Not what I expect to see in November!
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Same as all HTUK forums, be courteous, polite and tolerant, remember everyone is entitled to an opinion, even if you don't agree with it
Same as all HTUK forums, be courteous, polite and tolerant, remember everyone is entitled to an opinion, even if you don't agree with it
Re: Not what I expect to see in November!
The blue sky is impressive as well! Do you think that bird is an escapee from some aviary, or is it an occasional visitor?
Re: Not what I expect to see in November!
An occasional visitor, lost on migration - headed north instead of south.
Re: Not what I expect to see in November!
I suppose its not going to survive the winter then. Shame for such a pretty bird
- Yorkshire Kris
- Posts: 10163
- Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:59 am
- Location: Rural South Wakefield, Yorkshire Lat 53.64 Long-1.54
Re: Not what I expect to see in November!
Bee eater?
Re: Not what I expect to see in November!
Hard to know! It's doing OK at the moment, apparently it found a wasp nest and is tucking into them. It could realise the error of direction and head back south, or it might not (in which case, yes it will die - that's evolution for you, cull out the faulty migration gene mutation).flounder wrote:I suppose its not going to survive the winter then. Shame for such a pretty bird
Read the filenameYorkshire Kris wrote:Bee eater?
Some better pics by other birders with better cameras than mine:
http://whitleybirder.blogspot.com/2012/ ... 31112.html
http://birdingsometimes.blogspot.com/20 ... prise.html
- Yorkshire Kris
- Posts: 10163
- Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:59 am
- Location: Rural South Wakefield, Yorkshire Lat 53.64 Long-1.54
Re: Not what I expect to see in November!
I didn't cheat, honest.
Re: Not what I expect to see in November!
Bee Eaters are found throughout the European continent so it will easily survive here, however there are no breeding colonies here they are just passing visitors as it may have been migrating towards Spain from the continent.
Impressive to find one that far north though.
Impressive to find one that far north though.
Re: Not what I expect to see in November!
Awe, thats a shame.... I hope it survives Conifers.lost on migration - headed north instead of south.
One beautiful sighting.
Re: Not what I expect to see in November!
Only in southern Europe; they don't breed regularly north of the Alps.stephenprudence wrote:Bee Eaters are found throughout the European continent
This bird is still doing OK today, despite last night's frost.
- Yorkshire Kris
- Posts: 10163
- Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:59 am
- Location: Rural South Wakefield, Yorkshire Lat 53.64 Long-1.54
Re: Not what I expect to see in November!
Conifers wrote:Only in southern Europe; they don't breed regularly north of the Alps.stephenprudence wrote:Bee Eaters are found throughout the European continent
This bird is still doing OK today, despite last night's frost.
Not much in the way of food for it I guess.
Re: Not what I expect to see in November!
Wasps. Apparently it has found a still-active wasp nest in a garden, which is why it is staying in the same spot for so long.kata wrote:Should be,
Berries, worms, Insects etc.
It won't touch berries or worms!
Re: Not what I expect to see in November!
Thanks Conifers, hope the wasps its found last it till spring,
A few less wasps for me to worry about.....
A few less wasps for me to worry about.....
Re: Not what I expect to see in November!
Strange coincidence, a pair of European Bee Eaters bred in Northumberland some years ago raising (I think) three young.
This one is no doubt on passage to Sub Sahara Africa as not all migrating birds fly years. Some fly as far south as Botswana! why they need to fly that far I don't know.
The bird is a beauty and hope it stays for a while although tonights temperatures might change it's mind.
This one is no doubt on passage to Sub Sahara Africa as not all migrating birds fly years. Some fly as far south as Botswana! why they need to fly that far I don't know.
The bird is a beauty and hope it stays for a while although tonights temperatures might change it's mind.