Any Bee-eater sightings yet?

[aphrodite]

I thought I heard one but when I went outside it had flown. Has anyone seen any yet?

I’m hoping ApusApus can answer this. Earlier something flew by me with a very low deep buzzing. I just saw the tail end of something quite a bit larger than a bee/wasp, and looked very yellow from behind, I just caught a glimpse. I wonder what it might have been, any idea?

[MacManiac]

We have had them in Argaka for about a week.

[Spock]

They've been coming over in the many hundreds this last week in the Polis area.
You can hear them all day long.
Look or listen particularly in the morning or evening.

As for your other sighting, do you think it was a bird?
If so, Golden Orioles are also migrating through and Willow Warblers are around in larger numbers.
But buzzing suggests an insect of some kind.

[cyprusmax47]

I could hear them since one week but since yesterday they are using the usual wire outside my bedroom...

here a pic from yesterday


and this photo from last spring which is one of my favourite


Max

[Dominic]

We've had them for a while now.

[ApusApus]

Aphrodite, the only thing I can think of that is bigger than a Bee or Wasp and has a yellow tail end is an Oriental Hornet!

Oriental Hornet Sample.jpg (108.88 KiB) Viewed 4260 times

Shane

[trevnhil]

Up until about 10 days ago we had loads of those hornets. I was topping a water dish up twice a day for them, and fishing some out that had slipped in .

[bromerzz]

Played golf at Secret Valley today and you could hear their continuous calling for the 4.5hrs we played. Been passing across the last of the island where we live for the last week. Love to hear them.

[ApusApus]

In defence of Hornets, some of their plus points https://sciencing.com/benefits-hornets-8741480.html! In short, Hornets have a place in the environment but it is probably prudent that where you have a nest in close proximity then get it removed professionally otherwise leave them alone & let them get on with their lives!


Shane

[trevnhil]

The water bowl was actually put out on the patio for our dog to use. But I have never seen him drinking from it. The hornets do no harm, and although I am in close proximity to the bowl a few times a day they never bother me, and I have no fear of them... As I said if a hornet is 'swimming' in the bowl having fallen in, I will fish it out and place it on the ground...

[aphrodite]

Aphrodite, the only thing I can think of that is bigger than a Bee or Wasp and has a yellow tail end is an Oriental Hornet!

Shane

Thanks Shane, the hornet could well have been what whizzed past my ear and I only just caught the tail end of him.

Up until about 10 days ago we had loads of those hornets. I was topping a water dish up twice a day for them, and fishing some out that had slipped in .

Don’t think I would get up close and personal like you, trevnhil, I am unfortunately anaphylactic with wasp stings but do always have an epipen close by but luckily I’ve never been stung in Cyprus. I’m a little nervous now as there seems to be a lot of wasps around and almost crashed the car when one got in with me.

Since I heard the loan bee-eater yesterday, I still haven’t seen any .

Max, your second photo of the bee-eater is great, it’s my favourite too.