The two chicks at Peter Pan are still in good order. Their mother sensibly keeps them to a sheltered branch.
The Coots at the outflow of the Serpentine are still building their idiotically sited nest at the top of the weir, literally on the brink of destruction.
The Great Crested Grebes nesting in the fallen poplar on the Long Water were out on the lake with their single chick. It seems that they've finally realised that the remaining egg isn't going to hatch.
The Black Swan came into the edge of the Serpentine to be fed.
He got too close to a family of Mute Swans and was chased off by the female.
The youngest Egyptian gosling stretched down to drink from the Serpentine.
Rose-Ringed Parakeets near the leaf yard preferred to drink rainwater from a puddle.
The first part of the morning was sunny, and the female Little Owl was out enjoying the warmth. She is spending more time on the other side of the tree from her usual branch, that is the south side, which is both sunnier and more sheltered from the intrusive Magpies.
The two young Carrion Crows on Buck Hill were prospecting for worms with their parents. They are not yet very skilled at this, and one came up with a worm in a clod of earth which had to be shaken off.
Two young Wrens were shouting at each at the upper end of the Dell. There is a colony of Wrens here and on the other side of the path, towards the Serpentine.
House Martins were flying over the lake.
There were also some Sand Martins, recognisable from below by the dark bar across the neck.
But we haven't seen any Swifts for some time. Swallows are only occasional visitors.
Fairy Ring mushrooms are springing up all over the park, brought on by the wet weather.
I saw the Black Swan in the late afternoon. He was swimming alongside the Mute Swan family, but at a safe distance. When the mother went off to chase other swans, he stayed quite near the cygnets. The mother's a very angry bird!
ReplyDeleteI think he's teasing the Mute Swans now.
DeleteAny idea which mushroom that is in the fairy ring? Jim
ReplyDeleteYes, the Fairy Ring mushroom, as I said. Marasmius oreades. Edible but not very interesting. Country people used to dry them by putting thread with a needle through the stems, which are very tough, and stringing them across the room. Then they could be added to soups and stews.
DeleteOur swifts have all gone back to Africa. I miss their aerial play and their noise so much.
ReplyDeleteI think the Black Swan is pulling the collective Mute Swans' legs.
I suppose ours have too. Well, they'll be back next year without having put a foot to the ground.
DeleteThink you're right about the Black Swan.