Sunday 13 May 2018

Here is the first young Blackbird I've seen this year, deep in the bushes beside the Long Water.


There's a new family of Greylag Geese at the island with seven goslings. Their father was very busy keeping the other birds away from them.


The two new Canada Goose families were out of sight, as the lake was covered with pedalos on a busy Sunday.

The Mute Swans took their five cygnets on a little tour of the Long Water.


Then the female swan moved the cygnets to safety on the little artificial island.


The Great Crested Grebe pair with three new chicks were also keeping them out of harm's way, I think under the moored pedalos at Bluebird Boats. The male took time off feeding them to have a preen.


The floating baskets of water plants at the island have drifted loose again, allowing a view of how Coots build their nests between the baskets. This gives them a firm base, lets them economise on twigs, and protects the nest from swooping gulls.


A Grey Heron roamed around in the shrubbery near the bridge, looking for rats which are an important part of the diet of the park herons.


They regard the Henry Moore sculpture as their rightful perch, but a Carrion Crow had other ideas.


Another pair of crows objected to Mallards coming to the fence of the Dell to be fed.


Red-Crested Pochards were originally imported for ornamental waterfowl collections, but have now become established as a wild species. They bred successfully in Kensington Gardens only in one year, but do better in more sheltered places.


In spite of the crowds, several Pied Wagtails were hunting around the edge of the Serpentine. One perched on the handrail of the jetty at the Lido, ignoring the swimmers.


Another sang on the roof of one of the boathouses.


The new fence around the old field maple tree near the leaf yard is now a popular perch for the many Jackdaws that congregate here.


A Blue Tit looked out from the yew tree at the corner of the leaf yard.


The wildflower patch behind the Lido has different species from last year's, just as I had learnt some of their names. I thought this blue flower was flax, but on comparing it with images on the web, I'm less sure. (Later: Yes, it is flax.)


And I thought this was a stray bit of oilseed rape, but again it doesn't quite fit the pictures. (Later: It's Common Winter Cress.)

6 comments:

  1. Virginia Grey13 May 2018 at 20:08
    Bless you Elizabeth, it was wonderful to see you yesterday! Hope to see you very soon, big hug to you
    And Ralph of course!

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  2. Love the baby blackbird ralpR, fab shot😊

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    Replies
    1. Practically dark under that bush. Surprised it came out at all.

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  3. Your first hunch was correct Ralph with Flax- it's Linum usitatissimum + the crucifer is Common Winter Cress.

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  4. Love the young Blackbird picture!

    The Jackdaw appears to disapprove of something. Perhaps it thinks peanuts should come first, pictures later.

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    Replies
    1. Jackdaws have a proper sense of priorities.

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