Thursday 12 December 2019

Another dismal drizzly day. The female Peregrine perched indifferently on the barracks tower.


A Grey Heron fished from the swan island in the Long Water.


A Cormorant managed to catch two perch at once, creating a problem for itself as perch, with their spiny dorsal fins, have to be turned round and swallowed head first.


The Cormorant didn't manage to turn both, and one fish had a lucky escape. Thanks to Michael Frankling for these excellent pictures.


Two pairs of Egyptian Geese fought and chased each other on the Serpentine.


The Black Swan on the Round Pond, so demure and peaceful when it arrived, is now acting as you'd expect from a Black Swan.


There were two Shoveller drakes at the east end of the Serpentine, a place where Shovellers never normally go, but the foul weather was keeping people out of the park and there was nothing to scare these shy ducks.


The solitary Pochard at Peter Pan mooched around in the falling rain.


A Robin foraged on the wet path.


A Wren wandered about in a flower bed in the Rose Garden.


A Pied Wagtail hunted along the edge of the Round Pond.


A squirrel seemed to find an empty crisp packet particularly delicious. I think it was licking salt off the inside.


At least there's a lifebelt for you if you obey this notice. A watching Carrion Crow was disappointed when I didn't.


Tom was at Rainham Marshes, where he got a fine picture of a female Stonechat on a reed mace head, unusually close for such a shy bird.

9 comments:

  1. Thank you for the lifebelt photo: at last something to make me smile today.

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    1. I suppose we live in exciting times, though I can't summon much enthusiasm. Thank goodness for birds, those sane and practical creatures who live without politicians or lawyers.

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    2. Yes indeed. Thank you for the daily reminders.

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  2. I've been scratching my head for the past five minutes trying to make up what on Earth meant whoever placed that pedestrian sign on that spot. I wouldn't rule out that the Crow did it.

    Glad to see that the Black Swan is coming back to its senses.

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    1. I had also suspected the crow, but it would have taken 50 of them to move that sign.

      It was cheering to see the Black Swan getting into its normal mode of mindless aggression.

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    2. I notice now that the Black Swan has acquired its first Coot student. The Coot appears to be regarding the swan with unbridled admiration.

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    3. Coots are always attracted to fights, no matter what the species of the combatants.

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  3. Replies
    1. They think it's safe to lurk in the old water filter. Quite the opposite, as the wall stops them escaping.

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