Saturday 16 January 2016

The Black Swan was with all six of the young Mute Swans on the Serpentine. Evidently he likes the company of teenagers, or maybe it's just that he considers adult Mute Swans hideously white. One of these adults suddenly lunged at a teenager and I wondered at this apparently unprovoked attack. But on examining the photograph, it is clear that it was just taking a thrown chunk of bread from the youngster's back.


Only one Little Grebe was visible in the usual place on the Long Water. Here it is adjusting its wings to get the feathers settled comfortably.


A Cormorant was on the submerged wall at the edge of the marble fountain, scratching its ear.


Between the two, a Shoveller was feeding over the air bubbler. This brings up a lot of silt and with it many small water creatures, which are just what a Shoveller likes.


A pair of Moorhens were examining the space under one of the fountains in the Italian Gardens. Coots have tries to nest in this space, but the rush of water has always carried away their nests, however strongly built.


In the shadow of the bridge a Grey Heron was waiting patiently for a fish to pass.


One of the pair of Herring Gulls that prospect for worms in the Diana fountain enclosure was doing its dance. Two minutes of pattering its feet brought up half a dozen worms.


Next to it, a young Herring Gull was trying to copy the dance. It didn't get the rhythm quite right, and was not getting nearly as many worms.

Gulls copy another gull's successful feeding strategy. No doubt the young one will keep practising until it succeeds.

The pigeon-eating Lesser Black-Backed Gull, a very expert bird, was on the roof of the Dell restaurant having a call with his mate.


A Herring Gull on a buoy in the Round Pond, and a passing Black-Headed Gull, were silhouetted by the setting sun.


The sunset also lit up a Treecreeper which appeared unexpectedly (as Treecreepers do) on a tree near the Archery Field.

2 comments:

  1. Are the Tawnys and little owls still around?

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    1. Both unfindable. We don't know where the Tawnies are since their tree collapsed, though one was seen flying near the Flower Walk not long afterwards. The Little Owls are in the leaf yard and have been heard but not seen.

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