But, seen from the other side, the Cormorants were looking glossy in the hazy sunshine.
A Great Spotted Woodpecker appeared in a tree at the top of Buck Hill.
There were Mistle Thrushes all over the hill, pulling up wireworms from the grass, perched in tall trees, and eating rowan berries.
The Blackbirds were on the other side of the Long Water eating berries in the holly and yew trees.
A few days ago I was wondering whether any birds ate horse chestnut seeds, which are said to be moderately toxic to all species. This Carrion Crow seemed to think they were edible, and was busily pecking one open.
The pigeon-killing Lesser Black-Backed Gull, in his usual place on the Dell restaurant roof, was accompanied by the young gull that seems to be the offspring of him and his mate. As usual, he was taking no notice of it whatever.
A Black-Headed Gull was washing in the Serpentine.
Another was being knocked off its perch by a Moorhen, which had walked along the chains between four posts for the pleasure of evicting it.
The young Grey Heron from the Dell restaurant had left its usual place and was trying its luck on the shore near the Diana fountain, where people often come to feed the waterfowl.
The young Mute Swans from the east end of the Serpentine, now hulking teenagers, tend to stick to the raft where they were hatched. The plants still haven't grown back after their parents ripped them up.
There was a large swarm of ladybirds all around the Italian Garden. They hibernate in the public lavatory next to the gate, and it looked as if they were having a final feed before settling down for the winter. Sadly, they all seemed to be the invasive Harlequin species.
Brave Moorhen! What a wonderful mixture of a tightrope walker and an all-out pub brawler.
ReplyDeleteMoorhens always win these contests. They just trot up the chain and the Black-Headed Gull yields without a fight. But they don't try to shift larger gulls.
DeleteSorry Ralph, had to delete my previous comment as I made a few typos by mistake. Was wondering whether there has been any update on the death of the swan, I haven't seen Malcolm for a while but will ask him if nothing. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteNo, sorry, haven't heard anything about that.
DeleteI think one just has to admire the Harlequins for being effective ladybirds, just as Grey Squirrels are superb acrobats and cachers. Coincidentally, I tuned in to the Simon Mayo show this evening and he had posed a listener's question: why have so many ladybirds just entered my house? Answers had come back that they were now seeking to hibernate after a good year, but nobody had pointed out that it is chiefly the invasive Harlequins that seek to hibernate indoors, hence the novelty for some. Jim
ReplyDeleteEffective, yes. But we used to have umpteen species of native ladybirds and it looks as if we shall soon have one species of invader, and that is not admirable in my book.
DeleteI was passing the Dell restaurant around one this afternoon and was intrigued to see a young gull not unlike the one in your picture tucking into a feral pigeon. There was still a lot of meat left on the victim and the notorious adult Lesser Black Backed was pottering about in the water. The scene threw up a number of questions in my mind but your picture I think has provided the answers. Thanks.
DeleteAs regards our native ladybirds, it seems the only species being reported as endangered by the Harlequin is the 2-Spot, although Harlequin larvae prey on more than one other ladybird species. Joseph, it could also be that an immature Herring Gull had gained possession of the pigeon by its larger size, did you read this entry? Jim
DeleteAlso in the past day's media. Following the story about super-fleas with massive penises invading Britain, now it's the alien ladybirds riddled with STDs. ;) Jim
DeleteThe whole business of pigeon-eating gulls still has a lot to be discovered, and all extra information is welcome.
DeleteAs for Harlequin ladybird invasiveness, I haven't seen any species of ladybird in the park other than Harlequin for several years.
Jim, thanks for your suggestion but it is because I'd seen the Herring Gull story that I took particular notice of the young pigeon-eating gull which was much smaller - and identical to the one in Ralph's picture. My assumption, since the adult was contentedly pottering about is that it had killed the pigeon and left either the whole or part of it for what appears to be its offspring. Maybe even killed the pigeon for that purpose?
DeleteWould it not be feasible to ask the Park staff to inspect the teeth of any ladybird they meet, to see if they are foreigners?
ReplyDeleteYou just count their spots. This is less reliable with humans.
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