Saturday 19 September 2015

One of the Great Crested Grebe chicks on the Long Water was plunging about wildly under a bush near Peter Pan.


And amazingly it caught a fish, perhaps the first one it had ever got by itself.


Seconds later its mother, who had not noticed this, turned up with another fish, which it shamelessly ate.


While this was going on one of the Hobbies suddenly burst out of the Lombardy poplar at one end of the railings and flew over the leaf yard. I didn't get a picture of it in the few seconds it was visible, but caught up with it later near the Round Pond.


A Moorhen was climbing about in the dead willow tree near the Italian Garden. Possibly there were some insects in the bark, but it seems that Moorhens climb on things mainly for fun.


Both Little Owls were visible, but only the male was in a place that allowed a picture.


On a sunny Saturday many people had come to come to photograph him, and were delighted as he stared down curiously at them.

The Reed Warblers came out to the front of the reed bed near the bridge, as they usually do when it is sunny. This one looked down, saw an insect on the ground, and an instant later plunged into the long grass to catch it.


There were many Migrant Hawker dragonflies here. Sensing that the end of their few months of adult life was coming, they were mating in their slow and complicated way. Can you say that an insect is enjoying something?


A female was laying eggs on a reed.

6 comments:

  1. I was watching the Little Egret fishing recently. It was shaking its legs in such a lovely fashion, as it stalked elegantly through the water. Apparently this stirs up the food! Amazing.

    The teenage grebes are enchanting.

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    1. Hope we get some Little Egrets here soon. They are spreading, and it should be only a matter of time.

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    2. The RSPB claims that Cattle Egrets can be found in the far South West Ralph. I don't think they'll be making their way to the Thames Valley any time soon, but it would be wonderful if they did!

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    3. That's Cattle Egrets. Little Egrets are more widespread.

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  2. I was one of the people who came to photograph the little owl and was very happy to see him sitting in his tree enjoying the sun. Thanks again Ralph for showing him to me, it was a real joy.
    Sharon

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