Virginia got this interesting picture yesterday of one of the goslings peering out of the tree, with its mother behind it. Once the young jump down from the nest there is no going back.
Another two dramatic pictures taken by Virginia this afternoon. A Black-Headed Gull chased a Mandarin across the Long Water.
In a closer shot, you can see that the Mandarin was carrying a crust of bread.
A Lesser Black-Backed Gull enjoyed a vigorous wash on the Long Water. They always wash in exactly the same place on the wide expanse of the lake, as if there were invisible bathroom walls.
Two pairs of Coots were fighting near the Serpentine island.
The male Little Owl at the leaf yard, not much seen recently, was on the edge of the nest hole.
His long time out of the public eye has made him nervous. I just had time for a couple of shots before he retreated into the hole. When I went past the tree again later he was out again, but went in as soon as he saw me. He used to be calm and it was the female who was shy, but now it's the other way round.
The female owl near the Henry Moore sculpture was sitting placidly on her balcony.
Beside the Long Water, a Carrion Crow preened ...
... and a single Long-Tailed Tit searched for insects.
A Coal Tit sang in the Rose Garden ...
... and so did a Goldfinch in the top of a tall tree.
The female Chaffinch of the pair in the leaf yard perched on a twig.
Now that work has finished on relaying the turf at the bottom of the Parade Ground, the Redwings are back. They prefer the original grass under the trees, where there are more worms and insects.
They even fight in unison. Clearly Coots never met a brawl they didn't like.
ReplyDeleteVirginia's picture is wonderful. Poor little duckling; it appears to know it is about to run the gauntlet.
Everyone thought that Egyptian Geese were going to be an uncontrollable invasive species in the park, but actually their numbers peaked a couple of years ago and are now falling, thanks to the efficient predation of the Herring Gulls.
ReplyDeleteSo is the famous Duracell battery still anywhere to be seen? Hope someone will clear it up (for recycling) if it fell down. Re invasive geese and pooping in the Royal Parks, a recent news item here, ta da. Jim
ReplyDeleteThe Duracell battery had subsided a bit, and I cropped it out of the picture because I wanted a close-up view.
DeleteAs for that fence, it will also stop the moulting geese from feeding. Is there no end to the stupidity of park managers?
Maybe they are hoping it will deter the flock from settling there. The question is, do they anticipate becoming flightless or just have an instinct to congregate on a substantial lake? Jim
DeleteSince the park managers have invited the erection of a 700 oil drum art installation on the Serpentine lake for the whole of the summer ... no, there is obviously no end. One consolation is that no doubt the gulls will pass their verdict on it.
ReplyDeleteAargh. At least we can look forward to seeing it liberally spattered. It's just the kind of thing the heroically incontinent Herring Gulls like to perch on.
DeleteIt is 7000 colourful oil drums according to the friends of the park newsletter! Between the bridge and the island from June.
DeleteI suppose the 'Friends of the Park' are pleased. They seem to be a pretty passive bunch.
DeleteOops, wrong link:
DeleteThe Revenge of the Seagulls!
Mercedes use a special, allegedly environmentally friendly water-based paint for their cars. It looks as if this is more susceptible to seagull droppings than the traditional solvent-based kind. Anyone who buys a Mercedes can afford to have it resprayed, so hurrah for the gulls who give honest painters a living.
DeleteIt's been my experience that woodpigeon poo residue attacks regular solvent-based gloss paint if left for long enough. Jim
DeleteI'm sure it does. But I think it attacks Mercedes paint quicker.
Delete