Friday 4 November 2016

On a rainy day one of the Little Owls near the Albert Memorial can often be dimly seen sheltering in the nest hole in the oak tree.


Shovellers don't care if it rains.


There were a few Gadwalls at the Serpentine island.


The drake was in smart new breeding plumage. They don't change much when in eclipse, but look a bit tatty.


Gadwalls drift in and out apparently at random. There were over a hundred on the lake in Battersea Park yesterday, but we never get anything like that number.

Blondie was preening her pale plumage, looking slightly like a Victorian lady in her elaborate underwear.


Another Egyptian Goose was trying to walk down the steepest part of the Diana fountain. This picture was taken just as it lost its footing and had to take off.


A young Herring Gull was also in the fountain, amusing itself by catching leaves as they went down the rapids.


The original and famous pigeon-eating Lesser Black-Backed Gull was enjoying his lunch.


A young Great Crested Grebe had been fishing under the bridge, and took a moment off to scratch its ear.


A Wren came out of the reed bed by the Diana fountain for a moment and perched on the railings.


A Jay posed among the red leaves of an oak near the leaf yard.


A flight of Mistle Thrushes arrived in a rowan tree on Buck Hill, hastily ate as many berries as they could manage, and flew off.


The female Chaffinch was in the tree again. I think there's only one here.

6 comments:

  1. Like water off a duck's back, literally. Wonderful illustrations that make the phrase look not so hackney and cliched.

    Blondie does seem to have a petticoat on, now that you mention it! Such a refined young lady.

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    1. I'm always amazed at the sheer complexity of the feathers on a large bird's wing.

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    2. There is a strong resemblance between Blondie and this girl.
      Justyna C.

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    3. Remarkable similarity in the colour of her jacket.

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  2. particularly enjoyed the ear-scratcher today, thank you

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    Replies
    1. The bridge offers an interesting angle, almost vertically down.

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