Sunday 24 January 2016

The Grey Herons' nest on the island has been continuously occupied for several weeks.


Underneath, the other heron was trying to break off a twig to bring up and add to the nest.


It seems that these birds might be serious about nesting after all, though it's still too early to start.

One of the Long Water herons landed on the gravel bank at the Vista.


Every time I go past this bank I look at it through binoculars in the hope that one of the waders it was supposed to attract has turned up. But so far there has been nothing unusual on it at all.

The Black Swan is also still missing.

But at least a Little Owl looked out of the hole in their chestnut tree. This is the male of the pair.


Beside the Serpentine, someone was throwing food up in the air for the Black-Headed Gulls, always a lovely sight as these agile birds try to be first to the catch.


This gull had been given a large piece of French bread and was having difficulty with it.


A Herring Gull was playing with a small brown object, throwing and catching it. It stopped to look disapprovingly at the camera.


A Carrion Crow was enjoying a wash at the top of the waterfall in the Dell, a favourite bathing place for all kinds of birds.


Near the bridge, a Coal Tit pecked at a pine nut I had given it.


And a Long-Tailed Tit was looking for insects on a twig.


They are only distantly related to true tits, but have similar strong feet adapted for hanging upside down.

9 comments:

  1. Just wonderful images, Ralph. Thank you and well done again.

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  2. I wonder if this might be the same black swan http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/tale-of-two-love-birds-ends-in-sadness-as-regents-park-black-swan-is-killed-by-fox-8447446.html

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    Replies
    1. A sad event but nothing to do with 'our' Black Swan. The Regent's Park pair were pinioned and couldn't fly, and therefore easy prey for foxes.

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  3. Hi ralph, what is the best time of day to see the little owls? I've been several times and not yet managed to spot them.

    Lucy.

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    Replies
    1. There's no particular time. But weather is important. Look for him when the sun's out.

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  4. Has the wader bank attracted ANY waders yet?

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    Replies
    1. As far as I know, not a single one. Nor has a Common Tern been seen near the new tern raft.

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  5. Thanks Ralph,

    I'll keep looking then! By the way, I love your blog. Great commentary and lovely pictures.

    Lucy.

    ReplyDelete