Nature quiz.

Snapped one last week amongst others. Lockdown bird watching from the front window!

Swallows arrived today............

Lucky you.

A couple of pics of a Red Kite flying high above the garden. Not the greatest of photos as it's quite a way up but you can really see its distinctive tail.
It's a huge bird, bigger than a Buzzard and when it does come lower quite a sight to behold.
As a kid I think they may even have died out in this country. Have been used to seeing them across country and by the edge of motorways down South but now coming into the towns.
A heart warming sight in such times.
Must have 4 or 6 Goldfinches in the garden this year as well. Most I've ever seen in our garden.

I'm mid fifties and as a kid Red Kites were only present in the UK in very small numbers in Wales. Really am pleased they've now recovered in numbers in other regions, not seen one personally in our own fair county, but maybe someone else can enlighten us ast whether we have a chance?

Heading up the motorways they are certainly in Yorkshire as I've seen them soaring overhead so would imagine it's just a matter of time before you see them in Cumbria.
You are in for a treat. A stunning looking bird. Very red if you see them lower down and a very striking underside.
I managed to see one quite close by here sitting in a tree in a field and they take your breath away.

Yes, I've seen them in Yorkshire, Harrogate to be precise. Magnificent sight, I agree.

Heading up the motorways they are certainly in Yorkshire as I've seen them soaring overhead so would imagine it's just a matter of time before you see them in Cumbria.
You are in for a treat. A stunning looking bird. Very red if you see them lower down and a very striking underside.
I managed to see one quite close by here sitting in a tree in a field and they take your breath away.

Please be careful climbing trees at your age NCF.

Yes, that is absolutely right, Bumble. I only noticed it because of that clacking stone type noise.

I had a stonechat in a scrubby hawthorn in my garden today in North London. That stone banging call is really loud for a small bird. They do seem to be getting more widespread.

Good to see this little one in the garden earlier today. Growing up it seemed like we had quite a number in the garden but doesn't seem to be so many about these days.

Had a good laugh today, two Wood Pigeons trying to use the bird bath at the same. What a brawl they had. I didn't have my phone handy, would have made a great pic

Had a good laugh today, two Wood Pigeons trying to use the bird bath at the same. What a brawl they had. I didn't have my phone handy, would have made a great pic

I was frantically scrambling for my camera yesterday when I noticed I had three elusive visitors all at once... great spotted woodpecker, jay and male bullfinch. Missed it, bah!

Nope, ah well.[instagram]https://www.instagram.com/p/B_XHieeJJn3/[/instagram]

I was trying to post a pic of a bull finch I saw this morning, the first one I've seen around home for a few years. It was an amazing red, so bright I thought it was some escaped exotic caged bird til I got nearer.

I', hearing a lot of people saying they are seeing them at the moment, I wonder if they are on the increase the way goldfinches have hugely increased in recent years.

Flipping heck, I saw the instagram button on this site so tried it. Flipping awful, stretched it and taken other info.

Can someone remove it please. total load of rubbish.

Right on the very edge of my 30 minute walk from home where the ploughed fields meet the town edges. Was just about to turn back when a pair of Hares raced across the field. What a heart warming and uplifting sight it was. Such beautiful animals.

One of several families of ducks on river Eden between Waverley Bridge and Bypass.

Longer walk across the fields today and managed to catch a glimpse of one of nature's great sights - boxing hares.
Only seen this a few times ever in my life and was shaking with excitement hence the blurred pictures but hopefully you get an idea of things.
Such wonderful creatures and a privilege to see this today.

Walking later on in the day came across a badger which promptly shot off when it saw me. Built up a fair head of steam.
In a race with Cole Stockton, given a fair wind and a ploughed field, my money would be on the badger.

I could watch Beavers all day,and sometimes do.

It’ll be the only beaver you’ll be seeing at your age as well.

I saw a deer the other day in the pentlands, barely a quarter mile past the edinburgh bypass - only the second time I've seen one in the wild with my own eyes (and the first time was just last year up past creiff in the middle of a forest).

I have a photo, but by the time I'd got my phone out and at the speed it nashed off, it's barely recognisable as a 30x30 pixel block in a 3120x2048 photo.

Kingfisher seen on the River Eden this morning not far off the car park in Rickerby Park.

Great stuff Yorkie spent many many hours walking the Eden as a youngster can't ever recall seeing a kingfisher well done

I see the kingfisher on occasion when walking the dogs but have never been able to get a photo.
You done really well to photo it as they are fast little buggars.