Wednesday 19 April 2017

A Green Woodpecker called from a treetop near the Albert Memorial. A pair bred here a couple of years ago.


For a change, it was the female Little Owl who came out of the chestnut tree near the leaf yard. She remained quite calm with several people looking at her.


Blackbirds are shy and hate being stared at and photographed. But they are also very keen on sultanas, and can be lured out with this bribe. They seem to realise at once that sultanas are edible and tasty, even if they haven't seen one before. Probably they smell the fruity fragrance.


A Blackcap sang near Peter Pan.


A pair of Long-Tailed Tits were catching insects in an oak.


This Great Crested Grebe on the Serpentine was also after insects, small midges on the water surface. You can see a couple at the far right of the picture.


The nesting Coot on the platform of Bluebird Boats was unfazed by a passing pedalo.


The family on the raft at the east end of the Serpentine were lined up waiting for a parent to return with food.


The one on the post at Peter Pan may be beginning to realise that this is not a good place to rear chicks.


But Blondie's goslings are now large enough to stop worrying about Herring Gulls.


The two little blonde Egyptians near the bridge were basking on the shore.


A Red Crested Pochard at the Dell restaurant was looking improbably bouffant.


But I don't think there is a word to describe the very odd hairstyle of a Mandarin. Thanks to Virginia for this picture of one preening on a willow overlooking the Long Water.

2 comments:

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    1. Coots can see off anything if sufficiently angry, which they usually are.

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