The rain brought out Blackbirds to look for worms coming up. This male was in the Flower Walk ...
... and there were several females in the Rose Garden.
A Dunnock waited for seeds to drop from the feeder.
A Coal Tit perched on a rose bush.
A Blue Tit near the bridge waited on a holly twig.
One of the Grey Herons on the island is now actively building up last year's nest with fresh twigs.
Two Cormorants on the Long Water happened to surface together. They eyed each other with hostility.
One lost its nerve and crash-dived.
A Great Crested Grebe fished at the outflow of the Serpentine.
A young Moorhen in the Italian Garden pulled off a strip of iris leaf and ate it. It's remarkable what Moorhens can eat.
The usual Red-Crested Pochard here provided a bit of colour on a dull day.
The dominant Mute Swan on the west end of the Serpentine was under the bridge with his mate, and for some reason lost patience with her.
Egyptian Geese flew all over Kensington Gardens making a noisy display on dead trees.
A few weeks ago while walking down the path from Physical Energy to the Inverness Terrace Gate I was passed on either side at great speed by groups of parakeets. They then wheeled sharply left at the bottom and continued along the Bayswater Road path, still at human height, as far as the coach park where they finally soared up over the buses and joined their normal route to their west London roost.
ReplyDeleteSubsequently I’d only seen them take their usual route diagonally over the treetops, until today, when again I was first shocked and then excited by the power of these birds as they whizzed past, faithfully following the paths to the coach park and then home. As far as you know has this behaviour been described elsewhere or explanations offered?
Both our local female Kestrel and the established pair of Sparrowhawks operate in this area.
DeleteAh ... that makes sense. Both days had very low cloud cover. Other days were overcast too but maybe not so severe. I'll keep watching.
DeleteI have no great love for the parakeets but the power they display close up is striking, not to say unnerving.
Joseph, is that the parakeets roost on the north eastern corner of Wormwood Scrubs that you are referring to? Thanks.
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DeleteYes. I'm assuming that's where they're heading because they head off in that direction every evening as the sun falls.
DeleteSeeing the parakeets coming home to roost is a truly amazing experience. Their current large roost is on the north east corner of Wormwood Scrubs next to the copse behind the most nort/eastern football pitch. They arrive (approx 5000 in number) in a 30 minute period - none before and none later and occupy an area not much larger than the size of a couple of tennis courts. At the moment they arrive around 3.30pm to 4.00pm. It is one of West London's free sights of nature whether one is a fan of these birds or not.
DeleteThank you. I must go and see when I get a chance.
DeleteThe Red-crested Pochard gives a real bit of colour on what weather-wise, was a thoroughly miserable day, such a contrast to the glorious Christmas Day. On the latter day I heard 7 Song Thrushes singing just before sunrise in my local country park.
ReplyDeleteThere were three in full song in the park. Something's started them all off, and it can't be the weather.
DeleteI love the pictures of the Coal and the Blue Tit. Such vivid colour, so much delicate detail! I'm in love with your new camera.
ReplyDeleteI am sure I am going to regret this, but, what unusual things do Moorhens eat? Are they like chickens?
Moorhens eat anything of organic origin, including the droppings of other birds. It is very difficult to think of something they won't have a go at.
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