A Day in the Sun

A bit of a lazy day today in Nythe, and why not. With the sun out and rain always forecast, it seemed like a good enough excuse to sit out in the garden and watch the wildlife go by.  First off it was 3 Buzzards circling high above and then several large gulls, mainly Lesser Black-backed Gulls and the odd Herring Gull drifting up on the thermals. A Swallow whizzed through the gap between the houses, which had I blinked I would have missed and a Pied Wagtail called from behind the houses at the back, which was the first for many moths.

A couple of Swifts came low down over the roof tops and then for the rest of the afternoon, they or maybe other birds were seen, with up to 3 together. In the back garden a Large Red Damselfly visited the pond, the first for the year in the back garden and other visitors to the Honeysuckle and Pyracantha were both Lasioglossum leucozonium and Bombus pratorum bees.

Bombus pratorum on the Honeysuckle

Lasioglossum leucozonium bee on the Pyracantha

Large Red Damselfly

Large Red Damselfly

Also in the Honeysuckle was a male House Sparrow, who worked his way along every stem and flower, picking out small insects. He did this for several minutes before flying off and then returning some 10 minutes later to do the same all over again.

House Sparrow in amongst the Honeysuckle

Then amongst the Roses

And back into the Honeysuckle

Before checking out the Pyracantha

The resident Collared Doves visited the feeders as did the local Wood Pigeons, House Sparrows and Starlings. Overhead small parties of Wood Pigeon passed by as did 2 Jackdaws and the local Carrion Crows.

One of the local Carrion Crows

And a daily visit by one the resident Wood Pigeons

And finally rain. Just a few drops, but rains rain. But at least I made the most of a glorious day.