tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post6337698327004313826..comments2024-03-29T01:41:15.713+00:00Comments on Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park birds: Ralph Hancockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-4084787752897369902016-08-19T17:16:50.006+01:002016-08-19T17:16:50.006+01:00Maybe, if I can get more and better pictures. It n...Maybe, if I can get more and better pictures. It needs to look like a plague, which it is, rather than an isolated incident.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-34316666285920189112016-08-19T12:09:39.459+01:002016-08-19T12:09:39.459+01:00What about sending the picture to the popular pres...What about sending the picture to the popular press? Dog lovers are plenty, but so are those who are heartily sick of dog lovers.TinĂºvielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04794275230697959519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-61502737173754041222016-08-18T20:06:27.105+01:002016-08-18T20:06:27.105+01:00Well if the authorities won't enforce the law ...Well if the authorities won't enforce the law how about some vigilante-style 'WANTED!' posters to shame the guilty parties?Dom Gnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-38089545380092030922016-08-18T19:41:33.331+01:002016-08-18T19:41:33.331+01:00I think you were lucky! That is not the norm in Hy...I think you were lucky! That is not the norm in Hyde Park and without sounding biased it is usually two middle aged ladies walking together with a cup of coffee who can't be bothered controlling their dogs.Jennanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-7178284302125709322016-08-18T19:07:28.925+01:002016-08-18T19:07:28.925+01:00I once told a dog owner off when her dog went for ...I once told a dog owner off when her dog went for a swan and she was most apologetic L fairfaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12274756119129254373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-11457684794853428902016-08-18T07:50:20.125+01:002016-08-18T07:50:20.125+01:00I don't normally feed the herring gulls, but i...I don't normally feed the herring gulls, but if I see one swarming around the duckling I will rather throw him a piece of something than let himmtry and snatch the little one. I saw it happen and it is not a very nice thing to witness. I know it is nature but if you can help it a little? To my knowledge he would be the first tufted duckling to survive on the lake, hardly any ducklings survive on the Serpentine. I am sure she had more till the last one left.<br /><br />The dog situation has improved a little compared to what I recall back in 2010 or 2011. But earlier this year there was a family of Egyptian geese breeding early March and it was such a cold Sunday morning...there was a dog running around loose and they went onto grass but were too slow to get back to the lake and the dog grabbed one of the goslings. We were trying to catch him but by the time we did it was too late. He died of shock and injuries. Then the dog went onto getting another one but my partner gently interfered with his foot. The dog got svared and ran off. We could not even see the owner. Often times it is two ladies carrying cups of coffee, chatting not paying any attention to what their dog does and boy if you say something to them....Jennanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-23153920954506898482016-08-18T00:58:25.617+01:002016-08-18T00:58:25.617+01:00After years of sending the park management polite ...After years of sending the park management polite and constructive suggestions I've given up. It's like banging your head against a brick wall.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-65900523652201916602016-08-18T00:55:47.299+01:002016-08-18T00:55:47.299+01:00Dog owners are supposed to put their dogs on leads...Dog owners are supposed to put their dogs on leads when near the edge of the lake or the Round Pond, and there are large clear notices saying so around the Serpentine and Round Pond. These notices also mention the Wildlife and Countryside Act. The signage on the Long Water is less good. But dog owners are wilfully blind to these things. I have occasionally forced one to read one of these notices, but they are wilfully blind and utterly uncaring. Dog walkers are forbidden to go near the water at all, and behave much better, for fear of losing their licences.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-62689495050293076882016-08-18T00:48:51.791+01:002016-08-18T00:48:51.791+01:00Thanks. Will have a look. I think the Black Swan d...Thanks. Will have a look. I think the Black Swan does believe the cygnet to be another Black Swan, and this was also the case with the 'girlfriend' earlier.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-74149923863230193282016-08-18T00:46:54.432+01:002016-08-18T00:46:54.432+01:00You should see this one dive. It's as fast as ...You should see this one dive. It's as fast as a Little Grebe.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-48222100513108342152016-08-17T23:53:35.051+01:002016-08-17T23:53:35.051+01:00It's not a good idea to feed herring gulls or ...It's not a good idea to feed herring gulls or lesser black-backs, in view of their high pest potential. If you feed them here, more will be attracted. We just have to let nature take its course sometimes, but a part-grown duckling that can dive away from trouble has good prospects. Jim n.L.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-20653821096480709512016-08-17T22:49:47.808+01:002016-08-17T22:49:47.808+01:00Do all dogs have to be on a lead at all times or a...Do all dogs have to be on a lead at all times or are there places dogs are allowed off the lead? If the former it is easier to deal with, if the latter slightly more difficult. I appreciate the problem as we have the same attitude locally from dog owners and some of them can be quite aggressive if you speak to them at all. derekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07466403223830036406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-64643156147683249762016-08-17T21:27:22.051+01:002016-08-17T21:27:22.051+01:00Ralph, could you think about sending a copy of you...Ralph, could you think about sending a copy of your photo of the dog attacking the Mute Swan to the relevant authorities re the notices in the park stating that it is an offence? It would be good evidence which they might be able to use.Marienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-29164959283459395132016-08-17T20:16:04.351+01:002016-08-17T20:16:04.351+01:00There's an interesting article here https://ww...There's an interesting article here https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263814370_Black_Swans_Cygnus_atratus_adopt_related_cygnets about Black Swans adopting related cygnets. Obviously it isn't the case here but you have to wonder if he thinks the adopted cygnet is one of his own kind.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-73718948011245353972016-08-17T19:53:44.782+01:002016-08-17T19:53:44.782+01:00Good stuff then, I am trying to feed the herring g...Good stuff then, I am trying to feed the herring gulls so they can leave him alone but got concerned for a moment.<br />The photo of the dog vs swan is rather distressing. I wonder whether the male swan got injured at the lido early this year as there were signs on the gates. Shame on the owner, but the dog lobby in the park is probably strong and give them money as most get away with it.jennanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-81735976399141249452016-08-17T19:45:29.213+01:002016-08-17T19:45:29.213+01:00Yes, they were there around 2 pm.Yes, they were there around 2 pm.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-88547178180902482472016-08-17T19:41:29.705+01:002016-08-17T19:41:29.705+01:00Ralph, have you taken the photo of the tufted duck...Ralph, have you taken the photo of the tufted duckling today ? I could not see them this morning jennanoreply@blogger.com