Bee-eaters nesting in the UK

[Pertinax]

Fantastic. i wonder if they have been there before, unseen

I doubt it very much. This is only the third record of them nesting in the UK in the last seventy years approx. (Sussex 1955, Northumberland 2004(?)) There was something of an influx earlier this year with several Spring sightings along the South Coast, notably 4 birds appeared at Portland in Dorset in late May/early June and the same number were seen at Dungeness briefly during this period. I do wonder if either/both groups were the same four birds that eventually settled to nest on the IOW. Possibly.

 

[Pertinax]

Possible... they (National Trust) don't actually say that both pairs bred, I don't think they are sure themselves yet- only that there are 8 young + the four adults.

I'd like to retract that bit but its too late- they obviously did know it was two pairs all along- just didn't say till later.

 

[Pertinax]

Bee-eaters still haven't left- or at least not up to a couple of days ago they hadn't. 12 - the full complement of adults and young were seen in the Eastern part of island on 16/9.

 

[DesertRhino150]

There are another two pairs of European bee-eaters breeding again in Britain, this time in Cumbria, at Hanson UK's Low Gelt sand quarry near Brampton. The RSPB have set up a watchpoint nearby so they can be seen.

The RSPB: News: Rare bee-eaters breed in Cumbria

 

[Pertinax]

Some people suggested they might return to the IOW but they didn't.

 

[Davef68]

Wonder if it's the same two pairs? Actually, it's a bit intruiging

IOW I can understand but Brampton is a long way from the South coast!

 

[Pertinax]

Wonder if it's the same two pairs? Actually, it's a bit intruiging

IOW I can understand but Brampton is a long way from the South coast!

It was suggested they are 'site faithful' and will return to the same nest sites year after year. However I don't think that would apply to the overshoots that nest occassionally in the UK. But interesting that there are again two pairs, as last year.