Thursday 22 October 2015

A Common Gull was pecking repeatedly in the water near the bridge. Perhaps this is a way of hunting for the aquatic larvae that the Black-Headed Gulls have been snatching up in flight, more suited to a slightly bigger and less agile gull. But I didn't see it catch anything.


The Black-Headed Gull that has been picking up smaller larvae (or something) in the pond at the top of the Dell waterfall was still at it. It has not been joined by any other gulls, which is unusual, since normally when a gull sees another one feeding it usually goes down to see what's available. Perhaps it simply hasn't been noticed in this secluded spot.


The Black Swan has its own feeding technique, which is to barge its way to the front of the crowd and snatch food from people's hands.


The palest and most speckled of the Canada-Greylag hybrid geese is rather unsteady on its feet. It walks slowly and stiffly and I have seen it fall over several times. The other three who are probably its siblings seem to be all right, so it is not just the effect of old age.


One of the Great Crested Grebes who nested on the fallen poplar was poking around in the baskets near the bridge for a fish to feed the chicks. These are teenagers now and will be feeding themselves soon.


This picture gives a good view of a grebe's peculiar legs, flattened for streamlining, and of its unique swimming action.

A Cormorant farther along the Serpentine was taking off, which involves quite a run along the water to haul this heavy bird into the air. Once aloft, they are quite strong flyers.


The trees between Peter Pan and the Italian Garden are full of Ring-Necked Parakeets. They are eating catalpa pods, as in yesterday's photograph, and also hawthorn ...


... and yew berries.


The female Little Owl was in this year's nest tree. It was rather windy and her branch was pitching about, so she had to hold on with both feet.

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