There is no sign of them nesting under the little bridge in the Dell, but it's still early and at least they are hanging around the area.
A Greenfinch was singing at the top of a tree on the west side of the Long Water.
They like high places to sing from, unlike Blackcaps which tend to stay in the shelter of bushes. But at last I managed to get a photograph of a male Blackcap today, as he paused on his way from one invisible singing station to another.
The Coot in the nest in the boathouse was turning over her eggs.
I haven't seen a sign of the people who operate the racing skiffs on the lake, so it looks as if she will be allowed to raise her brood undisturbed by humans -- and, just as importantly, by the numerous hungry Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-Backed Gulls that devour most of the young water birds on the lake.
The male Tawny Owl was in his usual place, though he was sitting rather low and I could only see his head and shoulders.
It is now completely impossible to see him from the front when he is sitting here; he is completely obscured by leaves. When the owlets emerge (and I still think there really are owlets) we are going to have a hard time seeing them.
The carrot cake served at the Lido restaurant is widely renowned.
Update: Mario has identified yesterday's mystery fungus as Poplar Fieldcap, Agrocybe cylindracea, a good edible species.
Today I went to the park and indeed yesterday mushrooms are Agrocybe cylindracea, the Poplar Fieldcap. It's a very good edible mushroom, cultivated and sold in supermarkets in the continent. When cooked it looses its rubbery smell, and retains a very good texture. It has infected quite a few poplars in Hyde Park.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, if you know where to look, there are lots of St Georges now in the park.
I also saw the tawny owl in the usual place at around 6.30 PM.
Mario
Mario
Thanks for that. Can always depend on you for fungal lore.
DeleteJust for info - Tawny owlets were spotted in Staffordshire yesterday (Staffordshirebirding.blogspot), so hopefully you'll see the park ones soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Normally our owls are well in advance of the others, but it's not as if they have a calendar on the wall of their nest.
DeleteI remember when you used to get sparrows on outdoor Cafe tables in central London..
ReplyDeleteOur street was full of them. They would pick up the food spilt from the nosebag of the milkman's horse. In the evenings a gaslighter on a bicycle would light the street lamps with a lighter on a long pole. Although this is absolutely true, I have some difficulty believing it myself.
Deletewhat a lovely picture.
DeleteAnd I do so miss sparrows..