Swifts and Starling parenthood

  
The latest visitors to my garden, photos had to be into the sun and when I sat there in the evening with the sun behind me they didn't show up. An interesting moth if the ID is correct, they arrived in cargo and are seen around the UK.

Two Starling videos, click the blue links

Starlings in my protected cage   it's an old rabbit run which was constructed for Olive when she was babysitting her daughters Rabbit, I noticed birds were using it. Any bird up to Blackbirds can comfortably go in and out, it stops feral pigeons eating everything

Starlings bathing, it's chaos

The first Starling juveniles turned up in my garden on 26/05/2026, 2 juveniles and 1 adult, by late afternoon there were over 30, with around 10 juveniles

My Swifts returned on 22/05/2026, the first sighting was when they flew at speed into the nest in my gable, which they've used for at least 4 years

I've seen as many as 13 House Martins at one time which is more than usual, so far only two nests can be seen with tentative looks at other gables where the remains of previous successful nests offer an opportunity

Still 4 Tree Sparrows coming most days

Both Blackbirds are feeding their brood but I don't know where they are

Feral Pigeon, less of them after I set up my anti-pigeon cage on my lawn, it lets birds up to Blackbirds get in and out comfortably, and I can move it around

Large Pale Masoner aka Wakely's Dowd Blastobasis lacticolella Moth, all of that from ObsIdentify and various websites. " Originally not a British species, this moth was accidentally introduced  with fruit and vegetables and appears to be established and expanding its range. It was first recorded in Kent in 1946 (as B. decolorella). In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common."

Scottish Wood Ant, somewhere near Loch Insh!

Common Tern left out in error from my Webs records

Another two photos from Danger Point, Arbroath, not unusual to see a Kittiwake there

Herring Gull

East Haven Webs Survey for May

   
Webs again (Wetland Bird Survey BTO) where birds using the beach at East Haven and inshore waters off the coast are recorded, not all birds seen on the beach such as Greenfinches and House Sparrows they are not recorded. Some species appear on my lists that were included before the system changed some years ago.

Note, at some point I accidentally switched from Auto focus to Manual and I had to delete what would/could have been good photos. I'm not saying "I'll never do that again" I'm getting old and my mind wanders....

Goldeneye female near its nest on Loch Garten

Yellow Wagtail near East Haven, the only photo I managed of the male of a pair seen due to my incompetence. The bird was near enough the focus point by chance, not skill

Tree Sparrow, the photo taken before I nudged the Auto/Manual which led to many photos being out of clear focus. It was on the wires at the car park

Meadow Pipit with Craneflies

The Swallows were collecting mud from a field to build their nest

House Sparrow, many of them are seen in the brambles that grow along the railway line in the village

Redpoll, from Loch Garten. This was an orphan photo while visiting Kingussie

The wind was keeping the butterflies in sheltered areas, including this Small White

Sandwich Terns announced their arrival with their distinctive calls, around 17 were there with a few Common Terns

Grey Heron, this photo confirms they are just a bag of bones and feathers

19 Ringed Plover, as expected when they were flushed by walkers they continued their northward migration flight, 4 Dunlin remained along with 3 Turnstones. I could hear a single Whimbrel calling but couldn't find it as it flew away with the Curlews

Common Terns, Montrose Basin

   

I wondered how a count of the nesting Common Terns could be done as they can't be seen through the protected sides of the raft, and then I found out when they were flushed by people on various craft! From a few photos I counted 73 Terns in flight, they returned quickly once the people realised their mistake.

Elsewhere around the Basin, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, a Wood Sandpiper, Red Kite and still a flock of Pink-footed Geese.

Black-tailed Godwits summer plumage      Shelducks "courting"      Pale-bellied Brent Goose, distant in heat haze

Pale-bellied Brent Goose, seen distantly through the heat haze with a flock of Pink-footed Geese

Black-tailed Godwits

Canada Geese, a different group, the previous one had one with a white head

Gadwall, still a few pairs at the Lurgies

Grey Heron in the Lurgies Burn

Eider pair

Shelduck

Common Terns which were flushed from the Tern Raft by a group of kayaks, boards and an inflatable dinghy. Maybe a "keep your distance sign" and some education required

Whimbrel near the SWT Centre

Stock Dove on the wires at the SWT

Seems to be too many Red Deer on low ground in Glen Prosen area

Willow Warbler

One of the Kinnordy Osprey visitors