Bee Eater in the UK

I am excited to report………….

Rare bee-eater birds have returned to the same nesting site in the UK for the first time ever.

The colourful birds, which are usually found in North Africa or the Mediterranean, have come back to UK shores as experts say it is now too hot in their normal habitats.

Mark Thomas from the RSPB said: “Bee-eaters are like no other bird you’re likely to see in the UK.

“Not only are they indescribably beautiful, but they put on a great show as they leap to catch flying insects mid-air.

“Bee-eaters have generally turned up in the UK on a very ad-hoc basis, so far never re-using the same nest site twice.

Art for Wellness – The love of birds

My passion for learning about birds began at school from an enthusiastic teacher who was an ornithologist and used to take children on nature walks. (Debbie)

I have been observing and learning about birds from being a young man and find this a relaxing hobby to bird watch, being a member of the RSPB for many years. (Ivan)

Ivan & Debbie’s joint interest and love of birds takes them all over the UK to visit various wildlife locations in their spare time or on holiday.

For many years, creating a bird list to capture has been seen as a fun way to remember.

One of the memories was our delight in seeing a bee eater in Norfolk in 2022, a rare sight and joyous occasion where we were lucky enough to see them for ourselves.

What made it extra special for me is that I painted a bee eater in Lockdown and never dreamed I would see one for real (Debbie)

The bee-eater is also available in exclusive art-designed merchandise from Art for Wellness

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Debbie & Ivan Crouch – originally published 2023

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