Sunday 22 March 2015

The Great Crested Grebes' nest at the bridge is still a going concern, and today the pair were mating.


They have prudently reinforced their nest with a large plastic bag. A nest in this tree was washed away last year when there was a strong east wind blowing under the bridge, and a typical grebe nest of twigs and weeds is not at all strong.

The Egyptian Goose family on the Round Pond are doing well, with both parents keeping a close eye on the young. Here they have taken to the water after a criminally stupid dog owner let his pet run after the wildfowl.


The Scaup was in his usual place on the north side of the Serpentine near the bridge, very active because people were feeding the ducks. He charged through the crowd of Tufted Ducks and Coots, shouldering them aside. He only arrived in January, but is now behaving like a typical park duck.


The Goldeneye is still on the Serpentine, but I couldn't find her in the confused mass of swans and pedalos. However, I did find a Little Grebe right at the east end of the lake next to the netted reed bed.


There was another Little Grebe on the Long Water, crossing the lake near Peter Pan.

The Long-Tailed Tits are now lining their nest with feathers. The search was keeping them very busy.


There are enough dropped feathers under the bushes, but if they are lucky they will find a dead bird and unsentimentally pluck it.

Another Long-Tailed Tit nest is going up near Kensington Palace, though it is not as complete. Here one of the birds takes a moment off work to preen itself.


A partly leucistic Blackbird could be seen over the fence surrounding the Flower Walk where the new path is being built.


No sign of the Tawny Owls for five days now. Several people have been looking for owlets around the Flower Walk, without success. Of course they may be somewhere else.

But the female Little Owl was in her nest hole, looking mistrustfully at a group of people who had come to photograph her.

2 comments:

  1. The Little Grebe photo is enchanting. Has there ever been a more charming waterfowl? Their fuzzy under-skirts make me smile every time I see them!

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    1. We are both completely under the spell of grebes.

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