Monday 4 November 2019

A gull pattering its feet on land to bring up worms is a common sight, but this Black-Headed Gull was doing it in the shallow water at the edge of the lake. In the event all it found was a leaf.


Two Herring Gulls side by side moaning at each other seemed to be courting, but in fact they were rivals and it ended in a brief fight and a chase.


The pigeon-killing Lesser Black-Backed Gull's mate was having her share of his kill, but allowed a Carrion Crow to drag it away. She always reclaims it when this happens, but her mate would take a much stronger line. Maybe she realises that crows can't be stopped from trying to grab things.


A crow finished the last scraps. They are much better at this than gulls thanks to their strong gripping feet.


Meanwhile, the pigeon killer was enjoying his second pigeon of the day on the Long Water.


This is the first selfie I have ever taken and hope it will be the last, but sometimes you just have to.


A Robin was on the path under the yew tree near the Italian Garden, but it wasn't interested in the fallen berries. It was finding small white larvae.


However, it gladly switched to suet pellets put out for it on a gatepost by Paul.


The yew berries attract not only Rose-Ringed Parakeets and Blackbirds, but also squirrels.


A flock of Long-Tailed Tits hunted along the edge of the Long Water.


A Great Tit on Buck Hill blended well with the autumn colours.


The patch of Sulphur Tuft mushrooms in the plane tree avenue is getting larger and larger.


Virginia took this atmospheric picture of a Tufted Duck flapping in the evening light.


Joan Chatterley sent the latest picture of the Black cygnet in St James's Park. Its new feathers are banded with dark and light grey, and presumably it will be in this half-and-half state until it grows its first adult black set in several month's time.


The latest news of the Red-Throated Diver in Regent's Park is that it's recovering well, stronger and more alert, and is eating all the fish put out for it without having to be hand fed.

7 comments:

  1. I just love your selfie! The Crow looks like the world's lord and master, surveing its domains from a vantage point.

    The Black Cygnet looks strangely dappled, but very beautiful.

    The Gull's pattering behaviour shows that they capable of hypothesis-testing and extrapolation. It wasn't successful this time, but it shows that their abstract intelligence is not to be dismissed.

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    1. That crow knows it's the boss, and if I were to die in the park it would eat me without a second thought.

      The more you watch gulls, the more you realise how intelligent they are.

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    2. I may have said this before, but I am certain that, were I to die in a car accident driving to or from work, vultures would get there before an ambulance would.

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    3. I wouldn't begrudge them their meal (as long as I was properly dead, but I think they're quite careful about that).

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  2. Very funny, thank you. Please continue.

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    Replies
    1. I don't think think the crow means to stop.

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    2. Right, I'm setting up a fan club for the Crow.

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