Friday 21 February 2014

A day of sunny intervals but not much to see. The most interesting incident was a fight between two Wood Pigeons, jumping and kicking in their ungainly fashion.



There was no winner, and in the end they wandered off side by side as if nothing had happened.

The male Tawny Owl stayed inside his tree, sheltering from the chilly wind after a cold night. I went there twice to see if he had emerged, but he had not. Several people had come to see him, and were disappointed.

Two of the Jackdaws in this area were poking for food in the grass.


There are four in all, and at least two of them seem to be a couple. There is a tree near the Speke obelisk with a hole that they have been examining. If the other two are a couple, they will look for a nest at a discreet distance, as Jackdaws are territorial and fiercely defend their nest site.

The Redwings have returned to their original place at the bottom of the Parade Ground, just to the west of the bandstand. They like this area mainly because it is fenced off after the grass was wrecked by the funfair, but also because the churned-up earth and scubby patches of surviving grass are well stocked with worms, and most importantly there are trees they can fly into if disturbed. These nervous birds flee when a photographer comes within fifty yards of them, but sometimes if you stay still they will forget about you and hop back after a while.


As usual, they were accompanied by Pied Wagtails, which are slightly less shy -- just as well from a photographic point of view, because they are tiny. This one is male, as you can see from his black back -- females are grey.


The playful young Herring Gull had abandoned its toys for the time being and was preening itself on the edge of the Serpentine.

10 comments:

  1. Beautifuk studies of Herring Gull nad Redwing. Well done and thank you.

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  2. Thanks. I wish I could get closer to the Redwings, but they are so shy.

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  3. Keep checking the wagtails as you might get a white wagtail - the continental variety - they pass through on migtation and can turn up anywhere.

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    1. Thanks -- will keep an eye out for them. The most exciting wagtail I have seen so far here was a melanistic Pied: usual pattern in black and charcoal.

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  4. Wood pigeons are the only bird I can think of that have a recognizable expression for "f--- off" which often precedes a beating or a fight. Any other birds one can say this of (apart from captive parrots learning the human words)? Male robins will sing in a confrontation but this is more like a 'rap battle'. Also carrion crows have an aerial combat call but it doesn't translate so obviously. Jim, n. London

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    1. I've been thinking about this. Ring-Necked Parakeets seem to have a special brief, indignant squawk for shooing each other away.

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  5. hi ralph. wonderful to read your reports of the redwings. i wonder are they close enough to see with naked eye from behind the fences or do you beed binocs or your super zoom camera? thanks.
    Mark W2

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    1. You really need binoculars. The best place to see them from is usually on the south side of the fenced-off area, just west of the bandstand. They have sometimes been over towards Park Lane, but this bit is not fenced and they won't be there on a Saturday with the park full of people.

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  6. Hi Ralph
    Have you seen the Little Owls recently. I'm hoping to come to the park tomorrow for another attempt to see them
    Peter

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  7. No one has seen them for a while. Your best best is to come at dawn or dusk. They are definitely not coming out in the middle of the day at this time -- it's probably too cold for them.

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