... they go straight up in the air.
Another heron landed on the Little Owls' chestnut tree ...
... alarming the female owl, who retreated to a well hidden place on the other side of the tree.
The Coots nesting on the basket at the bridge have three chicks, and were off the nest. Probably the fourth egg was a dud and has been rolled out of the nest.
Some carp browsing peacefully at Peter Pan were disturbed when a Coot swan over them.
The Moorhens at the east end of the Serpentine seem to have lost their latest brood, although at least one of the previous brood is still alive, and now independent. They were going for a third one in their indefatigable way.
The Black Swan's fine ruffles need careful maintenance.
We haven't has a picture of the Mute Swan family on the Long Water for a while. The cygnets are growing up fast.
A Wood Pigeon was drinking at the edge of the Serpentine.
Several young Great Tits were fluttering their wings and calling for food at the bridge.
Emperor dragonflies were hunting in their usual spot under the parapet of the Italian Garden. They are extremely difficult to photograph in the air, and this is the best I could manage today.
There were also some Common Blue damselflies. Here is one chasing a midge low over the water.
Something strange was going on at Peter Pan. Gongs were involved. Whatever it was, it was clearly deeply mystical.
Those duelling Herons look like Margot Fonteyn and Nureyev performing a pas de deux, rather than their usual lanky bickering selves.
ReplyDeleteThat Gong thing has definitely stumped me.
The Black Swan looks adorable even when belly up and kicking up in the air.
I think the gong thing is one of those ancient oriental traditions that you make up as you go along.
Deletebless 'em.
DeleteTerrific blog thank you Ralph. I enjoyed the heron fight (handbags at 20 paces stuff really) and the Black Swan's upsidedown rendition of Swan Lake.
ReplyDeleteFortunately they don't seem to use their terrible beaks on each other. It's just kicking and barging.
DeleteLike rugby then really....
DeleteIf I was clever enough and cheeky enough, I would photoshop a trampoline under the fighting herons - great picture!
ReplyDeleteI must try to get video of the next fight.
DeleteEnormous carp! Anybody manage to eat them, do you think?
ReplyDeleteThere are much bigger carp than that in the lake. The largest one caught was 44lb (20kg).
DeleteHow intriguing to see the curious rituals of H. sapiens documented on your blog. (A rare thing, that.) I wonder if you'll also be recording mating displays, as the weather warms?
ReplyDeleteHave seen rather too much human mating in the park in recent years.
Delete