Thursday 24 September 2015

A Grey Heron on a fallen tree in the Long Water was staring into the bushes and shrieking furiously. I couldn't see what had annoyed it so much. Maybe it was a fox.


On the fallen horse chestnut tree, two of the large contingent of visiting Cormorants were relaxing after a heavy meal of fish.


To of the young Great Crested Grebes were fishing together under the parapet of the Italian Garden.


They have been model chicks, trying to be independent while the brood on the Serpentine, which is several weeks older, are still chasing their parents non-stop.

At Peter Pan a Mallard had finished preening and was flapping its wings to rearrange the feathers. For a moment it looked like an an orchestral conductor telling the woodwind section to play more quietly.


There are still some House Martins over the Serpentine. These two went after the same fly. But the agile birds managed to avoid a collision.


The Reed Warblers are also still in the reed bed near the bridge. I could see the stems twitching as they moved around, but the hazy sunlight wasn't enough to tempt them out to the front. However, while I was waiting one of the pair of Coal Tits spotted me and came out to be fed.


And there are still some Migrant Hawker dragonflies here.


On Buck Hill, a Carrion Crow was wolfing down rowan berries.


The female Little Owl was in last year's nest tree again, but rather awkwardly placed for a picture.

7 comments:

  1. I may have missed a post, Ralph, but what happened to the little owlets of this pair? Sue.

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    Replies
    1. They grew up and were kicked out of their parents' territory. I didn't record this, because they just disappear and when you haven't seen them for a week you know they've gone. My last picture of one was taken on 1 September.

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  2. A lovely picture of the conducktor - directing The Nutquacker Suite, no doubt. Janet

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    Replies
    1. It was Charpentier's music for Le Mallard Imaginaire.

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    2. Ah quel canard! ;-) (Jim n.L.)

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  3. Is the Italian garden the place that google maps call Italian gardens and is near Lancaster gate tube station?

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    Replies
    1. Yes. Don't know why people call it 'Gardens', there's just one paved rectangle with ponds and fountains.

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