tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post1320899703080991299..comments2024-03-19T00:12:46.024+00:00Comments on Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park birds: Ralph Hancockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-4430440540174579952019-10-06T14:43:16.412+01:002019-10-06T14:43:16.412+01:00I know this was posted this years ago but it is ve...I know this was posted this years ago but it is very interesting as are the following comments. I was in Hyde Park recently, was trying to identify a gull I photographed and cane across this blog PloverLondonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00118440186195466025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-55441167291693602802014-11-05T23:32:02.564+00:002014-11-05T23:32:02.564+00:00It is possible that some of these pigeon carcases ...It is possible that some of these pigeon carcases are from Sparrowhawk kills, where the crows or whatever have found them wherever the hawk has taken them, and have carried them away to pick clean at their leisure. But I wouldn't put too much reliance on the dryness of the remains, as a few hours out of the water will let the feathers dry well enough. Anyway, we shall have to watch carefully for some time before we get much idea what's going on -- if we ever do.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-4144817105907888152014-11-05T23:04:32.870+00:002014-11-05T23:04:32.870+00:00Not only another pigeon-killing gull but another m...Not only another pigeon-killing gull but another method too? The remains in today's picture look perfectly dry. Was there any evidence of drowning?<br />Just to add a bit more data. You might remember that some time ago I reported on a Lesser Black Back with a dead pigeon in front of Kensington Palace after it had closed. A couple of days later I saw a Crow picking over what little remained of another one at the side of the Round Pond, also seriously bedraggled. Then soon after, on one of the paths leading to the pond, a Magpie having a go at a headless but otherwise intact dry pigeon. All this happened many months ago and since then all I've come across is just one instance of a few pigeon feathers indicating a bit of a fracas. I've got nothing to connect these incidents or implicate gulls in the latter two but I assume the Crow and the Magpie are unlikely to be the killers, more opportunists?Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10529596094957534682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-79922334174683229542014-11-05T21:47:10.472+00:002014-11-05T21:47:10.472+00:00It is odd, isn't it? It looks as if the number...It is odd, isn't it? It looks as if the number of dead pigeons has reached a critical point at which gulls which previously were just scavenging them have turned their thoughts to getting some of these delicious meals for themselves.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-38642916562659753112014-11-05T21:30:48.681+00:002014-11-05T21:30:48.681+00:00Maybe (i) since the news pictures went far and wid...Maybe (i) since the news pictures went far and wide out of the pigeon-hunting Lesser Black-Back, some new birds, having seen them, came in to have a go??? (ii) or is it like the law of waiting for buses, that it's only after you at last managed to film the event after years of patience, that someone else instantly gets the same thing published and then a whole lot of birds are at it! Jim n.L.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com