Tuesday 7 March 2017

The pair of Goldcrests in the evergreen trees at the northwest corner of the bridge are often heard, but hard to see. One came out obligingly for a few seconds.


On the path below, a Blue Tit stared intently at the camera.


I used to have a silver camera, which fascinated them. In the park, all conventional birdwatching notions about being unobtrusive go out of the window.

Robins are singing like fury all over the park.


A Treecreeper was happily upside down under a branch of an oak tree next to the Little Owls' tree near the Albert Memorial.


The female owl was enjoying the afternoon sunlight.


There are definitely fewer Redwings in the park than the forty or so we had earlier. But they were still visible feeding on the Parade Ground ...


... and perching in the trees.


Two Feral Pigeons were fighting over a bit of leftover cake at the Lido restaurant.


There were five Grey Herons beside the Henry Moore sculpture, again with no one feeding them. We think they gather here and on the other side of the Vista because they are expecting the arrival of feeders, who have regular habits.


The Great Crested Grebes at the east end of the island are occupying their nest again. Things may be moving forward, but it's to early to be sure, as they can shilly-shally for weeks.


A pair of Moorhens were preening amicably side by side on one of the rafts at the east end of the Serpentine. They nest in the plants here every year.


The Egyptian goslings at the Round Pond were drinking from a puddle. It's noticeable how all birds seem to prefer rainwater to the water in the pond of the lake, which comes out of boreholes and, although clean, is very hard.


The gardeners were picking up the accumulated rubbish on the Long Water. Their haul included a dead Ring-Necked Parakeet, and a perch which had swum into a plastic bag, got stuck and suffocated. Plastic bags are dangerous to wildlife in all kinds of unexpected ways.


They kindly stuck a branch into the mud in a place in front of the dead willow where, if the Kingfisher chose to perch on it, you could get a brilliant picture. It remains to be seen what the Kingfisher will think of this arrangement.

4 comments:

  1. The pigeons look like they're dancing!

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    1. Life is more like wrestling than dancing.
      --- Marcus Aurelius

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  2. Such a wonderful typo it's a shame to change it, but " ... at the north-west corner of the bridge"?

    Are the jackdaws deserting us? I spotted a couple the other day but it's becoming a rarity.

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    1. Thank you, changed. Blog written in a great hurry today, as I had to make the great journey across the river to parts unknown.

      I think the Jackdaws are as numerous as ever, just less hungry now that the weather is a bit warmer and the soil is wet so that worms are easier to obtain. I see them often, as they expect peanuts.

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