Wednesday 3 September 2014

The Hobbies were flying over the whole width of the park, sometimes so high that they disappeared into the cumulus clouds. None of them landed while I was there. This is the best aerial shot I could manage.


There is one new Moorhen chick at Peter Pan, already several days old but previously unseen. It was being kept well in to the edge of the lake, to guard it from the large gulls that were watching from the posts and had probably eaten the rest of the brood.


Several Cormorants were perched on the fallen horse chestnut tree in the Long Water, and two of them were standing face to face and flapping vigorously at each other. I don't know whether this was some kind of greeting between mates, or whether they just happened to feel like a flap.


A Chiffchaff was hopping about in the shrubbery at the southwest corner of the bridge.


The family of Nuthatches in the leaf yard were calling excitedly to each other and leaping about in the trees.


The commotion set a couple of Chaffinches calling as well. But I couldn't see what had disturbed them.

The Great Crested Grebe chicks are also making a loud noise on both lakes. This is one from the east end of the island, momentarily silenced by a large meal.


There were a lot of Starlings running around the Round Pond, with their iridescent feathers looking very fine in the sunshine.

7 comments:

  1. Those starlings look like they're posing! Fantastic plumage.

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    1. I'm wondering whether the Starling with the ring is the one who is such a pain when we're trying to feed the tits at the leaf yard in winter. It's a British ring beginning LB88... .

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    2. Had a look for Hobbies this mmorning 8-10 but no joy. Is their usual spot the 2 large plane trees (with path between them) to the right of the energy statue if you were facing the palace? Happy if I'm generally in right location to be honest. Going to try again tomorrow afternoon.

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    3. I think you were in the wrong place. Start at Physical Energy, walk 75 yards down the path towards the Albert Memorial, then turn 90° left and pass through both the inner and the outer lines of plane trees. Go a bit farther out on to the grass and look back at the trees. For some days a rough sleeper has been reclining under the tree the young Hobbies prefer, and he makes a useful marker. It is also the tallest tree in this part of the line.

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    4. Cheers Ralph I know exactly where you mean now. Saw the guy there yesterday...

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  2. Thanks for the detailed directions Ralph, finally managed to connect today. 2 Juvs in usual tree, 1 Adult flying over Long Lake. Had Coal Tit, Chiffchaff and Blackcap (f) by Peter Pan too

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    1. Well done. I only saw one adult Hobby today. Also a Chiffchaff in the leaf yard, but you did better.

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