Thursday 3 October 2019

A Grey Wagtail enjoyed a leisurely wash and preen at the top of the Dell waterfall, undisturbed by several people photographing it.


One of the Little Owls near the Henry Moore sculpture perched on a branch of the lime tree where the pair have a hole. They nest in a different tree, but like to return to this one for the winter.


A Blackbird drank from a little pool of rainwater in a dead tree in the Dell.


A Song Thrush appeared in a holly tree near the bridge.


The resident male Chaffinch was in a nearby tree.


The corkscrew hazel bush in the Flower Walk is a favourite perch for a Robin.


People who feed Carrion Crows at the leaf yard may get an unexpected visit from a Rose-Ringed Parakeet.


The crows are more than capable of feeding themselves. This one at the Dell restaurant is removing the last shreds of liver sausage from the plastic wrapper.


Carrion Crows and Grey Herons are mortal enemies. A crow that torments a heron near the bridge ...


... gets more than it bargained for.


It may be a chilly autumn day, but that doesn't stop the Mute Swans from courting.


Andrew Williamson took this fine photograph of a Great Crested Grebe with a perch.


Virginia got a dramatic shot at sunset yesterday of a Cormorant taking off in the shadow of the island.


Tom was at Rainham Marshes and took a good picture of a Kingfisher with a small fish.


A gaggle of schoolchildren and an orderly procession of Canada Geese crossed the Serpentine Road.


This Giant Puffball near the bridge has been nibbled by slugs, producing circular pits in the surface. I think the other damage may be caused by its being gnawed by squirrels.


A large plane tree on the edge of the Dell is slowly eating the iron railings.

5 comments:

  1. Plane trees are relentless. They upturn roads and crack mortar and asphalt. Most neighbours are not very fond of them here, but I quite enjoy seeing them reclaim what was always theirs, and cracking sidewalks and pavement reaching out with their roots.

    The orderly procession of disciplined Geese vs. the gaggle of honking children. I laughed! The Geese look as if they were their teachers.

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    1. Love the goose joke too.

      One of my recalcitrant elder trees rapidly absorbed the loop of some gardening wire that was secured around it, including the knot. I had no idea of this until my bow-saw connected with the wire, which was not going quietly. 'Stumped' as to how to break up the residual log/wire combo (severed with a fresh cut), I eventually found it quite handy around the garden. Jim

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    2. No gardener myself, I love seeing nature reclaim human works. To drag out a well worn quotation from Horace,

      Naturam expellas furca, tamen usque recurret
      et mala perrumpet furtim fastidia victrix.


      You may drive Nature out with a fork, but she'll rush back
      and quietly and triumphantly burst through your wretched fussiness.

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    3. You ought to publish a book of your translations of Latin and Greek poetry. I mean it seriously.

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    4. So much is said in the second line in just six words, impossible to convey neatly in English.

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