Two pairs of Grey Herons are building new nests on the Serpentine island, ignoring the old nests from last year -- though one of them did stand in an old nest for a while. The new nests are on the shore side of the island and easy to see. Here one of the pair reaches up to break off a twig.
This flurry of activity seems much too early to succeed. However, the alternating mild and cold spells seem to have confused all the birds. Great Crested Grebes were dancing and looking for nest sites, Song Thrushes, Mistle Thrushes and Great Tits were singing, and pairs of Egyptian Geese were displaying noisily. Amid all this bustle one unpaired Egyptian has been sitting alone on a post near the Peter Pan statue for several days, looking rather miserable.
I visited the family of Egyptian Geese on the Round Pond and found only one of their brood with the parents, the smallest one. Meanwhile some idiot with a pair of greyhounds was letting them run around the pond. Of all dogs, greyhounds are the most dangerous to the wildlife in the park because of their speed, and I have often seen them killing squirrels which would have escaped from any other dog.
No sign of the male Tawny Owl today, sadly. It was chilly and he was probably inside the tree. A disappointment for several people who had come to see him.
The Bearded Tits were giving a fine show for the assembled watchers and photographers. It was easy to get pretty shots of them feeding on the reed heads. But here, for a change, is a less good picture of the two perched side by side among the reed stems, preening each other as sisters should.
At the bottom end of the Serpentine a small drama was unfolding. A pair of Mute Swans were engaged in a courtship display (1), and it seemed to have gone very well (2). But at that moment, a dominant male swan charged in, wings raised in threat, and separated the pair -- the female is on the right (3). And off he went with her, and started his own display with her. She was receptive to his advances (4).
As is well known, swans mate for life. But when they are first choosing a mate, there is scope for flirting and, in this case, just plain bullying.
I think the picture of the Bearded Tits is lovely; but I have reached an age when I can admit to liking soppy things! Mike .....
ReplyDeleteFascinating behavhiour re the Mute Swans, I wonder just how the female chooses. Is it the most aggressive and dominant male that wins ?
ReplyDeleteAnd thats a lovely shot of the Bearded Sisters preening each other. When I visited last time, it was late afternoon and they were calling to each other as the sun was setting.
All the tough photographers with their long lenses were going Ooh and Aah about the Bearded Tits preening each other. It was a charming scene, and not just in the reeds.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Mute Swans, I just don't know how they pair up. I've never seen a male butting into a display before, and just happened to be there at the moment to catch it.