This elderly Canada Goose had been on the Serpentine for years -- the picture was taken in 2015. It had run out of oil to preen its feathers and was no longer waterproof, and had got a bad limp. The other Canadas were beginning to bully it.
So it was time to move it to the swan sanctuary where it could live the rest of its life in peace. Here is a video shot by Anita on her smartphone of the goose at her temporary holding place waiting to be picked up. The Call Duck rescued earlier will be going to the same place. She now has a white Mallard to keep her company.
A Mute Swan enjoyed a mighty splash and flap.
One of the dark Mallard brothers was under the willow tree near the bridge.
A very brief video of two Moorhens fighting. They don't fight as often as Coots, but do it in the same style.
The pigeon-eating Lesser Black-Backed Gull was exasperated by Carrion Crows trying to steal his lunch ...
... and moved it away into the water out of their reach.
Four Common Gulls perched on the plastic buoys at the Lido. Being heavier than Black-Headed Gulls, they often tip the buoy over and have to flap to keep their balance.
The Grey Herons know when they're going to be fed, and turn up well in advance.
For several days I've been trying to get a picture of a bird in the spectacularly red sweetgum tree near the Diana fountain. Finally a Blue Tit obliged.
But one at the bridge came much closer, because it wanted to be fed.
Only the female of the pair of Coal Tits here will come to my hand for food. The male lurks timidly in the background, and you have to throw a pine nut on the ground for him.
It's the same with the two Robins. One is easy to attract, the other hangs around diffidently on a bramble.
A single Long-Tailed Tit passed. They take no notice at all of humans.
Re. Moorhens/ Coots fighting: seems slightly more dangerous when in the water. Do any ever drown? The fighting always does look quite vigorous.
ReplyDeleteI think that when the loser is held under it has to submit. This is certainly the case with the more formal wrestling matches of grebes.
DeleteFeeding small birds is a very efficient way to prove that they do have different little personalities of their own.
ReplyDeleteOoh the little Call Duck! Great to see that she is doing so fine and as pretty as ever. That was a good and very kind deed, to take the poor dishevelled Canada to a better, more peaceful place.
I will never stop being amazed by the tameness of Kensington Gardens Herons.
A man visits the herons daily and feeds them tinned sardines with chopsticks. Enough to make any bird tame.
DeleteI may recognise the limping Canadian Goose. It used to come up and hide behind me when I was feeding the geese some seeds, but had such a bold character, tugging at my coat and diving his head into my seed bag from behind. I developed some bond with it, so I'll be missing him/her if it is indeed the one. But great to learn it's not being bullied anymore!
ReplyDeleteIt was always on the shore quite near the island.
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