Thursday 13 July 2017

The Black Swan kept coming in to the edge of the Serpentine where someone was feeding the Mute Swans, but the dominant swan chased him away every time. It's probably better for him not to eat so much bread.


A cygnet had difficulty getting up the high kerb at the edge of the lake near the bridge.


Under a bridge arch, the pair of Great Crested Grebes who have not found a nest site were examining a length of chain attached the the stonework. It was not promising.


I don't know what these chains were for. Rowing boats used to be allowed on to the Long Water as far as Peter Pan, which is why there is still a line of posts across the lake there, marking the old limit.

The Coot nest at Peter Pan, long deserted by the Coots that built it, is now a popular platform for other birds. There were a pair of Egyptians here ...


...followed by a Grey Heron.


The Moorhen nest on the rock in the Dell is now well established, and the Moorhens are clearly serious about nesting there.


A male Blackbird in the Rose Garden is the latest to become addicted to sultanas, and now shows up every time I visit.


Yet another young Blackbird showed up beside the Long Water, near where the friendly white-faced female Blackbird is usually found. She does have a mate, but I have not seen or heard any offspring before now, and think this young bird has a different mother.


Three young Mistle Thrushes flew into a small rowan tree near the leaf yard.


They were remarkably bold ...


... and allowed Tom and me to get quite close to them.


The female Little Owl was nearby in her usual tree, rather hard to see among the leaves.


Two young Starlings, now independent of their parents, were prospecting for food near the Dell restaurant. In a month or two they will start growing their iridescent adult plumage.


A Tree Bumblebee gathered nectar on an ornamental bush in the Rose Garden.


A ram-headed urn in the Italian Garden got its portrait painted.

2 comments:

  1. The Heron Ornament chose not to be involved in the portrait. Sad.

    I don't know what to think of the Black Swan's newfound prudence. On the one hand it's great that he cannot eat so much bread, even if I'm sure he wouldn't see it this way. On the other hand, I fear that the he may have been beaten up by other swans while he was away and has become somewhat more timid. I don't know.

    What is it about fructose that drives all animals crazy with appetite?

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    Replies
    1. If I could answer that question, Americans might be thin again.

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