Wednesday 13 January 2016

The elusive Little Grebe appeared on the Long Water again today, under the brambles on the west side of the Long Water near the Italian Garden. It caught a perch.


When I went past again an hour later it was still in the same place, unusual for Little Grebes which normally move constantly round the edge of the lake.

At the Vista, a Grey Heron was rubbing its beak on a post, perhaps cleaning off something stuck to it.


A Cormorant flew past.


And two Mallard drakes had one thing on their mind, as usual.


Two Moorhens were fighting on the Serpentine near the Lido.


The Black Swan saw his girlfriend at the east end of the Serpentine, and cruised briskly to meet her. On the way he paused to examine a Black-Headed Gull on the water level gauge.


On the shore, a Carrion Crow was carefully inspecting a bin for possible food.


The object on the right is the end of one of the curly iron benches used all over the park. If you walk through the enclosed area on the north edge of Kensington Gardens between Marlborough Gate and Lancaster Gate (just to the west of the Italian Garden) you will find that the benches are of other designs, all different and some of them rather strange, such as one with supports in the shape of a snake, and another with iron imitations of twigs. Possibly these were bought as samples to test and find the best design, and the curly design won.

A pair of Magpies were clearly in love in a tree on the island. One of them is preening the other.


Two Robins were also clearly fond of each other on a bench below the Triangle car park. It's easy to guess which one is the male.


A Wren was running around under the bench.

7 comments:

  1. I have nothing interesting to say, except that I absolutely love those robins! And the teeny tiny feathery ball that is that wren.

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  2. Ralph,
    At school there are lots of Starlings, and I often see them flying into the bins (like the crow) and flying out again, not necessarily looking for food.
    Is this unusual?

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    1. They certainly are looking for food in the bins. They might just not find any.

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  3. I have a very soft spot for the Little Grebe, elusive though it is, so it's lovely to see a photo of one. There is some chance of seeing some at Virginia Water, the staff at Windsor Great Park have told me. But their shyness makes it very hard to be sure of seeing one!

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    Replies
    1. You find them by listening. They have a peculiar call like a giggle, or My Little Pony neighing.

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    2. Oh my word. I'll listen to the RSPB audioclip to educate myself on that!!!

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