Tuesday 13 December 2016

A Goldcrest was jumping about inside the yew tree at the southwest corner of the leaf yard.


A Robin was more obliging and came out to the front of the tree.


A Nuthatch climbed down a tree to take some food from the railings.


And a Blue Tit was also waiting to be fed.


A Magpie was having a faceoff with a Rose-Ringed Parakeet.


Another had been bathing in the Serpentine and was drying itself on a branch.


A flock of Long-Tiled Tits flew past the bridge.


In the reed bed at the east end of the Serpentine, a Wren was picking seeds out of a reed mace head.


A Carrion Crow was hopping mad after a Herring Gull snatched a peanut away from it.


A Black-Headed Gull glided gracefully past a Great Crested Grebe which was laboriously hauling itself into the air.


People have been asking me how to find the lime tree near the Henry Moore sculpture that has the Little Owls in it. This picture is taken from the notice beside the path that describes the sculpture, looking up the hill towards the park offices. The owl's hole is ringed. To see it you should walk to the left of this picture, to the north side of this tree.


He was there today, plainly visible. You have to dodge about a bit to see clearly through the twigs. It's best not to use binoculars -- they frighten him.


But the female Little Owl in the oak tree near the Albert Memorial was sitting at the back of the hole and could hardly be seen.

2 comments:

  1. If I were a Great-crested Grebe I would feel vastly insulted by the superiority demonstrated so unfeelingly by the Black-headed Gull. That Gull is ungentle(wo)man-like, unsports(wo)manlike, and a show-off to boot.
    ... That's what I'd mumble to myself if I were in the Great-crested Grebe's place, at least.

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    Replies
    1. Perhaps that's why grebes dive under gulls and peck their feet. You often see a gull leaping into the air with an indignant squawk, and a few seconds later a surfacing grebe.

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