The Great Tits in the leaf yard were also very busy.
A family of Long-Tailed Tits passed through the trees near the Italian Garden.
A female Blackbird was preening in a tree. Her mate was in the same tree, but there was no sign of young birds. Maybe they had been predated. But life goes on.
A Jackdaw clung to a tree trunk in the shrubbery and gave me a bright-eyed stare, expecting to be given a peanut.
And there was a sidelong glance from a Jay.
A Carrion Crow was interested in what looked like a bit of paper. Closer inspection showed that it was squeezing the last drops from a sachet of soy sauce.
The teenage Grey Heron was fishing at the island.
The Coots nesting at the Dell restaurant have finally realised that their remaining eggs won't hatch, and have pushed them out of the nest. One of the chicks was just leaving to join the others under the balcony, where their parents were feeding them.
It was changeover time at the Great Crested Grebes' nest in the reed bed on the Long Water.
The nest in the fallen poplar tree at the Vista is constantly occupied, and clearly has eggs in it though you can't see them from across the lake.
I always count the goslings of the large Canada family to make sure that there are still 15.
But when they stood up, an extra gosling appeared, which had been hidden in the middle of the heap. It was smaller than the others, and must have strayed in from another brood. These mistakes happen quite often, and sort themselves out in time.
An Egyptian gosling also seemed to be confused about who its mother was.
The Egyptians near the bridge still have two goslings, despite the lack of cover and the marauding gulls. With no access to grass, they seem to be doing all right on the plants in the border.
The Mute Swans are moulting their flight feathers. Every time they preen, more come out. They will be flightless for several weeks.
Hi Ralph,
ReplyDeletedo you know whether Peter is still in charge of the Boathouse? I have not seen him in years now. I am always wanting to ask Mateusz but barely seen him too.
Yes, he is. Mateusz is his right-hand man.
DeleteCould the young Blackbirds have fledged, rather than been predated? (hopeful face).
ReplyDeleteI don't know how Blue Tits can take such noisy harassment. I would be driven to distraction, and they aren't even my children!
Oh, how much I'd wish to have one of those Swan feathers.
Swans are moulting everywhere, and huge white primaries are there for the taking. Being a year old, they are a bit frayed, but still impressive.
Delete