Friday 5 August 2016

This remarkable picture was taken yesterday by Kanako Ohara. The Sparrowhawk that is often seen in Kensington Gardens had caught a Rose-Ringed Parakeet.


Here is the first Tufted duckling I've seen on the lake for more than a decade. There was just one, near the reed bed east of the Lido.


All ducklings have difficulty surviving on the lake here, but tiny Tufted ones more than most.

There is a Mallard family with five ducklings near the small boathouses.


Update: Virginia just sent me a fine close-up of them taken yesterday at the Lido.


There is a new brood of three Great Crested Grebes from the nest on the island.


It seemed probable that the pair were nesting again when the older chick was thrown out suddenly to fend for itself. Luckily it survived, and was busy fishing on the opposite side of the lake.

The grebe nest in the reeds on the Long Water has still not hatched. While the male sat on the eggs, the female fished near the Italian Garden, catching several small perch.


The Black Swan came charging out from under the bridge to clear the Mute Swans out of the way before his adopted cygnet followed him. His ruffles were looking particularly magnificent.


A Common Sandpiper flew up the Long Water and landed on the fallen horse chestnut tree, where it was just possible to see it through the nettles.


There is a Feral Pigeons' nest on the keystone of the entrance to one of the tunnels under the bridge.


One of the Little owlets near the Albert Memorial came out to be admired.


There were plenty of dragonflies and damselflies on the Italian Garden ponds. This is a female Common Darter.


And here are two Small Red-Eyed damselflies mating.


I thought this small bee on a marigold behind the Lido was a Yellow-Footed Solitary Bee, Lasioglossum xanthopus, but David Element says it's another species of the same genus. Bees are most confusing.

8 comments:

  1. I wish I seen and photographed the Sparrowhawk kill.

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  2. Wonderful photographs of the Common Sandpiper, the Black Swan in all his finery and the mating damselflies - such colours. A joy to view your blog as ever Ralph.

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  3. I agree with Marle...it's more than luck Ralph. I think it is skill and
    dedication. Thank you for sharing your skills with us.

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  4. Thank you, for showing me around today, I learnt so much and I'm glad we finally found the owls too.

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