Monday 8 June 2015

The two little families of Canada Geese were togther, and pushing through the crowd of other Canadas with the spirit of someone who has a 'Baby on board' sticker on the rear window of his car.


The Coots' nest in the small boathouse, which had been abandoned, is now back in business.


The Magpie family near the Henry Moore sculpture were out in force, with three youngsters pestering one of the parents for food.


They all got fed, one by one.


A Feral Pigeon nearby took advantage of a brief sunny spell to stretch out on the grass.


At the bottom of this space there was a large drift of fluff from a black poplar (which the Americans call cottonwood, and no wonder). A rabbit was enjoying itself by rolling and leaping in it.


One of the young Pied Wagtails was running around in the wagtails' favourite spot near the Lido, where overhanging bushes keep people away from the shore.


A glimpse of a little brown bird on the west side of the Long Water momentarily raised hopes of a better picture of the Cetti's warbler. But no, it was a Wren bringing a beakful of insects to its nest.


Or, more likely, nests, because male Wrens are polygamous and maintain a harem of mates, each with her own nest.

The female Little Owl made an unexpected return to her nest tree.

9 comments:

  1. I love the magpie photos. To me, they are such handsome birds. The bunny rabbit bouncing in fluff, and Canada Geese in 'full steam ahead mode' were well....quite delightful.

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  2. well done ralph. amzing you got shots of he ceti's warbler. shame they are so undistingusihed?god bless the birds!
    Mark W2

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    1. Undistinguished shot of an undistinguished-looking bird. But their song makes up for it.

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  3. Ralph - thought you might like to see this report of 23 goslings. The photo is gorgeous. My friend Ian thinks the geese might be operating a 'creche' system ie one goose did not lay all those eggs! http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/baby-geese-picture-canal-goose-9303032

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    1. I'm sure that several parents are sharing childcare. This is quite normal for Canadas. The most goslings I've ever seen together are 21, on the Grand Union Canal, but I have heard reports of 50.

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  4. Hi Ralph, can't believe all the moorhen chicks are gone..... It is v sad. The parks are definitely short of babies this year - apart from Egyptians which are just about to add another lot as my missus didn't come out from the nest today so I think hatching is imminent! God help her especially with that evil gull out for all he can get..... Do you think it's just down to predators that the numbers are so low? Miraculously the little coot chick is still on the platform in the round pond! Best wishes v

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    1. I think the population explosion of Herring Gulls is the main cause. Almost all of them are young. My theory is that when the breeding colony was pushed off Paddington Station by the roof rebuilding a few years ago they found somewhere much better nearby and have been breeding like crazy.

      Keeping fingers crossed for the Egyptians. Have been past their tree twice recently but nothing visible from the ground.

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