Just like me Wari, 89 was my final total last year and Sunday’s Garden Warbler takes me to 89 this year.
Usually have them in my garden but they usually end up at the bottom of the garden so never manage to get a decent picture.
I’m now sat drinking my morning coffee with around 20 Bee-eaters using the top of a Mulberry tree in front of me to hunt. That in itself is a fine way to start the day but their presence seems to be emboldening other species to explore the foliage beneath. So far Collared and Spotted Flycatcher , Eastern Bonellis, Garden, Willow Warbler , Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap , a couple of unidentified Warblers, 5 Blackbirds and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.So near yet so far…
In our eight years at our current abode I have just one record of Bee Eater and that was ‘heard only’ one hazy May day in 2020. So it was elation tinged with a teeny bit of frustration when I first heard, and then saw a magnificent flock of c50 flying down the valley yesterday morning. The frustration because I was track clearing 3kms from home at the time and they must have passed the house on their way. Incredibly I had a second group 4 hours later while I was deep in the forest so numbers difficult to estimate, perhaps just 15 or so. But honestly, talk about London buses etc.
I shall be in the recovery position at home stationed with ‘scope and camera at the ready today, I live in Hope as a man from Derbyshire once said to me
We’ve started Birdforums own live action Autumnwatch!
If you marinade them for a few hours then slow roast them (say at 165° fan oven) they're not tough at all Ken!
