Monday 30 October 2017

The second pigeon-killing Lesser Black-Backed Gull was in the first gull's territory near the Dell restaurant.


There were the remains of two Feral Pigeons on the shore, the other one being finished by a Carrion Crow.


Surprisingly, there was no evidence of a fight having broken out. This was probably because the number one gull was lying on the restaurant roof digesting a large meal, and couldn't be bothered to exert himself.


The three young Great Crested Grebes were on the Serpentine, all fishing for themselves although one of their parents was nearby.


This is a testing time for young grebes, as they are not yet good at fishing but have to catch enough to survive.

The Black Swan was fast asleep on the Serpentine.


A Cormorant was looking its shining best on a post on the Long Water.


Mute Swans and Canada Geese were bickering over a bit of French bread.


Today's search for the Firecrest produced nothng except five Goldcrests, which came out in response to me playing Firecrest calls.


I think the Firecrest has moved from the west side of the nursery where it was yesterday and the day before. It was originally spotted near the Magazine, a hundred yards away.

A Blue Tit was looking very fine in the sunshine.


A Starling was looking absolutely fabulous.


The very nervous Robin in the Rose Garden is becoming more confident, bribed with pine nuts.


A Jay near the bridge was hoping for a peanut.


A Pied Wagtail hunted insects on the slate roof of one of the small boathouses.


The rowan trees on Buck Hill have been almost stripped of fruit, though there are a few bunches left on the lower branches of one tree. There was enough to interest a Mistle Thrush.


The male Little Owl near the leaf yard was in the same horse chestnut tree as his mate was yesterday, over by the Queen's Temple. He looked out of a comfortable hole, which would serve as a nest site if the Magpies get too much more them in their original sweet chestnut.


The female was in the original tree, preening.

5 comments:

  1. I've seen a goldcrest chase a firecrest, outside breeding season, don't know if it is ever vice versa but maybe that's what they meant to do, one would expect a goldcrest to be more feisty. Jim

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    Replies
    1. Interesting. I hadn't thought that Goldcrests were so fierce.

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    2. Speaking of feisty:
      https://i.imgur.com/7dBcjVO.jpg

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    3. Well, yes. Robins make swans look like Mr Nice Guy.

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  2. I have nothing intelligent to say, except that the resplendent cormorant and the even shinier starling are triggering my magpie ('oooh shiny!') reflex. They are so spectacularly pretty.

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