Just come back from a few days in the Pyrenees . On the way down we stopped at a walled village perched on the side of the valley. While walking round and going through an arch at the front of the village church, a cat appeared and seemed to be crouching down as it walked along . The reason soon became apparent - it was being 'bombed' by swallows upset at it's presence. Due to the bird's speed this is not a good photo - I'm surprised anything came out at all
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The birds did seem to make an a buzzing sound as they passed the cat - extra effort flapping their wings?
Later on in the actual mountains managed to get this shot - any butterfly experts here?
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Funny thing is, ive been leaning toward Oystercatcher. Peep ....peep, typical wader type call. The bill seemed broad and yellow, but it was a fleeting glance as it headed waway.Call description is perfect for Oystercatcher and they always call in flight. Description isn't quite right but I am pretty sure that's what you saw
I agree. Having done some homework on the net, it seems even the RSPB have come in for criticism for something theyve done re talk of these birds . At that point i decided talk could be unwise.Given that this is potentially a Montagu's harrier strongly suggest you don't post further details on here
Its a swallowtail, Papilio machaon. http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?species=machaonJust come back from a few days in the Pyrenees . On the way down we stopped at a walled village perched on the side of the valley. While walking round and going through an arch at the front of the village church, a cat appeared and seemed to be crouching down as it walked along . The reason soon became apparent - it was being 'bombed' by swallows upset at it's presence. Due to the bird's speed this is not a good photo - I'm surprised anything came out at all
View attachment 91553
The birds did seem to make an a buzzing sound as they passed the cat - extra effort flapping their wings?
Later on in the actual mountains managed to get this shot - any butterfly experts here?
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That's a really lovely picture.
The local woodpecker (great spotted) population is booming. Problem is, they're all coming to my garden at the same time to stuff them silly on the suet blocks. Or at least they would, if only they didn't spend so much time chasing each other away. Amazing aerial acrobatics and an astonishing amount of noise. I think I need to get some more feeder poles to spread them out a bit more.
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Just heard weird snorting noises in the garden, so got a torch to see what it was
I've heard little noises and shuffling before but this was quite loud grunting etc, I'm a little worried that I disturbed them whilst they were "courting" as I would like lots of baby hedgehogs.
One of my snuffling visitors died a month or so ago (my landlords found his/her body in one of the barns) and either its mate has also died or it only came to my garden because t'other liked it and has now chosen somewhere else to feed. It's surprising how much I miss the noise each evening.