Wednesday 30 December 2015

On a windy day, a pair of Carrion Crows were playing in the updraught caused by the enormous slab side of the Royal Lancaster Hotel.


The waves on the lake made it difficult for a Shoveller to shovel, and it had to come into the edge and upend like a Mallard.


Someone had thrown a bagful of sliced carrots into the water at Peter Pan. The ducks and geese and even the Coots were ignoring them, and the only birds that seemed to like them were Black-Headed Gulls, though even they may just have been attracted by the bright colour.


A Carrion Crow had done better, finding a ham sandwich in the Diana fountain enclosure.


A Cormorant near the Italian Garden was skilfully separating a perch from a strand of algae that had come up with it.


A Great Crested Grebe was searching for smaller fish among the sunken dead leaves at the outflow of the Serpentine.


A Pied Wagtail was looking for bugs in the sand of the horse track along the side of the lake.


A flock of Long-Tailed Tits was also on the hunt for insects in the trees near the bridge.


A Black-Headed Gull was enjoying a vigorous wash near the Lido.


When Robins are cold, they fluff themselves up so much that they become almost spherical.


Despite going round the lake twice and up to the Round Pond, I couldn't find the Black Swan.

3 comments:

  1. I saw one Black Swan in Regent's Park this morning, not in the collection but swimming and flying across the whole lake, aggressively chasing off all mute swans in site. Possibly the same bird from hyde park? Not sure whether there are usually black swans in Regent's Park. Charles.

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    Replies
    1. Interesting. I must go and try to find it. 'Our' swan recognises me and comes over for food.

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  2. What a shame if the black swan has finally gone!
    Hopefully he appears again tomorrow.

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