A Teal drake turned up at the east end of the Serpentine, the first we've seen since January. It might even be the same one. It was looking a bit dishevelled because it had been washing.
A Mallard was in mid-wash ...
... and so was a Cormorant.
A Tufted Duck had finished, and was having a flap to settle its feathers.
Two Mute Swans were waiting to be served at the Triangle snack bar.
A Carrion Crow had found a bag with the remnants of a snack in it, and was shaking it to get the food out.
The second pigeon-eating Lesser Black-Backed Gull, the one with pinkish legs ...
... and the third one, with pale yellow legs ...
... were disputing the ownership of a pigeon that one of them had killed.
The male Little Owl in the oak tree near the Albert Memorial had come out to the front of the hole to enjoy the sunshine.
A Coal Tit came down to feed at the leaf yard.
Some Long-Tailed Tits passed through the trees overhead.
A Mistle Thrush was reaching for fruit in the rowan tree on Buck Hill.
A Blackbird had found a more convenient twig for her meal.
seems my day for admiring the design(s) of birds' feet, particularly the Coot crampon action, and the coal tit.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of feet, we may have another 'Polish' Mute Swan on the Serpentine, the one on the left in today's picture. These are white as cygnets, and as adults have pinkish bills and grey feet. Jorgen noticed this and wrote to me. I've sent a crop from the original picture to the Polish swan maven, and we shall see what he says.
DeleteLet us know.
DeleteHe agrees that it is another Polish Swan. Now I have to find it again and read its ring.
DeleteLet us not disrespect the magnificent Coot: it was clearly ice-skating, not sliding, and it was voluntary, not forced by its inability to keep its balance. Surely.
ReplyDeleteDid the Swans get served in a timely manner? Wonderful picture.
No, that Coot really was floundering. Pity I didn't have my video camera with me. Those big flat feet, so good on mud, are useless on ice.
Delete