Monday 15 July 2019

The Blackbirds stopped singing several weeks ago, but this one near the Italian Garden tried a few quiet phrases, barely audible over the noise of the fountains.


There were two Blackbirds in a hawthorn on the other side of the lake. The berries must still be too hard to eat, but I think the brambles out of focus in the foreground may have have some blackberries ripe enough to interest them.


A Jay in the next tree, which had been coming to take peanuts from Paul's hand, now trusts me too.


The pair of Blue Tits at the bridge were also expecting to be fed.


A Magpie in the Rose Garden sunbathed, then preened. I think the idea is that the sunlight brings parasites up on to the surface of its feathers, where they can then be picked off.


The Little Owl near the Albert Memorial was taking no notice of the world below.


Another fine shot by Tom of one of the Little owlets in Richmond Park.


And a different kind of owl, but not here. This video was sent by John and Lizann's neighbours in Sardinia, who rescued two Scops owlets that had fallen out of their nest. They intend to release them into the wild, but I suspect that the owls will be too accustomed to life in a house to want to leave.


There is currently one Egyptian family with six goslings on the Serpentine ...


... and two with five.



The family on the north side has to cross over 60 feet of pavement, roadway and horse ride to get to the nearest grass. If some irresponsible dog owner comes past with a dog off the lead, which happens every few minutes, they have to run for their lives to get back into the water, taking their chances with passing cars, bicycles, rollerbladers, skateboarders, and runners who are usually oblivious to everything.


The Mallard and her five ducklings rested and preened on a branch of the fallen willow tree next to the Italian Garden fountains.


The Great Crested Grebe chicks on the Long Water were in their usual place by the fallen poplar. One of them scratched its ear with a large foot.


The single chick at the island was also visible.


A young Moorhen on the Long Water fed one of the chicks from the next brood. This behaviour is quite usual for Moorhens, which may breed three times a year.


A pair of Moorhens at the island are not nesting, but have made a sort of daybed out of willowherb leaves to rest on. Again, this is usual behaviour by Moorhens, which like to have day nests whether or not they have a proper nest and chicks.

10 comments:

  1. Did a crazy woman abuse you today for having a telephoto lens? I was trying to get some photos near the round pond about 1.50 pm when she started talking rubbish to me.

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    1. No, I missed her. A treat in store.

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    2. I hope the stereotype of crazy ladies getting their point across by hitting people around the head with an umbrella is just that, a steoreotype...

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    3. You are describing about half the dog owners in the park.

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    4. What's wrong with having a tele lens? I don't get it.

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    5. I mean, does she suspect you all of being paparazzi?

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    6. She seemed to think that as I had a telephoto lens I work for Portland Down (Chemical Weapons research). I think she was mentally ill, - hopefully she is back in her mental hospital.

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  2. If I come back, I want to come back as a Little Owl. Particularly, that Little Owl.

    Only a Magpie would devise a system whereby it manages to sunbathe, de-bug, and eat, in one fell swoop.

    The the thought of the poor goslings running for their little lives breaks my heart :-(

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    1. I'd like to be an Eagle Owl. Little Owls are lovely but spend too much of their lives being harassed by corvids of all kinds.

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