Saturday 15 December 2018

A Blackbird rummaged in dead leaves to find worms. This area on the east side of the Long Water is one of the few places where the park management allows dead leaves to lie, providing a valuable resource for many birds. Almost everywhere else mechanical leaf blowers unnecessarily destroy their habitat, and the population of Blackbirds and other thrushes has crashed disastrously.


It was a dull grey day, but at least there was a Peregrine on the barracks tower.


A Long-Tailed Tit found a small larva on a twig.


Later it started raining, and a Blue Tit ...


... and a Robin were looking sadly soggy.


A Dunnock lurking under the bushes in the Rose Garden managed to stay reasonably dry.


A Mistle Thrush ...


... and a Blackbird took the opportunity to bathe in puddles.


Nothing can interfere with the love life of Feral Pigeons.


A Carrion Crow paddled in the rapids in the Diana fountain. Many birds seem to love the sensation of water flowing over their feet.


Two Cormorants quarrelled on the posts at the island.


In the water below, a Great Crested Grebe was already in breeding plumage.


A Herring Gull which had dredged up an algae-covered stone from the Serpentine was mobbed by Black-Headed Gulls, apparently wanting the stone.


A Moorhen searched through the algae on a fountain in the Italian Garden. They are often here, but I have no idea of what they are finding to eat -- is it just the algae, or are there small creatures in it?

2 comments:

  1. That pair of Pigeons appears to be what humans would call "in love". Down to their facial expressions and all.

    There is always something so vulnerable and sad in drenched birds. I know they are hardy creatures, but I marvel that they are able to just dry themselves in record time.

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  2. As long as birds have enough food to fuel their fierce little internal furnaces they seem to be able to survive any weather.

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