Sunday 5 November 2017

The Little Owl near the Henry Moore sculpture could be seen in her hole again today.


The male of the pair near the leaf yard was also in his hole in the horse chestnut tree.


A Grey Wagtail hunting on a raft at the east end of the Serpentine found a larva.


In the Dell, a Blackbird ate arbutus fruit ...


... and a Robin perched on a huge and tatty Chilean Rhubarb leaf.


A Carrion Crow found a crust in a bin.


When the Jackdaws returned to the park three years ago they were extremely shy, especially when they saw you looking at them. Now they just stare back.


Jays also have a penetrating gaze.


The second pigeon-killing Lesser Black-Backed Gull on the Serpentine may be the new kid on the block, but he certainly behaves as if he owns the place.


I think he must be male -- look at the way he swaggers about.

A Black-headed Gull had a vigorous wash near the Serpentine island.


A young Herring Gull amused itself at the Lido by walking along the line of plastic buoys. They can't take the weight of this large bird, and tip over as soon as they are stepped on, so it's like tightrope walking. They fall off eventually.


Two young Great Crested Grebes were fishing together.


Several Cormorants were fishing at the north end of the Long Water, catching a good many fish. These came up with a good deal of algae, which had to be spat out.


The Black Swan looked very fine in the sunshine.

5 comments:

  1. Wonder if pigeon-eater no. 2 is one of the offspring of pigeon-eater no. 1, from whom it took its most formative lessons as to how to survive. Jim

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was wondering too, especially as there doesn't seem to have been a fight between them.

      Delete
    2. Seconded. Was about to suggest the same.

      He is a very aggressive bird. He apparently takes flight solely to attack an innocent bystander gull which was just swimming about.

      Three gorgeously glossy black birds today!

      Delete
    3. P.S.: Perhaps I should include the Blackbird too in the number. Our blackbirds are very matt and not so glossy.

      Delete
    4. Male blackbirds are quite glossy if the light is right, but lack the iridescent shine of corvids. The camera's autofocus struggles to find anything to latch on to in their blackness, and you have to point it at a yellow beak or eye ring to make it work.

      Delete