Saturday 27 June 2020

The Great Crested Grebes from the willow tree were out on the water and could be seen from the bridge. It's now clear that they have two chicks.


The chicks can climb almost like lizards, using their wings as front legs.


The family farther up the Long Water hug the east shore and can only be seen from a distance.


The grebes at the west end of the island were vaguely adding bits to their nest. They don't seem to have any eggs yet.


But the pair at the east end do, and one could be seen as it was turned over.


One of the Coots nesting on the Bluebird Boats platform ignored the morning drizzle.


There are eggs in the Coot nest at the Serpentine outflow. This picture was taken looking down from the parapet of the fake bridge on top of the dam.


The four Mute Swan cygnets on the Serpentine are already proficient beggars. They were near the Diana fountain, always a good place to tout for food.


The dominant mother on the Long Water took her cygnets to Peter Pan for the same reason. One of them was riding on her back ...


... but crawled around too adventurously and fell off.


I really think Jorgen must be right in his theory that swans get bloodstained wings from pecking at them to relieve the furious itch of growing new feathers. I can't imagine how this feels, something like pencils coming out of your arms.


A Mallard at the bridge has produced nine new ducklings. For the moment, there were no hungry gulls circling overhead.


An Egyptian Goose in the same place had six small goslings.


The sun came out for a while, surprising a Blackbird.


A Dunnock moved along the shore at the Lido, finding several worms that had come up after the rain.


There was a family of Goldcrests in a tree near the bridge, but I couldn't get a picture of any of the young ones.


4 comments:

  1. Why does the Grebe not make it easier for the chick to climb on top? It was slightly comical to see the baby propelling itself furiously to catch up with its parents, but couldn't it be dangerous?

    Always soothing to see so many babies and life keeping on.

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    Replies
    1. I don't think the parent grebe can do anything. It's not avoiding being climbed on to, it's being pushed around by the chick, which already has a powerful swimming stroke.

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  2. Yes, quite prolific procreation with all the babies on this blog...feeling joyful just watching the little ones..
    Thanks Ralph..

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