Wednesday 15 October 2014

Today's blog is done in a bit of a rush, because I have been summoned to the BBC to do an interview on Radio Five Live about the pigeon-eating Lesser Black-Backed Gull. If everything goes to plan it will be airing some time after 6 pm.

The gull himself was taking it easy on the roof of the Dell restaurant, in the same place as in yesterday's picture.

And this is the reason he likes this spot: a heaving mass of Feral Pigeons on the tarmac just below. As you can see, it is quite easy for him to run in and grab any that have not been able to take off in time.


The pair of Mandarins at Peter Pan have become very familiar, and now come out of the water when they see me, expecting to be fed.


If any pigeons should try to interfere, they get the bum's rush.


The east side of the Long Water is now wall-to-wall Pochard. The is just one Tufted Duck and one Red-Crested Pochard in this crowd.


The Shovellers are most up at the north end of the Long Water, but this solitary drake had come out on to the Serpentine and was resting near the edge. Shovellers are generally rather shy, but this one was taking no notice of the passing people.


Two Nuthatches appeared at the southwest corner of the leaf yard, a place where two pairs bred this year. This is one of the pair that nested in the old chestnut tree just inside the railings.


I didn't have time to wait for the Tawny Owl to come out today. But the male Little Owl was in his nest tree, in a slightly more secluded spot than usual.

10 comments:

  1. Hello, I am a reporter on the Telegraph and have just heard you on Five Live. I would be very grateful if you could get in touch when you have a moment. I am on 0207 931 3533. Many thanks.

    Edward Malnick

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  2. Thanks. Have left message on your voicemail, and also emailed you at unknown but probable Telegraph address.

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  3. Can you tell us what the programme was called (& which of the two '5 live' stations) ? I'm possibly a bit Luddite but found the BBC iPlayer confusing...

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    1. I think it's this. It ran from 1600 to 1900, and I was on for just three minutes at 1757 before the 1800 news headlines, so it would be slightly less than two thirds of the way through.

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    2. Thanks for the link. You got an awful lot in in three minutes. Well done. With a bit of luck it may prompt a few more people to take some interest in what is going on around us in the park ... and then come here for more illumination!

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    3. Thanks. Now the Daily Telegraph has come in too -- don't know what they want yet. It's becoming a bit of a circus.

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  4. Enjoyed that! More reason to get an agent Ralph, it should have been your photojournalistic coup!

    Pedants' corner again. Surely that shoveler, like all snoozing ducks, was taking notice all along? ;) Jim n.L.

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    1. Well, it had one eye open, as you can see from the picture. But it was next to a busy path, and I was surprised by its sang-froid.

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  5. The Radio BBC 5live interview you gave was excellent! You managed it beautifully, being gently informative, colorful and interesting all at the same time. Perfect.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words.It was a slightly weird experience.

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