Saturday 11 April 2020

The sitting Long-Tailed Tit in the Rose Garden looked out from her nest.


There were two others on a small tree next to the nest. This is not unusual, as family members often help with the upbringing of chicks. Neither of them seemed to be the mate of the bird in the nest, and they were not used to being photographed, which this pair are now completely unconcerned about. One of them stared challengingly down from a twig.


Another pair of Long-Tailed Tits are clearly nesting in a bramble patch near the Speke obelisk, as they keep dashing in and out.


The Mistle Thrush nestlings were being fed.


A Goldcrest came out of a yew tree near the bridge.


A Blackcap worked over a dead tree trunk near the Italian Garden, looking for insects in the rotten wood.


A Wood Pigeon washed in the little pool at the top of the Dell waterfall.


The reliable Little Owl at the Henry Moore sculpture was out at the front of the hole.


But I haven't seen or heard the one near the Albert Memorial for some time.

When Grey Herons get too close to each other, inevitably a fight breaks out. But it's unusual to see so many of them in the Rose Garden, several hundred yards from the lake.


A heron stood on the nest that was successful last year and the year before. So far there has been little sign of it coming back into use, though a few minor repairs have been done. However, this scruffy bird does look like one of the previous occupants.


The other occupied nest on this side of the island seems to have failed and is empty. It may have been predated by Herring Gulls or Carrion Crows. The nest with two young birds on the far side is still doing well.

The female Egyptian Goose on the Long Water shielded her two remaining young from an attacking Carrion Crow.


The Egyptians on the Serpentine are more attentive parents than most, and are actually keeping an eye on their offspring even while washing and preening.


The pair on the Round Pond have an easier life with fewer gulls and crows, and still have five goslings.


There are also fewer people and dogs here, and the Black Swan is now often seen resting peacefully on the shore.


A Coot nest made a reflection in the still Long Water.

4 comments:

  1. heron squabble: and the crows are cheering them on?

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  2. Oh my Gooood look at the pretty Long Tailed Tit looking out of her nest!!! (yeah, multiple signs of exclamation point to insanity, but I find it hard to restrain myself: she deserves it!).

    I like heron squabbles. No one gets hurt and they are funny to see. As hobbies go it could be worse. The Crow appears to share my opinion.

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    Replies
    1. It's slightly like watching one of the more ridiculous kung fu films.

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