Monday 26 November 2018

A Little Owl unexpectedly appeared in a horse chestnut tree near the Queen's Temple. This may be the long lost female of the pair who have been at the leaf yard for the past six years, or another owl. She was in a hole that has been used before by the male of the pair.


She enjoyed a thorough preen.


The female Kestrel was on Buck Hill again, in the small trees near the children's playground.


A Redwing ate rowan fruit ...


... and a Jay neatly shelled a peanut.


The cabbage palm trees (Cordyline australis) in the Rose Garden have edible fruit that attracted a Mistle Thrush ...


... and a Wood Pigeon.


Another Wood Pigeon pottered around in the pansies in the herbaceous border.


The Black Swan was feeling aggressive. This excellent picture was taken by David Element.


Another Mute Swan flew on to the Long Water ...


... and waterskied to a halt.


The tatty swan was still at Bluebird Boats, eating duck pellets out of a dog bowl. There is nothing wrong with her appetite, which is a good sign.


It's the time of year when Egyptian Geese stand on top of dead trees and yell at each other.


There were seven Red-Crested Pochards at the island.


A dead carp beside the Serpentine attracted a Black-Headed Gull ...


... which was chased off by a Carrion Crow.


This inscription is on a large and beautiful copper beech northwest of the Albert Memorial.

8 comments:

  1. Hi Ralph,

    I am so sorry I was wrong, I thought the sick Canada Goose died but he actually turned up today to my surprise after going missing. Well, there was a drama with him today when he nearly drowned. I came to feed him and he was on the island, upon seeing me he raced into the water but he kept sliding down as he was trying to get onto the shore. The others started pecking him and I could see thathe started sinking and was gonna drown in seconds. Luckily he was close to the shore so I gently pulled him by his neck nearer me and grabbed him by the body to get him out, he is so lighweight, literally no meat on him despite being fed more than most. He was like a sponge when he got out. Completely soaked. He perked up a bit on land but the others are very nasty to him. I have troubleto keep them of his back.

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    1. Very well done. And glad the goose is still alive, though the lack of natural oil on his feathers is worrying.

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  2. It is as I said he always looks like a sponge that you submerge in water when he gets out. Even the short distance between the island and the bank is enough for him to drown had any of the other geese attacked him there. You believe he is reasonably warm on land and hopefully a little bit of food in his tummy helps. I still think he won’t end up well. He is clinging onto life but everyday things like getting out of water are a problem now.

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    1. Please excuse my butting in, but could the poor goose be handed to a rehab organization? I don't know if that is even possible. I know that there are charities that look after swans (the Swan Sanctuary); maybe they'll take geese as well.

      I am so glad that the droopy swan is at least getting food without problem. It's a good thing that it has an appetite.

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  4. I was thinking the same as he is really unsafe in the park given his state but I fear this would have to be approved by the Royal Parks who are notorious in dealing with sick wildlife. I mean the new officer seems very good but I think he might have to follow some silly protocol. Also there is something like once you take the non native injured species out of their habitat you have to put them to sleep is that right? It’s just painful to watch how he is treated like a punchbag by the others plus Winter Wonderland brings in a lot of dodgy people into the park that would not normally come.

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  5. I wish there was something we could do :-( Maybe it won't hurt to give it a try and inform the officer or ask if a charity may take charge, though. I really don't know about regulations in the UK. It pains me immensely to say this, but maybe even if he ends up being put to sleep in a safe, warm evironment, better that than a slow painful death in the cold.

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    1. The Wildlife Officer does know about this swan, and thinks it's best to wait and see if she recovers by herself.

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