Sunday 23 April 2017

A Canada Goose on the Serpentine caught a bit of French bread thrown to it.


A Herring Gull had other ideas about whose bread it was.


A free-for-all resulted.


The Bar-Headed Goose was visible again. It is probably here permanently now, but goes around with the Greylags and is only seen occasionally.


Two Great Crested Grebes lunged for the same insect.


But they are mates, and there were no ill feelings.

There is a new grebe nest in a reed bed on the east side of the Long Water, opposite the fallen horse chestnut tree.


There were plenty of terrapins on the tree, which is their favourite basking spot.


Why do the Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-Backed Gulls on the Long Water always choose exactly the same place to wash?


A Wood Pigeon was eating pink hawthorn blossom in the Rose Garden.


A Pied Wagtail hunted insects in the soggy mess left by nesting Mute Swans on the raft at the east end of the Serpentine.


A pair of Long-Tailed Tits were bustling about in an alder tree beside the Long Water, collecting insects for their nestlings.


The Carrion Crows nesting in the lime tree near the Henry Moore sculpture also have nestlings, and their mother was feeding them.


The Little Owls that used to be in this tree seem to have moved up the hill. Between the entrance to the Allotment and the entrance to the park offices there are three horse chestnuts. I heard an owl calling from the middle one. But it's in full leaf with blossom, and I couldn't see anything.

The Little Owl near the leaf yard came out and stayed for several minutes, until a Jackdaw flew close by and he retreated into his hole.


Lower down in the same tree there is a much smaller hole, and yesterday Fran saw a squirrel entering and leaving it and took this good picture.


The whole inside of this ancient tree is hollow, and probably provides accommodation for many different creatures.

Fran also sent this excellent shot of a Wren carrying nesting material.

4 comments:

  1. I really don't know if Gulls are creatures of habit. They are certainly intelligent and innovative enough to appreciate new opportunities, but on the other hand most birds love best what they are used to, I guess.

    There is a whole chapter devoted to discussion about innovative/adapting birds vs. conservative ones in The Genius of Birds.

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    1. A habit like always bathing in the same place has no disadvantages and can be kept up. But they have to be innovative to exploit new food sources. So there's no contradiction here.

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  2. Does anyone know what's happened the the 4th baby Egyptian goose north end of the round pond? There are only 3 since prior to the weekend

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    1. Their parents are nesting again and have left them to fend for themselves. See Monday's blog post.

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