Saturday 3 December 2016

The Little Owls near the Henry Moore sculpture seem to have moved house. They are still in the group of four tall lime trees, but now in the left front one as you look up the hill from the path.


You can't get a closer view than this because of the angle, and also because these owls are shy and don't like being stared at.

The female of the pair near the Albert Memorial was looking out of the usual hole in the oak tree. The almost white background is caused by the sun shining into another hole in the top of the branch.


There was a Redwing in the rowan tree on Buck Hill ...


... as well as a Song Thrush ...


... and plenty of Mistle Thrushes making the most of the remaining fruit.


A Coal Tit stared at the camera from a twig in the leaf yard.


There were a few people on the terrace of the Dell restaurant, but the resident Grey Heron had given up trying to get food from them and was staring intently at the edge of one of the reed rafts, waiting for a careless fish to come out from shelter.


A Carrion Crow had done better and won a piece of bread, and was dunking it at the top of the Dell waterfall.


The white Mallard and his male friend cruised up to see if anyone was going to feed them.


His mate was taking a break from their company.

A Shoveller was lit by the low sun on the Round Pond. This picture was taken at 3 pm, which is almost evening at this time of year.


The pair of Gadwalls were back in the Italian Garden pond.


A Cormorant at the island is already back in breeding plumage, with a white patch on its side and bristly white feathers on its head. These odd-looking ornaments seem to be irresistible to Cormorants of the opposite sex.


Many of the big gulls have fixed stations around the lake, and regard them as their territory and will chase off invaders. This Herring Gull owns the handrail halfway along the Lido swimming area. It's a slippery perch, and the bird often loses its footing and has to flap to keep its balance.

6 comments:

  1. Ralph, Today's photos are superb. Yours are always wonderful, but there are some prize winners today!!! Thank you so much, Jennifer

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    1. I think the shaggy plants you photographed on Friday are willow-herbs. Here are some images of them (taken in winter).

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  2. Thanks for your kind words, Jennifer. And thank you, Justyna C., for the identification.

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  3. So do those bright features help cormorants get a shag? ¦D Jim n.L.

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