Saturday 13 July 2019

A Wren beside the Long Water scolded some predator that I couldn't see, probably a Magpie or Jay.


A Blackcap lurked in a holly bush.


Two young Carrion Crows on Buck Hill relentlessly chased their parents begging for food.


One of the two Great Crested Grebe chicks on the Long Water had vanished, but eventually I found it by itself under the fallen poplar, well hidden by the disruptive camouflage of its stripes.


The chick on the Serpentine was safe on its parent's back.


The grebes retain possession of the disputed nest under the willow by the bridge. Their habit of nesting very late, when the Coots have finally given up, is helpful to them.


The Moorhen family at Bluebird Boats were out, with the teenagers helping to guard and feed the younger chicks. This is quite usual behaviour for Moorhens.


The Pochard with two ducklings passed across the Vista ...


... and so did the Mallard with two.


The two Mallard ducklings on the Serpentine are also all right.


But I haven't seen the Mallard which had six ducklings at Peter Pan for several days. I hope this is because she is keeping them well hidden under a bush. They are larger than the ducklings in the previous picture, so it's definitely two different broods.

Tom went back to Richmond Park and got some excellent pictures of two Little owlets.



Compared to adult Little Owls (this one is in Kensington Gardens) ...


... they are paler, and have no white spots on the head. There is no sign that any of the Kensington Gardens Little Owls -- at least, the three known pairs -- have bred. They are all at least seven years old, and may be past it.

Mark Williams was in St James's Park, and found a juvenile Green Woodpecker.


The wildflower patch in the Rose Garden fascinates visitors, far more than the gardeners' immaculate herbaceous borders.

2 comments:

  1. Oy, my heart skipped a beat when reading that the Grebe chick had vanished. Thank God it was found, making the most of its camouflage. Is the chick in the second picture resting its head in the parent's plumage? Can these birds get any more adorable?

    Crow youngsters are like human toddlers on steroids. My commiseration to adult crows. Incidentally, I don't think we can reasonably complain about the image quality in these youtube videos. Details are very easy to appreciate and the sound quality is also very good. No great loss if Vimeo continues to be stupidly obstuse.

    Lovely pictues of the Little Owls. Contemplation of Little Owls is one of the ingredients for a happy life.

    It strikes me that Moorhens are what Coots would be like if they ever became civilised.

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    Replies
    1. Being civilised has its price. There are about 20 adult Moorhens on the park and over 200 Coots. Barbarians usually win.

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