The sun is shining and there is a definite feel of spring in the air. Although many of our winter visitors are still here it will not be long before they depart and our skies will be full of returning summer visitors. There have been a few reports of some trailblazers making shore already!
The question is which of our returning summer visitors are you most looking forward to having back?
I've given you a list of various species that will soon be gracing our skies so please tell us about which one you are looking forward to seeing and why, and if you do see it, tell us where and when (submit the sighting to Birdtrack too!)
I know there are lots more birds heading our way than I have added in the list, if you feel that i should have included another one we would be happy to hear about it! Of course if you get any pictures of migrant birds we would love to see them!
Warden Intern at Otmoor.
Hi Ian
I decided to choose hobby because I love trying to spot them flying low over lakes trying to catch insects. :-)
Best wishes Chris
Click Here to see my photos
No sun here AGAIN!! Had lots of frost this week; summer? Really? Are you sure?
Not sure how I'm meant to choose, as they all cause a thrill + loads of excitment for me!! Osprey, well of course, they used to join me in the summer in Aberdeenshire which I remember so fondly. Swifts + house martins in the village, hearing them, wow. Nightjar, I would love to see. They visit the wooded area not far - or so I've heard. I'll let you know if I'm sucessful this year!!
Ok yes I know summer is on the way, listening for that wonderful sound of the first swallow, love that sound, makes me grin from ear to ear for days :-)))) So eventually that was my choice.
'In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks' John Muir.
Excuse wobbily dyslexic spelling!
Woodpecker said: Hi Ian I decided to choose hobby because I love trying to spot them flying low over lakes trying to catch insects. :-)
Oh chris thats a stonker of a shot :)
It's both what you do and the way that you do it!
You cannot fly like an eagle with the wings of a wren. William Henry Hudson (1841 - 1922)
I voted for House Martins as this year I have 2 nests ready and waiting for them!
Rachel
It's not always easy to hug a hedgehog.
But that doesn't mean you shouldn't.
I went for Hobby .. simply because it was one of my first WOW moments of 2010.
We were stood between the two lagoons at Newport Wetlands, whilst they swooped and tried to catch the dragonflies over the ponds. Brilliant stuff!
Ant
"IT IS SAID THAT LIFE FLASHES BEFORE YOUR EYES BEFORE YOU DIE. THAT IS TRUE, IT'S CALLED LIVING."Death - Terry Pratchett (The Last Continent).
Swifts and Little Terns (the swallow of the sea) Such amasin wee birds. Fantastic to watch them fish on the Ythan .
Cheers
AL
If its no fun Yer no doin it right!
I chose Cuckoo, because there is nothing quite like that enigmatic call that just sums up summer for me. I have heard them in early April here at the Lodge before now - so I can't wait!
Claire
I went for Swift too - as they fly around the stram opposite my house - catching insects
Nick
Thank you
Growing old is inevitable - Growing up is optional !
My Photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/clan_ranald/
I'm not going to choose, it's too hard to! Aha!:-)I love them all and looking forward to hopefully observing/filming them all too! :-D
WFA
http://NatureonScreen.webs.com
They are all welcome so it's hard to choose. I voted for swallow because to me they are the epitome of summer. They are amazing little birds too. They travel all the way from sub-Saharan Africa, raise three broods sometimes four, and travel all the way back again. They are pretty feisty too. I once saw a flock of 50+ mob a kestrel.
TJ
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream