Saturday 7 October 2017

One of the elusive Grey Wagtails appeared at the bottom of the Dell waterfall, allowing a distant picture to be taken from the top.


A Pied Wagtail was much more visible on the edge of the Round Pond.


But I haven't seen the Little Grebe here for two days, and think it may have flown back to Regent's Park.

Nor have I seen any of the Little Owls since 27 September. The female from the leaf yard may be in a willow on the edge of the Long Water 50 yards south of Peter Pan, where I heard her calling a couple of days ago. And her mate is probably still in the horse chestnut tree near the Queen's Temple. Both places are impossible to photograph till the leaves fall.

A Wren was scolding loudly in a small tree near the Henry Moore sculpture.


This young male Blackbird was under the rowan trees on Buck Hill. He is just beginning to get his yellow bill and eye ring.


A female Mute Swan was flapping at her mate. He took no notice.


The pigeon-killing Lesser Black-Backed Gull was also just standing around.


The remains of a pigeon on the shore, being finished off by a Carrion Crow, showed that he had just had a large meal and was having a pause for digestion.


A crowd of Black-Headed Gulls flocked to the the shore of the Serpentine to catch bits of bread thrown in the air by a visitor. The agile birds never collide.


Two Herring Gulls chased each other in circles, calling constantly. Neither had a piece of food or anything the other might have wanted. They kept it up for several minutes. I suppose gulls just want to have fun.


One of the three Great Crested Grebe chicks chased a parent in the splashy way that is meant to attract their attention.


In fact the tireless parents were feeding all their chicks very well.


The young Mute Swans hatched in the nest on the island have a habit of resting there in a line across the gate into the enclosure, preventing geese from entering or leaving.


The Black Swan came over to the Vista, where several people were feeding the waterfowl.


More visitors were feeding the Rose-Ringed Parakeets. These have become one of the major attractions of the park. They don't seem to bite people as often as they used to. Maybe they have learnt that it's counterproductive.

5 comments:

  1. The Grey Wagtail is colour-coordinated with the background. Lovely! Always loved British Pied Wagtails. It's a very special treat to sight one here.

    I just love gulls. Even when they are b*stards, they are admirable.

    There is something so endearing in the Grebe chick splashing after its parent with that appealing look on its stripey face. I can almost hear it say 'mommmyyyyyyyy' (or 'daddyyyyy').

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    1. I don't think grebe chicks know which is their mother and which their father, since both care for them in exactly the same way. I also think that adults have only an occasional flash of knowledge about what sex they are. They look alike, have the same rituals, and take turns to go on top when mating. Accidental same-sex pairs are common. When no eggs are laid, they break up and look for other mates. When they get one of the opposite sex, they bond for life so there can be no more mistakes.

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    2. That answer just made me laugh out out. Thank you.

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  2. Dear Ralph, I saw the little grebe on the Round pond around 2 pm. He was on the opposite side to the solar panel.... no camera sadly and light was poor anyway. I will be there today fully armed and hope he is lingering a little longer for us all to enjoy!

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    1. Thanks. Found it this afternoon at the second try.

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