Update: here is his video of the Sparrowhawk having a face-off with a squirrel:
Second update: and a longer video of him preening:
One of the Little Owls in the usual chestnut tree looked out from the hole for a second, rushed back in, and wasn't seen again all day. Evidently it was the nervous female, because the male just stares at you. However, while I was waiting unsuccessfully for a reappearance, a Treecreeper came into sight for a short time.
And when I was going home, one of the other pair of Little Owls looked out of the hole in the oak tree in the fading light.
It flew out and was immediately set on by several Rose-Ringed Parakeets. I haven't seen these mobbing an owl before, and wish I had got a picture, but it happened behind branches.
The Black Swan was back with girlfriend number one, and they seemed quite affectionate to each other. Here he is doing what I think is a threat display warning other swans to keep away from her.
It's several years since Red Crested Pochards bred on the lake. In one year they managed to raise two young on the Long Water.
One of the Grey Herons nesting on the island flew home carrying a twig it had broken off a tree.
A Black-Headed Gull won a bit of hamburger in a feeding scramble and stepped ashore to swallow it, which it managed with difficulty.
Two Nuthatches came down to take food from the railings of the leaf yard.
A Long-Tailed Tit found a small grub in the bark of a tree.
A Wren was hopping about boldly on the path between Peter Pan and the Italian Garden, taking no notice of the many people who were passing by on a sunny day.
Sparrowhawks are truly scary, with those large alien yellow eyes.
ReplyDeleteBrave little wren, so cheery and valiant! Truly he is fit to be the king of all birds.
T.H. White, describing a Goshawk, said that she looked at him with a mad marigold eye.
DeleteThat quote reminds me, have you read Helen MacDonald's "H is for Hawk"? If you haven't, I'd encourage you very vividly do so, because it's the most riveting thing I've read in I don't know how many years.
DeleteYes, I have, a wonderful book.
DeleteIt's a very readable book but I ended up disliking its author. I fail to understand how anyone who develops such a close attachment to another living creature could seemingly abandon it to its fate in an aviary (where it subsequently died).
DeleteI think she had to leave her Goshawk at the aviary when it was moulting and needed special care. But she took it back and had another couple of seasons' hunting before the hawk fell ill and died.
DeleteI expect that you're right, but why - except that it can't be flown for one's own personal pleasure - does a captive raptor need to be exiled for the moulting season?
DeleteIt is uncomfortable and itchy, and gets vile-tempered and needs peace and plenty of food.
DeleteWhat other raptors can be seen, other than the Sparowhawk and Kestrel?
ReplyDeleteHobbies in summer, peregrines all year round visiting from the Metrople Hilton tower, and the occasional Buzzard and Red Kite.
DeleteDo you think that the Sparrowhawk would have been able to take the Grey Squirrel or was it too large?
ReplyDeleteI think that it the squirrel had got any nearer the Sparrowhawk would have slashed at its face with a sharp-taloned foot.
DeleteTH White wrote interesting -fictional- descriptions of animals (incl. wild geese; and there is the owl, of course) in book 1 of 'The Once and Future King', young Arthur being turned into animals by Merlin, as part of his education into statecraft.
ReplyDeleteYes, I have read them, and also The Goshawk, about which Helen MacDonald has much to say and little to its credit. White anthropomorphised terribly in both books. MacDonald, of course, practically turned into a hawk.
DeleteWhat a splendid sparrowhawk encounter. And how fortunate to be stood at precisely the right angle to capture the squirrel face-off too.
ReplyDeleteI watched the black swan furiously constructing his nest site in full view of the Serpentine Bar audience yesterday. He does enjoy being centre stage doesn't he. I look forward to more Sturm und Drang performances.
I hear rumours of a swimming event on the Serpentine. What happens to all the wildlife at these times? Surely it's illegal to disturb any nesting bird? Or does the Royal Parks prerogative prevail?
The Royal Parks people do what they like. During the Olympics a new family of Mute Swans were seized and exiled to Marlow, where one of them died.
DeleteI recently saw the Black Swan in St James Park making exactly the same threat display. Two Mute Swans were chasing each other around, and had got too near the Black Swan
ReplyDeleteThe St James's Park Black Swan has lost its mate to a fox and can't be blamed for being irritable.
DeleteHi Ralph, yes I was thinking of heading in to the city on Sunday morning as it's the only day I'm free this week. The weather looks changeable at the moment, yesterday said it would be clear, today is saying rain.
ReplyDeleteIt would be fantastic if you were there, as you say I've never been there before and I might need some help getting me eye in.
Thanks for the reply, I'll wait to hear more.
Marc.
Would it be convenient to meet me at the south end of the Serpentine bridge at 11.30 am on Sunday?
DeleteYes, that's perfect, see you there. I'll be wearing a green jacket and navy hat. Thanks.
DeleteMarc
OK, see you there. I will be wearing a black parka and a manky old fake fur hat, and hung about with optical devices.
Delete