Sunday 19 July 2020

A Wren committed a tiny act of savagery under a tree near Queen's Gate. I thought at the time that the victim was a Meadow Brown butterfly, but on a second view I'm not sure what it was.


A still picture gives more details, though not very clearly as it was quite dark in the shade. Update: Conehead 54 thinks it might have been a Hummingbird Hawk-Moth, but not enough evidence to be sure.


A young Robin, still with its juvenile spotted front, picked up tiny larvae on the path at the back of the Lido.


A Reed Warbler near the Italian Garden collected insects for its family. I haven't heard the chicks begging yet, so they must still be quite small.


Elderberries are only just beginning to ripen, but the moment they become edible the Wood Pigeons have them all.


The young Little Owl on Buck Hill was in the same tree as yesterday, a lime with a broken top a short way to the north of the nest tree.


The Grey Heron chick on the island could be heard clacking its beak to beg for food, but the leaves prevented anything but the vaguest of views.

This young heron on a post at the island must have come in from another park.


This is the only sight of a Common Crane we're likely to get here.


The Great Crested Grebe chicks at the bridge enjoy an idyllic existence for the time being: nothing to do but play and preen and eat fish brought at regular intervals. But they are in for a rude shock in a couple of months when they have to fend for themselves.


The nesting grebe at the Diana fountain reed bed patiently continued her long vigil.


A Moorhen chick walked over the floating debris under the willow near the bridge.


The five Coot chicks in the Italian Garden fountain were out on the water.


Every now and then Canada or Greylag Geese charge up the lake trying out their newly regrown wing feathers. A bit of practice and exercise in necessary to get back into flying order.


Blondie was in her usual place near the Dell restaurant.


Mark Williams sent a pleasing picture of two Peacock butterflies in St James's Park.


It was time for the Latin dance lesson in the shelter on Buck Hill. The teacher, on the right, demonstrated a complicated manoeuvre which the pupils struggled to follow.

8 comments:

  1. The still image with the wren appears to show long slender antennae, making it a moth being killed.

    Did you get a peep at the anti-mask protest? Jim

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for the information.

      No, I missed the anti-mask protest. Would have done the blog early and joined in if I had known. I have a full face skull mask for use when forced to comply by the mad thugs who rule us. Worn with a hoodie and sunglasses under the mask to blank out the eye holes, it is pretty horrifying.

      Delete
  2. To think that such a tiny slip of a bird is capable of such savagery is disturbing. Somehow it's even worse when it is a small lovable feather ball. Cognitiva dissonance at its best.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was alarming to watch but a Wren has to eat.

      Delete
  3. Agree the Wren has a moth. In the video it looks a bit like a Hummingbird Hawkmoth & can see some orange on the wing & a greyish head. By coincidence had my first in the garden for a few years yesterday afternoon.In the still it's difficult to make a lot out on its identity.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. The little murder in the half darkness was very hard to get a record of, so it will never be possible to be sure. Heaven knows how the Wren managed to catch it -- maybe it was hovering in front of a flower and too busy to notice its attacker.

      Delete
  4. The peacock butterfly is beautiful and love the eues..I came across one in one of my walks...
    Awesome latino music n dance video....the teacher is properly attired to do her moves...
    Saw YouTube of the speaker's corner anti mask protest...we were having a picnic...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm amazed that the teacher can dance at all in those cruel heels.

      Delete