Friday 27 September 2019

Two Goldcrests were leaping around in the yew tree near the bridge. Standing on the bridge parapet allows you to photograph them on the level.


A flock of Long-Tailed Tits paused in a hawthorn tree beside the Long Water.


A Treecreeper climbed an oak in the leaf yard.


A Rose-Ringed Parakeet chewed the pods on a catalpa tree, decided they weren't quite ripe yet, and flew away. The parakeets have found out that there is no point in tearing the pods open if the beans inside aren't developed.


Carrion Crows enjoy a gusty wind which lets them fool around in the air.


One of the Great Crested Grebe chicks at the bridge was begging loudly at its father, who replied with a shrug.


Two Cormorants fished together under the platform of Bluebird Boats.


One of them caught a perch.


There was a single Shoveller drake at the Serpentine island, an unusual place for Shovellers which usually prefer the calm of the Long Water.


A Tufted drake turned upside down to preen his belly.


A Greylag was also upside down, though only for a moment. They often begin their preening routine with a somersault.


After a heavy shower the sun came out for a while, making a rainbow over the island. Appropriately the foot of the bow was over the Dorchester Hotel, where there are crocks of gold aplenty.


Ian Young was in St James's Park, checking on the young Black Swan. Its bill is beginning to turn red with a white stripe, and black feathers are coming through its juvenile down.


There was an ominous sound of chainsaws on Buck Hill, followed by a crash as a large, beautiful and apparently healthy ash tree was cut down.


I simply don't understand why so many seemingly sound trees are being felled in the park. The fine black poplar in front of Peter Pan has also been a victim, and it hasn't even been removed cleanly to make way for a new tree; there is now an ugly stump fifteen feet tall ruining the recently and expensively set-up view from across the Long Water. Ironically, the rowan trees a few yards from the ash are mortally sick with honey fungus and one of them is almost dead, but these are being left alone.

4 comments:

  1. What a comical sight! I had such a laugh with the funny antics of the Tufted Duck turned upside down. It's adorable.

    The Black cygnet looks very shabby and almost self-conscious, but soon it will be its beautiful adult self.

    wonderful pictures of the small birds, as always. The intense yellow on the Goldcrest's head shows how aptly named they are.

    Who knows what goes inside Park management's minds.

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    1. I have been told that the senior post of park manager is occupied by career civil servants, and that it is a much disliked job that they have to endure for a few years and leave as soon as possible.

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  2. Lovely shots of the Goldcrest + Long-tailed Tit. The shot of the upside down Greylag certainly put a big smile on my face this dark morning.

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    1. It's always fun to watch the frantic splashing of large waterfowl washing.

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