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Saw a stonechat while we were out walking - a first for me. Then we saw another one!

A single Buzzard being mobbed by a seagull and pigeon, they flew past at roof height.

A Great Tit eating a caterpillar and an Orange Tip butterfly on Cow Parsley.

Maybugs!! They were clattering on the window. The dogs think they are great sport, they hunt them down and crunch them up. Yuk!

Not able to fly yet, swan with 3 cygnets on canal. Dad was approaching fast when I took this picture. A bit further along the canal was a duck with 3 chicks, no dad in sight.

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Also swimming along was a moorhen. Hovering over an adjacent field was a kestrel being harassed by 2 crows. I've no idea why they do this.

Still seeing some queen wasps about and yesterday saw a queen hornet. It didn't seem to have yellow legs so I think it was OK and not one of the Asian invaders. I just hope it doesn't build a nest in one of our buildings.

I was planting out yesterday afternoon and heard a strange noise. We get plenty of those with trains, helicopters, aircraft revving up on the ground, explosions etc being near 2 military establishments and the railway. This was similar to machinery or garden equipment but not quite and it sounded quite near. Got of the ground (with difficulty) and looked around and saw, under the shade of the copper beech a swarm of bees. I was thinking of shutting myself in the shed out of the way but they slowly moved on to be someone else's problem/benefit. Only ever once in the past 40 years seen a swarm - I hid in the gh then Smile I think I'm a wuss.

(08-06-2023, 09:33 AM)JJB Wrote: [ -> ]I was planting out yesterday afternoon and heard a strange noise. We get plenty of those with trains, helicopters, aircraft revving up on the ground, explosions etc being near 2 military establishments and the railway. This was similar to machinery or garden equipment but not quite and it sounded quite near. Got of the ground (with difficulty) and looked around and saw, under the shade of the copper beech a swarm of bees. I was thinking of shutting myself in the shed out of the way but they slowly moved on to be someone else's problem/benefit. Only ever once in the past 40 years seen a swarm - I hid in the gh then Smile I think I'm a wuss.

It works on both threads       . I’ve only seen a swarm once. Fascinating to watch.

(08-06-2023, 10:05 AM)Small chilli Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-06-2023, 09:33 AM)JJB Wrote: [ -> ]I was planting out yesterday afternoon and heard a strange noise. We get plenty of those with trains, helicopters, aircraft revving up on the ground, explosions etc being near 2 military establishments and the railway. This was similar to machinery or garden equipment but not quite and it sounded quite near. Got of the ground (with difficulty) and looked around and saw, under the shade of the copper beech a swarm of bees. I was thinking of shutting myself in the shed out of the way but they slowly moved on to be someone else's problem/benefit. Only ever once in the past 40 years seen a swarm - I hid in the gh then Smile I think I'm a wuss.

It works on both threads       . I’ve only seen a swarm once. Fascinating to watch.

I thought I was quick enough deleting the other one! You caught me 

Swarms of bees are very docile - they want a new home, that's all. We used to keep bees and collect swarms in the neighbourhood. Fascinating to watch them. Unfortunately, my husband became allergic to them so we had to give up. Ironically, the year after we gave away all our hives, a wild swarm appeared in the front hedge and we had to call for a local beekeeper to take them away.