There were clearly a great many fish at the top of the Long Water by the Italian Garden. They had attracted a Kingfisher ...
... a Cormorant in full breeding plumage and a Grey Heron.
These two are on the just-submerged metal grating covering the old intake and outlet of the fountains in the Italian Garden (the fountains are a closed system now). One of the panels of the grating is missing; the gap is just visible at the bottom right corner of this picture. The Grey Heron has been standing on the edge of the gap, waiting for a fish to come into view, a technique that is generally quite successful. But it has been frightened off its station by the arrival of the Cormorant, which swam around for a bit and decided that the missing panel was not large enough for a big bird to be able to manoeuvre, and gave up and went away.
Meanwhile, under the willow tree, the Kingfisher and a Great Crested Grebe were doing better, catching smaller fish among the trailing branches.
A pair of Sparrowhawks were circling over the leaf yard at a considerable height. The small birds didn't seem to be bothered by them, and no doubt they were after larger prey. Here a Great Tit deals with a pine nut. This rather expensive food never fails to please.
Two Lapwings were seen yesterday on the Parade Ground, which is currently being restored in a huge operation after it was wrecked by the London Live event last summer. I went around this area without seeing anything unsual, but it is all fenced off and covered with heaps of earth, and it would be possible to miss any interesting birds that were there. The entire surface is being covered with fresh soil and at least a hectare of high quality sports turf, which must be appallingly expensive. The usual summer concerts are scheduled, which will ruin it again.
The Little Owl emerged briefly from the same sweet chestnut tree that he has been in for the past three days. I only had time for this distant shot before he went back in.
It seems very probable that the pair are nesting in this tree. But a careful search for the Tawny Owl family has still not found them. Last year they weren't found till the 23rd, but when they were found, a long way from the nest, it was clear that they had been out for several days.
Nice photo of the Great Tit. Last time I fed them by the leaf yard (common mixed bird food) the Great Tits would only take the black sunflower seeds, whereas others, like Robins and Bluetits picked up other seeds. Are the Great Tits very picky?
ReplyDeleteI think that Great Tits go for the largest seeds on offer. If I give them a choice of sunflower seeds or pine nuts, they always take the pine nuts. They will also take small pieces of cheese -- you should give them orange-coloured cheese such as Double Gloucester, because the carotene pigment in it helps to make their feathers a nice yellow.
ReplyDeleteI have seen a Great Tit picking up a whole peanut in the shell and flying off with it. It inserted the points of its beak in the dimples in the shell in the manner of someone picking up a bowling ball by the holes.
Bit of fan mail, hope you don't mind: since I've discovered your blog, I've been cheered by it every day (esp when I can't get out somewhere). And always like the photos , too. Thank you!
DeleteAnd thank you too for your kind words.
DeleteHi there I follow your blog every day; could you tell me where the 'Leaf Yard' is? It's not marked on any maps and I'm wondering if it's a place that's closed off the general public? Nice pic of the kingfishers!
ReplyDeleteThe leaf yard is the fenced area to the west of the Peter Pan statue. The central part is where the fallen leaves from the park's trees are dumped and left to rot into leafmould. It is screened by a band of shrubbery all round it, full of small birds (except when the gardeners have been messing it up).
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