tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post3425806420442372945..comments2024-03-27T19:59:10.159+00:00Comments on Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park birds: Ralph Hancockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-81822521421191543222021-04-28T17:16:17.375+01:002021-04-28T17:16:17.375+01:00Yes, that looks very like what I saw. Wonder why i...Yes, that looks very like what I saw. Wonder why it's <i>eligans</i> and not <i>elegans</i>?Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-1573984173979759612021-04-28T05:53:14.903+01:002021-04-28T05:53:14.903+01:00Thank you. Will look it up when I get back to the ...Thank you. Will look it up when I get back to the computer.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-80663669576237752982021-04-28T05:20:09.105+01:002021-04-28T05:20:09.105+01:00I wonder if the hoverfly could have been the so-ca...I wonder if the hoverfly could have been the so-called Spring Hoverfly, Epistrophe eligans- your description catches the feel of it.Conehead54https://www.blogger.com/profile/18423862602236191493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-57309404360636974412021-04-26T05:59:55.898+01:002021-04-26T05:59:55.898+01:00I was standing next to a small dark hoverfly with ...I was standing next to a small dark hoverfly with a hint of gold in the sunlight, wishing I could photograph or video it, or even identify it. But some things are beyond the reach of the camera in natural surroundings and I will leave the fake setups to the professionals.<br /><br />We have a few bees and millions of midges, which at least nourish the birds.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-11959693383578409292021-04-26T05:42:52.755+01:002021-04-26T05:42:52.755+01:00Always a joy to see the first Swifts of the season...Always a joy to see the first Swifts of the season. Haven't seen one myself yet but noticed a few reported over various water bodies such as 100+ at Staines yesterday. The only real arrival on my patch yesterday was a good number of Whitethroats after just the one the previous weekend.<br /><br />Saw my first Holly Blues at work last Monday & my first in the garden on Saturday. Sitting in the garden yesterday afternoon it was depressing how few insects were about- a Holly Blue, small white, a couple of hoverflies & 2 or 3 Hairy-footed Flower Bees & that was about it!Conehead54https://www.blogger.com/profile/18423862602236191493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-30390233755944991032021-04-26T04:24:09.261+01:002021-04-26T04:24:09.261+01:00I don't think Carrion Crows are too hard on th...I don't think Carrion Crows are too hard on the fingers -- unlike Starlings which dive-bomb you with their sharp little beaks and draw blood.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-73794900664253211622021-04-26T00:36:37.658+01:002021-04-26T00:36:37.658+01:00Crows' dexterity and nimbleness never fail to ...Crows' dexterity and nimbleness never fail to amaze. Neil's poor fingers though!<br /><br />Well, it stands to reason that, being Australian, everything will be upside down.TinĂºvielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04794275230697959519noreply@blogger.com