Monday 13 February 2017

A couple of dozen Redwings were hopping about the fresh topsoil on the Parade Ground, often finding worms.


Again, there was just one Pied Wagtail here, but more in their favoured hunting grounds around the Serpentine.


There were several small flocks of Long-Tailed Tits. The picture has a pleasantly springlike background, but I suppose it's an evergreen tree.


A Blue Tit in the leaf yard was looking bright in the sunshine.


Near the Dell, a Carrion Crow hauled out most of the contents of a rubbish bin on to the grass and shook the last crumbs from a crisp packet.


Three Grey Herons landed uncomfortably close to each other on the gravel bank at the Vista. The dominant one on the left fluffed itself up aggressively, and the other two crept away to an unchallenging distance.


On the left, three foxes were basking in the sunshine. One came down to the lake to drink. This fine picture was taken by Tom.


On the right, a Little Grebe could just be seen under a distant bush.


A Coot on the Serpentine instinctively collected a leaf, remembered that it hadn't built a nest yet, and dropped it.


Two Cormorants visited the Italian Garden at different times and hunted for fish under the fountains. Neither stayed long. They aren't catching much here now, and have probably more or less fished the ponds out.


There were two Gadwalls in one of the ponds.


A young Herring Gull on the Serpentine found a stick and carried it away. It was promptly chased by a Common Gull, which wanted the stick simply because another gull had it.


The female Little Owl near the Albert Memorial enjoyed the morning sunshine.


When a stiff breeze got up later, she went back into her hole.

The wind was too much for some people in pedalos, who had to be rescued from the impervious horrors of a leeward shore (William Falconer, The Shipwreck).

4 comments:

  1. We came round together at last. You passed us in the Serpentine Restaurant. Unfortunately we saw neither kingfisher nor owl. Łukasz managed a poem this evening (with some help from Auntie Liz!): "Walking through the trees; / Me and Auntie Liz. / Surround by photo-making guys / Who watch a coloured bird who flies. / We call him Kingfisher by name. / He flew away / but who's to blame?"

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    1. Sorry to have missed you. My telephone rang, but there were just rustling noises and I think it dialled itself in your bag. Fine poem, and congratulations to Łukasz. Hope to see you soon.

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  2. The Coot's face is clearly saying: "I am supposed to do something with this leaf, but I cannot remember what for the life of me!"

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