It turned out to be the odd couple of a Herring Gull and a Lesser Black-Backed Gull. They flew down to the edge of the lake and carried on. When they swam away, the Herring Gull picked up a twig. Is this symbolic of wanting to nest?
The pigeon-eating Lesser Black-Backed Gull and his mate had just finished a shared Feral Pigeon. The female daintily washed the blood off her bill.
The Great Crested Grebes at the island were having a peaceful moment at their nest.
Above them, both the Grey Herons were together on their nest again.
The Mute Swans' nest on the Lido restaurant terrace now has five eggs in it. The male swan was guarding them while his mate went off to eat.
Sad to say, the pair of swans on the Long Water are persisting with theie nest disastrously sited in the foxes' favourite sunbathing place.
There are Mandarin drakes all around both lakes. Presumably the females are all nesting now.
A large mob of Carrion Crows, of which this is only part, were milling around near the Triangle car park. A large art project is being built in the lake here, but I don't think they were interested in culture. The workmen were alarmed by their presence and tried unsuccessfully to shoo them away.
Two Jackdaws noticed me crossing the bridge and flew up to be given peanuts.
A pair of Mistle Thrushes were dashing around a lawn in the Rose Garden, looking for worms.
Another pair in a plane tree on the far side of Rotten Row were rattling at another bird, probably a Magpie too close to their nest.
A male Blackcap perched on a tree beside the Vista.
A Great Tit stared impatiently, waiting to be fed.
A Buff-Tailed Bumblebee gathered nectar from a blossoming shrub near the bridge.
Just recently came across this site, very interesting to see how diverse a range of birds living in the centre of London, I live up North in Newcastle and we get some unusual species like Kittiwakes nesting in the centre of town but didnt expect such a diverse range in central London
ReplyDeleteMany species of bird are becoming urban dwellers as more and more of the countryside is turned into a poisoned monoculture.
DeleteAt the risk of repeating myself, I love bumblebees so much. If honey bees become extinct, Europe may be able to carry on thanks to bumblebees.
ReplyDeleteIt is strange to think that the gulls' display is actually an act of courtship. It'd look like defiance and challenge to the non-accustomed eye. Gull courtship mores are a bit like Hitchcock scenes: love scenes look like murders and murders look like love scenes.
I think the Lesser Black-Backed Gulls' exploits with pigeons look pretty murderous, though.
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