Tuesday 11 September 2018

The pigeon-killing Lesser Black-Backed Gull took two Feral Pigeons today. One victim seemed to be mourned by its mate. A young gull was eager for a share, but of course wasn't let in. When the killer left the pigeons unattended for a moment it sneaked in, but was promptly attacked.


Two Herring Gulls were strutting about in step, as if they were mates. But one of them looks a bit young to be doing this.


One of the young Grey Herons from the island nest stretched a wing and a leg.


Virginia sent this fine picture of two Cormorants courting on the posts below.


Also by Virginia, two dramatic shots of the female Mute Swan that was set upon by four males -- I already put a picture of this on the blog post for 2 September. Here her three cygnets attack one of the males as he tries to mate ...


... and here they press on their attack as she escapes on to the island.


We now know that the white and grey Greylag Goose at the Round Pond is a domestic West of England Goose. But what about this one, seen today beside the Serpentine? I think it's a wild Greylag that is partly leucistic, but may be wrong.


One of the young Great Crested Grebes at the bridge scratched its chin.


A young Pied Wagtail hunted insects along the edge of the swimming area at the Lido.


Starlings' frantic communal baths are always amusing.


In the shrubbery at the southwest corner of the bridge, a Robin struck an imperious pose in a holly tree.


A Coal Tit perched on a twig with berries.


A pair of Dunnocks hopped about in the bushes. This is the male, with a grey head.


A Long-Tailed Tit probed some leaves in search of bugs.


Another good picture from Virginia: the shire horses pulling the mower in the meadow at Kensington Palace. The equipment has just made a dramatic leap into the twentieth century, with pneumatic tyres and a padded seat.

4 comments:

  1. The cygnets were very brave to attack the older male

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    1. Particularly because there were three other males around.

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  2. Well done, cygnets! Is that a common behaviour in them?

    I had to laugh at the funny Starling commonal bath. It looks mildly risible, and yet they are as synchronized at it as when they fly.

    That mourning pigeon grieving for its dead mate in front of its killer was such a sad and moving sight.

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    Replies
    1. I've never seen cygnets behave like that before. Would have expected them to flee.

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