The Moorhens in the Italian Garden now have four chicks. They are all staying in the good cover of the clump of plants, except occasionally when one of the chicks falls out of the cramped nest and hastily scrambles back in. It is lucky that these birds are so agile; they can run like the wind almost as soon as they are hatched.
The young Starlings are now beginning to grow their beautiful iridescent adult plumage, and have an odd half-and-half appearance, as if they were wearing a tweed jacket over a brocade gown.
I went up to the rowan trees on Buck Hill, which are full of ripe berries and attract Blackbirds and Mistle Thrushes in particular. There was a young Blackbird sunbathing in that peculiar crashed attitude that they adopt when doing this. The photograph was taken with the camera compeletely straight.
After a minute it got up and went to eat some more rowan berries.
All the Mute Swans with cygnets have disappeared from the lake. I went up to the Round Pond to see if they had been moved there: no sign of them. Anyway, I don't think you can move a family of half-grown swans from an established territory. I very much fear that they have been butchered for the convenience of bureaucrats. And if they have, my blackest curse on the stinking officials who have spoilt our park so gravely over the last few years.
Update: thank goodness, they've been taken to Egham, and will be coming back after the hoo-ha is over. See the comments below.
Fortunately, the swan families have just been relocated according to two different sources.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.newstimes.com/sports/article/SWAN-LAKE-3762217.php
As the triathletes power across Hyde Park's Serpentine lake Saturday, spare a thought for the swan families plucked out of harm's way.
Organizers say the lake's three resident swan couples and their young cygnets were temporarily relocated last week at the behest of the park's wildlife officer. "This decision has been made for the protection and safety of the birds during this busy time," a spokeswoman said in an email, adding that the birds were being cared for by a charity called Swan Lifeline.
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=244833
With the triathlon and marathon swimming taking place in Hyde Park's Serpentine lake from Saturday 4 August, the park's resident swans have been sent on a short vacation to Egham in Surrey while their London home is overrun with athletes, officials and spectators. The three swan families, consisting of six adults and 14 cygnets, have been swept away from the noise and stress of the Olympic Games. But their temporary removal may come as welcome news to some visitors, as the defensive adults have been known to break people's arms if they come too close to their cygnets. The swans will return from their summer holiday in Surrey after the swimming finishes on 10 August.
I am so glad to read that the worst fate has not befallen our swan families. It will be interesting to hear how they cope in their unfamiliar environment and whether, if they are brought home again afterwards, they readapt again.
DeleteWell, that's a great relief -- thank you. I look forward to seeing them again when the wild rumpus has died away. And, to add a bit of comedy to the incident, that shaggy old myth about one blow of a swan's wing breaking your arm has resurfaced.
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