Friday 1 June 2018

The pair of Little Owls near the leaf yard were side by side on a branch.


They have been together for at least six years, and sometimes you can see how fond they are of each other.


A Mistle Thrush in a tree scolded a Carrion Crow on the ground underneath. It flew around several trees, still calling, to confuse the crow about where its nest was.


A Blackcap sang from a tree beside the Long Water. It could be dimly seen deep in the leaves, staring suspiciously at me. They are very shy birds.


But a young Starling on an umbrella at the Lido restaurant was not in the least disturbed by being photographed.


This lamp post on the south side of the Serpentine is a busy place, with Blue Tits constantly visiting the nest inside. The chicks can be heard inside the lamp post clamouring for food.


The shore here is a mass of goslings from end to end. Here the Canada Geese with a brood of 15 take them down to the water.


The families of Greylags were on the grass higher up the bank.


Here are views of the three Mute Swan families on the Serpentine, with a total of 15 cygnets. The family on the Long Water, on the other side of the bridge, has a further four.


Great Crested Grebes are now nesting in several places: in the fallen poplar tree in the Long Water ...


... in the reed bed farther north ...


... and, unfortunately, on a string of buoys in the Serpentine. This is not a good place for a nest, as the buoys will be moved soon.


A grebe hunted for fish in one of the wire baskets of twigs under the bridge.


At this time of year the twigs should be full of small perch.


A Grey Heron preferred to fish in a patch of water weed. This hides the heron from the fish, but the heron can still see movement through the gaps and strike accurately.


The Coots' nest in the netting around the reed bed east of the Lido has now hatched. The Coot chicks can get through the mesh, and when they are a little older they will be able to dive under it, since it only reaches a short way below water level.


There is a new nest on the chains at the bridge. A Coot added a pink plastic teaspoon to it.

2 comments:

  1. I think Little Owls, not storks or cranes, should be the emblem of conjugal bliss. Always so heart-warming to witness how devoted they are to each other.

    Coots may not be so spiritually elevated, but I defy anyone to produce a more thoughtful species where decoration is concerned.

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    Replies
    1. I've never seen a bowerbird, though. They are the supreme decorators.

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