Monday 30 July 2018

A pair of Kestrels were hunting mice on Buck Hill. This is the female hovering ...


... and perched in a tree.


The male Little Owl at the leaf yard was back in his usual place after several days' absence.


The Grey Heron chicks at the island were clacking and bouncing about in their nest.


A Cormorant washed in the water below.


One of the two teenage Moorhens in the Italian Garden fountains was washing with equal vigour.


One of the Coots at the Serpentine outflow was extending their large nest to the side, and making it comfortable with leaves. Their chick at the bottom of the weir could be heard calling, and they went down occasionally to feed it.


The Great Crested Grebes with three chicks were near the bridge, from which this picture was taken.


The family from the fallen poplar in the Long Water were staying close in to the branches. The parents are working hard to feed the four chicks.


The Tufted Duck with the newest family is down to ten ducklings, but that's still a very good number. They were diving like mad at the island.


The family with six were also here. The ducklings are getting quite large.


The sunflower near the bridge attracted a hoverfly, Myathropa florea.


A wasp constantly landed on the duckweed in one of the Italian Garden fountains. The picture shows two very small insects, which it was evidently catching and eating.


Something mysterious was happening on the landing stage at the Diana fountain.


There is excitement about a Marsh Sandpiper at Rainham Marshes, a rare vagrant from Russia. Tom got a distant photograph of it.


He also sent me a picture of an Emperor Moth caterpillar looking like an infant Dalek.

2 comments:

  1. Even I know what a dalek is! And it certainly resembles one.

    Are you going to try to see the Marsh Sandpiper? That is a true, exciting, rare sight!

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    Replies
    1. Sadly, the Marsh Sandpiper is on the move. It was seen briefly farther down the estuary and may be anywhere now.

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