Wednesday 14 August 2019

In wet weather the Diana fountain, deserted by people, becomes a haven for geese and gulls. A flock of Starlings foraged on the wet lawn.


A family of Egyptian Geese fed on the grass beside the lake, untroubled by humans and dogs. Most birds prefer to drink out of puddles, though the water in the lake, which comes from a borehole, is quite clean.


An Egyptian gosling sheltered under its mother, but there was only room for one.


This is another of the Bar-Headed x Greylag hybrids from St James's Park, not seen here before. It has more of a Greylag appearance than the usual two, with pink feet and only faint head markings.


Four of the Tufted ducklings on the Long Water sat on a fallen branch with their mother. The fifth was out on the water diving for food.


The single duckling on the Serpentine is still around.


There was one Red-Crested Pochard at the island, a male in eclipse.


The older two Great Crested Grebe chicks were cruising around the Serpentine calling for food.


The chick at the island was fishing along the edge, and seemed to be finding some small aquatic creatures.


The male Peregrine was on the barracks tower, but flew away before I could get near.

A Grey Wagtail appeared briefly at the east end of the Serpentine.


House Martins hunted over the Long Water.


A Blackbird bathed in a puddle.


So did some Feral Pigeons.


A Great Tit looked for food on the wet ground. It found a seed.


Another came out of a lime tree for me to feed it.


After all these rain-soaked pictures, two brighter ones from yesterday taken by Ahmet Amerikali: a Blue Tit in the sunlight ...


... and a Honeybee in flight.

2 comments:

  1. I'm trying to remember if I have ever seen a Great Tit on the ground, and I think I haven't. It is probably just a coincidence, but I cannot rule out that they are not as bold as British ones.

    Great to see the Grebe chick catching edible things for itself.

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    Replies
    1. It is indeed unusual to see a Great Tit on the ground. I think the fallen seeds of some plant had attracted it.

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