Friday 28 August 2015

The Great Crested Grebes nesting on the fallen poplar in the Long Water were changing places. When one of them stood up I took a quick picture, although I was too far away for a good one. And when I got home and looked at it on the computer there, to my surprise, were three chicks. I hadn't expected them to hatch so soon.


It was service as usual for the three chicks from the Serpentine island. Both parents were busily catching fish for them at a brisk rate.


There are now rows of Cormorants on the posts in the lake. Here are some near the bridge.


The posts unoccupied by Cormorants had Herring Gulls on them, which were giving the Moorhen family a hard time. However, the young birds understand that if they stand under an obstruction, such as these iron railings, it will stop the gulls from swooping on them and taking their food.


The Two Mute Swans with one cygnet on the Long Water have been trying to drive all the other swans under the bridge and into the Serpentine, and have almost succeeded in clearing the lake for themselves. This gives them time and space to practise wheedling food from visitors.


Another swan was looking out over the Serpentine. A passing Carrion Crow couldn't resist the chance to tweak its tail. This is a favourite crow game, and I have seen herons, geese, squirrels and even dogs fall victim to it.


The Grey Heron at the Dell restaurant, waiting for a table to become unoccupied so that it could raid the leftovers, was having a good stretch.


On the roof, the young Lesser Black-Backed Gull was trying to get the attention of the adult pair by standing in their favourite place. The adults were farther along the roof taking no notice of it.


The male Little Owl was basking in the sunshine on his nest tree. He gave me a sidelong glance and then went back to sleep.

2 comments: