Sunday 13 March 2016

The Black Swan managed to get girlfriend number one into the nest he has been making for so long -- if you can call trashing most of the plants on the raft 'making a nest'. She was sitting there contentedly while he ripped up grass and threw it in her general direction.


A Moorhen was climbing around on the netting over the top of the reed bed to the east of the Lido.


The netting was supposed to keep out Coots, but of course they got in and chewed the rather sickly reeds down to water level. This reed bed has never done well, though most of the others planted at the same time are in fair shape.

The magnolia tree in the Dell is full of birds. Here is a Long-Tailed Tit.


A Robin was singing on another branch, looking at the bright pink flowers that clashed with its sober British colours.


The Redwings are still foraging on the Parade Ground near the bandstand, though they can only be seen at a distance.


There were also several Pied Wagtails and a Song Thrush, but better pictures were to be had of a wagtail in a tree beside the Serpentine ...


... and a thrush in the undergrowth near the bridge.


The Dunnocks were hopping around in the leaf yard. One of them found some unknown edible object.


There have been two reports of a Firecrest at the southwest corner of the leaf yard, where the feeders are (though these are empty). I have looked around here several times in the past two days without seeing it, but there is still hope.

A Blue Tit ate a pine nut I had given it, holding it with both feet and delicately pecking at it.


The Little Owl in the lime tree near the Henry Moore sculpture was looking at the world from the hole.

4 comments:

  1. Hi Ralph, many thanks for your patience and guidance ^-^

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  2. I don't think I've commented before on your great eye for colour. Looking back on past pictures, it's astounding how assured your command of colour composition is. Wonderful work.

    I know that it is too early for a proper nest, but I am so looking forward to hybrid babies...

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    Replies
    1. Thank you.

      If the Black Swan can hold on to his girlfriend till next spring -- and if he still loves her when she goes white -- we might expect something. They are certainly tough enough to win one of the few nest sites on the Serpentine.

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