Wednesday 15 April 2015

Most of the yew trees in the park have Goldcrests in them, and you notice this more now that they are singing their high-pitched song. But they tend to stay deep in the leaves, and usually the most you see is a brief flash of yellow as they move around restlessly looking for insects. This one, in the yew between Peter Pan and the Italian Garden, stayed still for a few seconds.


Johanna van de Woestijne, who is in London again and always visits the park, took this fine picture of the little group of Mallards with the white female landing on the Serpentine.


Her feathers are pure white all over, a disadvantage for a bird as white feathers are soft and fray easily. Many white birds have dark wingtips, which wear better.

The blonde female Mallard on the Serpentine also has pale primaries. Her secondaries, which are dark blue on a normal Mallard, are brown, as you can see on her left wing as she has a vigorous flap after preening.


It was a bad day for geese. Some Canadas had been trying to nest on one of the reed rafts, but something has happened and the eggs are strewn all over the raft.


And this Greylag had got the top of a drinks can stuck on its bill. Of course Malcolm the Wildlife Officer was sent for, and by the time you read this it should be all right.


Someone had dropped a bunch of flowers in the Serpentine. The young Egyptians gave it a cursory glance and decided that it wasn't edible.


Soon afterwards a Feral Pigeon had no scruples and ate several flowers.

The new Little Owl was basking in the sunshine on his usual tree, and stretched a remarkably long wing. They look quite big when they fly.


The usual male Little Owl was out of his hole and also enjoying the sun.

8 comments:

  1. Today I went to look for the new little owls, but I couldn't find them. I assumed that the exotic tree between the Orangery and the Round Pond must have been one of the two false acacias next to the side gate to the orangery, as the other trees in that area are all either lime of horse chestnuts (as far as I can tell), but I can see from the photo in today's blog that I was mistaken. If you could explain which tree it is, I may give it another go tomorrow.
    Mario

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    1. According to one of the gardeners, the strange tree is just a sweet chestnut, but it is very large and thick and not broken down like the original 1690 chestnuts, so it must be newer. It has bark with deep fissures at a slight angle to the vertical, forming a spiral of lines, and with a ginger tinge. It is near the corner where the peripheral path circling the Round Pond crosses the straight path from the Round Pond to the Diana playground.

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  2. The Goldcrest is such a perky little chap! Lovely photo.

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    1. Thank you. Surprised I got anything, it was very dark inside that bush.

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  3. Hello, could you please confirm that the Greylag with the top of can stuck is fine? I saw it today and it was heartbreaking! Many people tried to help it and one lady fell into the water in the attempt to reach the Graylab! After 15 mins I had to go but I couldn't stop thinking about the poor animal! Please, let me know it's safe and well! Thank you!

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    1. I don't know yet -- I had to leave the park before Malcolm arrived. But he is very good at catching and treating birds, and I really think he will have done something.

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    2. Thank you, good to know someone expert was on his way! People were amazing while I was there and tried to help as they could but with no luck. Please, give us some news if you find out if the goose is fine...that would be an amazing news!!! Thanks!

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  4. Thank you Ralph for the lovely photo of the Goldcrest. I am not quick enough to spot them but they are lovely little birds. Today (Thursday) I saw your ringed Herring Gull sitting on a post at Peter Pan, an orange ring on the left leg with a small silver one on the right leg. It will be interesting to know where it was ringed if you get a reply. I also saw today a Reed Bunting singing near the Dell Restaurant.

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