Saturday 27 May 2017

Blondie the Egyptian Goose and her mate had brought their five goslings up the Serpentine almost to the bridge, into the territory of the pale male Egyptian. A fight broke out between the two males ...


... and, surprisingly, it was the resident who was chased off. Other things being equal, birds usually win fights on their home turf.


All the Canada goslings were in a heap on the edge of the Serpentine ...


... except the eldest, an only child, which was going around with its parents.


The Mute Swans on the reed raft were guarding their seven cygnets.


You can only see six in this picture, but I chose it because at the bottom left you can see a Moorhen with two chicks walking casually around the edge of the nest, unmolested by the swans. Evidently they think Moorhens harmless, though they will go for Coots.

The swan family on the Long Water were begging efficiently at Peter Pan.


The mother knows that if she brings her adorable fluffy chicks to people the result will be a shower of food. Luckily swans seem able to survive eating all the rubbish they are offered.

At the Vista, a Mandarin drake was standing tall and uttering little burbling noises.


His mate seemed to find this display irresistible and was gazing adoringly at him.


The Great Crested Grebes' nest on the Long Water is still going well.


You will note that the fallen poplar tree is still defiantly alive. The branch in the background, broken off in the fall, is now brown and withered.

The Reed Warbler at the east end of the Serpentine obligingly came up a stem in spite of the passing crowds on a sunny Saturday.


A Pied Wagtail was also taking no notice of the people milling around. But their big sharp eyes instantly register anyone looking at them. You have to keep the camera in front of your face.


One of the Blue Tits nesting in the lamp post in the Rose Garden brought an insect to the chicks.


A male Blackcap sang on a holly tree near the bridge.


At the leaf yard, the female Little Owl was out on a branch. She is noticeably bigger than her mate, even when you don't see the two together. We are hoping that her presence two days running means that owlets have hatched and are being fed in the nest.


A Red Admiral butterfly rested in the grass near Peter Pan, looking a little tatty now but still beautiful.

1 comment:

  1. Can swans really make the connection between parading lovely fluffy babies and getting more food? Outstanding.

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