Lovely! Such a distinctive sight & sound. We have swifts in my area according to the birding reports, but I’ve not seen them.
I was so pleased to see gannets diving off Big Cumbrae last week, hopefully their numbers on Ailsa Craig are recovering after the avian flu.
We are on a site at the minute where there is a big sign saying ‘please do not feed the kites’. I have seen signs about not feeding seagulls and even pigeons before but never kites. There seems to be a lot of them around.
Quote: Originally posted by Oswestry Ed on 21/5/2026
Your either in Mid Wales or the Chilterns, We saw 2 Red Kites, 4 Buzzards, Green Woodpecker and a Peregrine on this evenings walk along Offas Dyke.
We are in Henley on Thames. Before this week I don’t think I have ever come across a kite but there are several around here.
Just back from the Lake District, heard at least one Cuckoo (it may have been just one moving around a lot!), saw Swifts, and a few Red Kites, Herons, Crested Grebe, Robins galore, and a few things that dived into bushes before I got a good enough look to identify them. Wasn't really looking out for the wildlife on this visit, but plenty if you wanted it.
One thing that struck me on the near 300 mile each way journey, much along the A1/A1(M), was the number of roadkill Deer I saw! Quite a range of types too. By far the highest type of road casualty I spotted.
Bit worrying really, as much as I dislike seeing wildlife carnage on our roads as my first concern, even a tiny Muntjac Deer is a big enough animal to do serious damage to a car if you hit it!
Quote: Originally posted by Pixie_Hez on 21/5/2026
Quote: Originally posted by Oswestry Ed on 21/5/2026
Your either in Mid Wales or the Chilterns, We saw 2 Red Kites, 4 Buzzards, Green Woodpecker and a Peregrine on this evenings walk along Offas Dyke.
We are in Henley on Thames. Before this week I don’t think I have ever come across a kite but there are several around here.
Pixie_Hez could also have been near Stirling / Doune (Ardgaty Farm) or near New Galloway / Laurieston in Galloway - where also there’s a Red Kite circular route that you can drive or cycle. Literally hundreds come to the Laurieston feeding station, very noisy. Come overhead at the Loch Ken campsite too. Also plenty further up north at Strathpeffer.
Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 22/5/2026
One thing that struck me on the near 300 mile each way journey, much along the A1/A1(M), was the number of roadkill Deer I saw! Quite a range of types too. By far the highest type of road casualty I spotted.
Bit worrying really, as much as I dislike seeing wildlife carnage on our roads as my first concern, even a tiny Muntjac Deer is a big enough animal to do serious damage to a car if you hit it!
Deer numbers have exploded. We have Sika up here too (escapees). It’s one reason I’m keeping an eye on the consultation about reintroducing the Lynx as their main prey is deer.
We don’t see them here, but there’s no sign of the swallows gathering yet.
Although the eclipse was a total non-event here due to the cloud cover, it was strange to hear skeins of geese flying overhead. Definitely not their normal behaviour at 7pm: they usually fly out to the fields at dawn & home to roost at dusk.
Skeins of geese overhead, returning from Svalbard to overwinter here. And the Curlews are back down to the coast, off their nesting areas up in the moorland hills nearby.
They all bring the sound of autumn. Add the reddening leaves of our locally rare Spindle Tree with its pretty pink berries, and October has arrived.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Nature Diary
via mobile 17/5/2026 at 8:56am
