him titbits whenever I was weeding/digging. He brought his missus and fledglings to see me each year. I hope he’s forgiven me for moving to Belgium!
                             
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                            • strongylodon

                              strongylodon Old Member

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                              Blackbirds often have three broods but early August would normally be the latest to have one. Some move around the country after breeding so they disappear from the garden for a few :smile:months and come back in the Autumn.:smile:
                               
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