A Mallard, evidently not feeling wet enough, stood under one of the fountains.
The young Hobbies, on the other hand, were looking rather bedraggled.
One of them had a good stretch and flap to readjust its soggy feathers. It's time for Hobbies to fly to Africa and enjoy the southern sunshine.
I thought this gull sitting on a post near the Serpentine island was a Common Gull, since it was much smaller than the Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-Backs next to it. But it may be a very undersized Herring Gull.
Common Gulls are not particularly common in the park, and there are seldom more than 20, greatly outnumbered by the smaller Black-Headed Gulls. Usually most of them are at the Round Pond.
A dozen Mistle Thrushes were flying around Buck Hill and looking for worms in the grass. Here are five of them, accompanied by a Starling and a Feral Pigeon.
There were about 200 Starlings here, and more in the trees near the Round Pond.
I was wrong about what I thought was a Tufted duckling that had been adopted by a female Mallard. The young bird was on the shore of the Serpentine, and it is clear from the pattern on its chest and from its rather long shape that it is really a Mallard, though of an unusual chocolate brown colour.
Nearby, a young Blackbird was eating elderberries. It is going through the awkward stage between its juvenile plumage, which remains on its head but is falling out, and the adult plumage on the rest of its body.
Looks a bit more like a herring gull, pink legs and big heavy bill. Common gull legs are yellowy/green.
ReplyDeleteYes, it does look like one in that picture. But it was much smaller than a Herring Gull usually is. Wish I'd photographed it beside its neighbours. Are there runty little Herring Gulls?
ReplyDeleteGreat photos Ralph, I didn't realise Hobby were present in the London parks never mind nesting!! Will try to get down tomorrow for a look as haven't seen any this year and time is all but up. Thanks for sharing your experiences, a truly great find this blog..
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words. If you are lucky, the Hobbies will be where they have been for the past few days. Go to the path between the Physical Energy statue and the Albert Memorial. Near the statue, the path is flanked by a double avenue of big plane trees. Go on to the open grass to the east of this avenue -- towards the lake -- and look back at the tallest trees about 75 to 100 yards from the statue. You may also see and hear the birds flying around anywhere in the park.
DeleteRALPH - I have just gone through your blog today and seeing the gull which you first of all thought was a Common Gull, it has a red spot on its lower bill which would make it a Herring Gull as Common Gulls have plain bills (no spots). I think I can also see a ring around its eye socket although at the moment it is not coloured. Great news about the Wheatear which indicates reverse migration back to Africa. Keep up the great work Ralph. MARIE
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you're right about the gull. But it was such a mingy little thing that it didn't look like a Herring Gull. And Common Gulls can have legs of almost any colour from ivory to dark grey.
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