The Peregrines also honoured us with a visit. They looked at each other from a distance and the female fluffed up her feathers -- what a falconer would call 'rousing'.
Otherwise it was a pretty ordinary day. Whenever I visit Buck Hill now, this Jay is always waiting for me in the same tree.
And what seems to be the only Mistle Thrush perches at the top of a tall birch, waiting for another one that never seems to arrive.
A Starling ate yew berries in a tree near Peter Pan.
Starling flocks have their favourite trees, for no clear reason. There are always a lot of them chattering in this small black lime on the edge of the Serpentine.
The look from a Coal Tit that means 'I want a pine nut, and I want it now.'
A flock of Long-Tailed Tits moved along the edge of the Serpentine.
A Wren hopped around under the red stems of dogwood bushes at the Lido.
A Heron stood on the bridge in front of a red Japanese maple tree.
Even when herons are only a few months old, their bills have an oddly tatty look.
A Great Crested Grebe fished among the wire baskets under the bridge.
A pair of Shovellers revolved at the Vista. It really makes you giddy looking at these endlessly gyrating birds. But they are well used to it.
There are large mixed flocks of Pochards and Tufted Ducks under the trees bordering the Long Water.
Ducks really don't need duckboards, and it was quite unusual to see a Mallard preening on one in the Italian Garden fountain.
Hi Ralph,
ReplyDeleteWe were in the park today and noticed the wooden fencing in the leaf yard, do you know what it has been put there for?
Also have you seen anything of the kingfisher recently?
The fence surrounds a large and prized but elderly Field Maple and is to stop people from standing under it in case a branch drops off.
DeleteNo sign of the Kingfisher. Of course I'll report it if there is.
Great news. Were you able to renew acquaintance with a digestive?
ReplyDeleteShe recognised me at once and came over to be given all I had, which was a few shelled peanuts and some birdseed, both of which she liked and they are better for her than digestive biscuits, which she went off anyway after a bit the last time she was here. In her usual style she was taking no nonsense from the Mute Swans, and barging them out of the way when people were offering food. Let's hope she stays. She is a bird of great character, by no means all of it good.
DeleteOooooh so happy to have her back! At the end of the video it's clear that she remembers you well. We'll collectively beg her to stay.
DeleteIt's still a bit strange to me to think of her as a female, being so aggressive and plucky, and able to hold her own against the larger male Mute Swans. But she always was a brave one.
That Coal Tit is the most adorable mugger. It appears to be saying, give me all your worldly belongings, or else.
Poor Mistle Thrush. That is a melancholy image.
I am always amazed that any creature as tiny as a Coal Tit should undeniably have a personality. This is one of the pair at the bridge. The timid one at the leaf yard is quite different.
DeleteGood she's back- shame she didn't bring a mate!
ReplyDeleteShe had one for a while in St James's Park, but it didn't work out. Now I think she needs a bit of time on her own.
DeleteHello Ralph, I am a avid bird watcher & will be visiting London in a couple of weeks & I was wondering are these birds countable? I mean are they tagged, are they're wings clipped or can they come and go freely.....I noticed by some of the pictures that the Mute Swan is tagged are they all tagged? Some of the key birds to add to my life list would be Long-tailed Tits, Great-crested Grebe, Black Swan.
ReplyDeleteGood birding, Colin Hartnell
Hi Rob. You can count most of the birds but though the Black Swan is free flying the species isn't on the British list as there isn't a self-sustaining population here. So strictly speaking you shouldn't add it to your list, though as it's your own list it's up to you what you count, though not officially acceptable. Same would go for the Bar-headed Goose that turns up.
DeleteHi Colin
ReplyDeleteI can confirm that all the birds in Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens are fully winged, and are free to come and go as they like.
There are plenty of Long-Tailed Tits and Great Crested Grebes here.
Ralph is the expert and may wish to add more
Ian
There are a few bird ringers in Kensington Gardens. There is a project going on at the moment to ring Coots and Moorhens to track their movements.
DeleteIf you want to be shown the best places in the park, I'll be happy to take you round one morning.
Thanks for the offer. I look forward to meeting up with you sometime. My family and I plan on visiting London on November 9th - 14th.
DeleteYou can write to me at the address at the top right of the page.
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