Tuesday 23rd August 2005 Late Report
August 10th 2005 Garden Kelowna British
Columbia Canada
A garden report from over here. Nothing-unusual
today. American Robin, several House Finches, American
Goldfinches and House Sparrows at the feeder, plus 3 Mourning
Doves and a Black- capped Chickadee. We were surprised to
see a Song Sparrow as they are usually a winter visitor to our
garden, but were very unhappy to see the neighbor's cat take it an hour or
so later! In the sky today a Turkey Vulture flew over and a
brief visit from a Stellars Jay later. August 15th –16th -17th
2005. A few days camping in one of the National Parks. Some of the
same birds - American Robins and Stellars Jays. Others were Common
Raven and American Crow, but a treat to see a Varied Thrush,
Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Wilson’s Warblers
and an American Dipper in the campsite! On leaving the park
we saw a Common Yellowthroat in an almost deserted wetland.
Other sightings of possible interest in the park were a Black Bear
(about 2 years old) and one of the many butterflies was a new one for us -
Lorquin's Admiral! (Doreen)
Friday 12th August 2005 Garden Dumpton Thanet
At 15-45hrs this afternoon a Willow Warbler drop
into my garden only to be chased off by one of the Great Tits. (Gadget)
Thursday 11th August 2005 Garden Dumpton Thanet
I
have recorded 2 specimens of the, very impressive, Hoverfly (Volucella
zonaria). So big, they could easily be mistaken for Hornets;
they were both watched feeding on buddleia in my back garden. The only
other sighting of note was a juvenile Willow Warbler that appeared
briefly while I was checking the contents of the moth trap. (Dylan)
Wednesday 10th August 2005 Garden Dumpton
Thanet
Still fairly quiet around the garden. Butterflies have included Meadow
Brown, Gatekeeper, Large White, Red Admiral and Painted Lady. The 3rd
garden Hummingbird Hawk-moth (of 2005) was watched
feeding on a buddleia on a couple of occasions whilst recent birds
have included a juvenile Common Whitethroat and a family party of Wrens.
Swifts are still passing overhead, in small numbers, with occasional
views of Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. Starlings are now a very
rare visitors to the feeding station, their place being taken by the large
flocks of immature House Sparrows that have gathered in the area,
no doubt attracted by the ripening wheat crop! (Dylan)
Wednesday 3rd August 2005 Garden Dumpton Thanet
It's been rather quiet around the garden this past couple of weeks. A Hummingbird
Hawk-moth was nectaring on Red Valerian in the front garden whilst I
have recorded 2 Painted Ladies amongst the more numerous Red
Admiral, Comma, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and Large White butterflies
visiting the large buddleia bushes in the back garden. Hoverflies
have provided much entertainment with several species present including,
the rather spectacular, Volucella pellucens. Birds have
been conspicuous by their absence, although a Lesser Whitethroat in
the hedge on 26th July was a new garden species. Overhead a steady passage
of Swifts is testament to the fast approaching autumn and, today
(3rd Aug), the first Swallows were congregating on the
telephone wires along Vine Close. Moth numbers in the garden trap are
quite good, although there is still a distinct lack of migrant species.
(Dylan)
Monday
1st August 2005 Garden Chelsfield Orpington
We had a Wasp Beetle in the garden over the weekend. I
have never seen one before, but probably because I haven't been looking. (David
Wanostrocht)
Monday
1st August 2005 Garden Ash
Late news for Saturday am
A juvenile Cuckoo paid a couple of visits to my neighbours large
garden, initially fooling the local Blackbirds & H Sparrows
into thinking it was a Sparrowhawk (?) judging by the alarm calls.
It then reappeared at 11am during a fierce downpour & decided to sit
in the most exposed branch of a dead tree for 20 mins or more,
occasionally shaking its bedraggled feathers, truly acting as dumb as it
looked! Afforded great views (why don't I get into digiscoping! (Ben Ring)
