I am delighted to report that the Spotted Flycatchers are nesting in Normanby Park and is actually using a flycatcher box - at the moment the female is sitting and being fed by the male, I only hope that they survive the squirrels, I feel that I need to do a 24hr surveillance operation! Also the Tulip Tree is in flower and I never noticed until this morning - it is quite bizarre that it is actually full of stunningly beautiful flowers but unless you specifically look you don't notice them. Also pleased to report that the Treecreepers have been successful and the family can be spotted around the nest site - see post dated 14/5/10 (the answer to the question I posed was that Treecreepers were nesting behind the bark above the bat box!).
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| Tulip Tree full of flowers but can you see them! |
Double click this one - it is a sublime flower
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| No idea what this is but I can't ever remember seeing a golden fly before |
The Park is so special at the moment that even after spending 4 hours there this morning I couldn't resist a quick visit this evening - so to the deer park - the Red Deer stags are in tip top condition and I can only imagine the great battles to be had in the October rutting
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| Red Deer stag with Starlings fly catching from antlers (double click to see flys!) |
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| Fallow Deer - very rarely do you get this close - much shyer than the Reds |
Good luck with the Flycatchers - with so many Squirels at the park, it will be interesting to see if they survive. I wonder if there is anything you can put around the tree under the box, (grease) to keep them away?
ReplyDeleteThe Tulip tree is very atractive - can't say I've seen one before.
A bit of photoshop on the antlers to brighten up the starling, and you'll have a better picture.
Lots of Drone flies, Hover flies in the garden at the moment - best to enjoy and search out there names later.
Happy blogging! Nicholas
Hi Claire,the fly in your photo is only known by a latin name Tachina fera and is a parasitic species which lays it's egg on moth caterpillars.It is seen in spring and more commonly in the autumn.
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