... and here are a Blue Tit ...
... and a Robin ...
... from the railed-off enclosure on the east side of the Long Water. The enclosures in Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park -- another one is the Dell -- were set up as bird sanctuaries in 1922, I think in memory of the naturalist W.H. Hudson who had just died, and who has his memorial in the Rima relief and pools.
A Pied Wagtail was running along the edge of the Serpentine, calling loudly though I could see no other Pied Wagtail near.
The Redwings were hunting for worms in the wet grass on the Parade Ground.
A pair of Feral Pigeons were canoodling with undampened ardour.
The Kingfisher could be seen in several places around the Long Water, and finally arrived on his usual branch.
One of the Grey Herons on the island flew down from its nest and walked along the edges of the bushes, peering in. It seemed to be looking for a rat. It's likely that there are rats on the island, because they are strong swimmers.
The Great Crested Grebes were maintaining their nest in the bushes at the east end of the island.
Grebes' nests have to be constantly built up as they slump slowly into the water. There are two visible nests, the other one under the willow near the bridge. It's unusual to see two pairs of grebes nesting in early spring here, as the main breeding season is from midsummer on, because of the supply of small fish in the lake which are neeeded to feed the young. However, the fact that there is at least one Kingfisher here seems to show that there are more small fish than usual at this time of year.
For several days there have been just three Red-Crested Pochards on the lake, two males and a female.
And there are two pairs of Gadwalls. We never get many, but 80 have been seen in Battersea Park recently.
The dominant Mute Swan on the Serpentine near the bridge was in his usual foul mood.
One thing that Herring Gulls won't eat: taco chips. I saw two gulls that had been given these things examine them briefly and walk away.
You do an amazing job of the photography despite what I am guessing is low light. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteThanks. Yes, the light has been vile most of the past few days, and it's going to be like this for at least another week if the forecast is to be believed.
DeletePerhaps the Wagtail could see or hear other Wagtails? Their ear is so much better than ours.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a first: something a Gull won't eat.
A while ago I found something that even a Coot wouldn't touch: stale turrón from a Spanish delicatessen where it had been sitting on a shelf for who knows how long, and had achieved concrete-like rigidity.
DeleteYup. You could pave roads with that stuff!
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