Adult mates also do this.
Their father was watching them from a comfortable distance.
There were two young Magpies in the willow tree next to the bridge.
On the other side of the bridge, the Mandarin duckling was taking it easy in the shade of the railings. A few teal-blue feathers are beginning to appear. This doesn't necessarily mean that it is a drake, since females have blue secondaries.
There is a new Canada Goose family on the south side of the Serpentine.
The Greylag family with four goslings were stepping out a few yards away.
There are little Egyptian Geese all over the place, and it's hard to say how many broods there are. Casualties are high, but they more than make up for it in sheer numbers.
The Mute Swan family on the Long Water were cruising around near the Italian Garden.
The Black Swan was asleep next to the bridge, but woke up when two Mute Swans started fighting next to him, and looked around irritably.
The Great Crested Grebes from the nest on the island were feeding their chick, which is growing well.
This is the mate of the pigeon-killing Lesser Black-Backed Gull, who shares his kills. Her bill and legs are not as bright yellow as his.
A Buff-Tailed Bumblebee was browsing on an ornamental allium flower in the Rose Garden.
I wonder whether the nectar tastes of onions.
By late afternoon the Greylag family had joined up with the other one, making nine young all together, and the Canada family also had been joined by the other pair with offspring, but what was notable was that the Canada group were looking after three different ages of gosling - a single large one the survivor from the raft, I wonder? Did you see the cygnets you got wonderful hatching photos of? I saw two adult swans looking forlorn near the nest but no cygnets, and having noticed yesterday they were down to three I wonder if they've been unfortunate.
ReplyDeleteThe eldest Canada gosling is certainly the one from the raft. But how the others joined it is a mystery.
DeleteSorry to say that after I had done the blog I got a report that the Mute Swans' nest in the net had been attacked by a fox -- there was a large hole in the netting -- and all cygnets lost.
Fur and feathers must fly when a fox meets two angry swans. Other than the netting was there any evidence of a struggle?
DeleteNo, because the area is full of scattered rubbish anyway. The swans seemed uninjured but depressed.
DeleteHow lovely baby magpies are, with their clear light blue eyes. If one didn't know them better, you'd thought them the emblem of innocence.
ReplyDeleteThe Black Swan is clearly saying "get off my lawn!!".
It's a pity Magpies come with a reputation for being birds of ill omen. They are no more destructive than any other member of the crow family, and just as clever. Perhaps it would help to think of them as Jays in evening dress.
DeleteI just love that English verse that goes "One for sorrow, two for joy". If I see a Magpie on its own, I will even salute it by saying "Good morning Mr Magpie, how is your wife today?".
DeleteI've eaten chive flowers before (I assume some still had their nectar). They do have a bit of an onion/chive/what-have-you flavor to them, but it's very much subdued and blended with a more typical flowery taste.
ReplyDeleteThere were no honeybees on these flowers. But allium honey must be a little strange.
DeleteAll birds in the crow family do have similar reputations at times.
ReplyDeleteOn the current Springwatch a jay has taken three Great Tit chicks by swooping on when they peered out of the hole.
Does seem horrible sometimes!
That's horrid :-( I never get used to that. Makes me upset for days.
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