Friday 10 January 2020

Coots are starting to nest early this year. One began by laying a plastic bag over a branch of the collapsed willow tree near the bridge.


Another nest is advancing on a post at Peter Pan -- a very dangerous place because of the gulls and no Coot has ever succeeded here, but at least we get a close-up view of how it's done.


A few yards farther up the Long Water, a young Grey Heron was fishing from the fallen horse chestnut tree. Quite likely it's one of the two from last year's successful nest on the island.


The Great Crested Grebes videoed yesterday were still displaying in the middle of the Serpentine.


The bank at the back of the Lido has particularly lush grass because the slope is steep and people don't often walk up it (though they use it for sunbathing when the swimming area is going in summer). Mute Swans find it worthwhile to haul themselves up to the top to crop the grass and look for insects in the dead leaves.


This Black-Headed Gull with plastic ring 28P1 and metal ring EY83181 spends its summers at Hosehill Lake in West Berkshire, and has been wintering in Hyde Park for the past five years.


The male Little Owl near the Henry Moore sculpture was in a skittish mood this morning, and retreated into the hole so only its head was showing before disappearing altogether.


A Magpie picked bits of bark off a plane tree, looking for insects underneath.


Two Carrion Crows foraged in a rubbish bin. One found the lid of a yoghurt pot with a bit of yoghurt adhering, but the other was doing better by ripping up a paper bag containing some little pink sweets. Needless to say this ended in bickering.


The Grey Squirrels in the park also forage in the bins, but they aren't as skilful as the Carrion Crows.


The Dunnock at the Lido restaurant looked for spilt food under the tables.


A Wren sang in the Rose Garden ...


... and a Robin perched on a bush.

2 comments:

  1. Doubtless mammals are inferior creatures.

    Great to see Coots making nests again. I was missing having a first-row seat to their building feats.

    Perhaps swans are better walkers than they are given credit for?

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    Replies
    1. We mammals left the main line of reptiles before they had got as far as dinosaurs. Too early, and it has left us with a lot of cumbersome and primitive features.

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