The Long-Tailed Tits' nest in Kensington Gardens is now complete right up to the top, but the birds are still busy. It has to be lined with little feathers -- as many as 20,000 have been counted in one nest -- and these have to be gathered and brought in one by one. The feathers are stuck into the wall of the nest from inside point first, so that the soft tips make a comfortable bed for the sitting bird.
The Little Owls are also together in their nest hole. For a brief second both of them peered out with one eye each.
This Jay was singing in a tree near the leaf yard, if you can called the odd chattering noise they make a song.
A Grey Heron was sunbathing at the fence beside the Henry Moore statue. There was a rabbit a few feet away, and the heron was clearly hoping that it would stray near enough to grab.
The flock of Redwings are still at the bottom of the Parade Ground. Most of them were in the trees, where you could hear them chattering, but a few were feeding on the ground. You can only get within 50 yards of them, so this is a distant shot.
The Scaup was in the middle of the Serpentine, doing nothing. I haven't seen this bird dive since he arrived on the Serpentine; he always seems to be resting.
This ball of seeds mixed with dripping was meant for tits, but a Ring-Necked Parakeet has discovered how to balance on the hanger and eat it.
Hi Ralph, your Scaups behaviour might reflect the fact that diving ducks are quite active at night - they can be active at day or night - that's why Pochards always seem to be sleeping!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information. It's odd, though. The Scaup spent its first month here on the Round Pond, and there it was diving constantly. Possibly the food supply in the pond was scanty and it had to work harder there.
DeleteThank could well be it, probably much more food now, more time for rest
ReplyDelete