A misty start to a sunny day. A Coot chased another down the Long Water.
A young Moorhen trotted along the edge of the Serpentine. The picture shows how they bring their long toes together to avoid snagging them on the other leg.
A Great Crested Grebe charged down the lake and just about got airborne.
The restless Black Swan was back on the Round Pond.
Two pairs of Shovellers on the Long Water bobbed their heads upwards to show that each was a pair and the others had no business interfering. A Black-Headed Gull in a bad mood pointlessly attacked one of the drakes.
Bluebird Boats have been closed again by our toxic government's renewed reign of terror. A Cormorant stretched its wings on the deserted platform.
A Grey Heron, an Egyptian Goose and a Jackdaw uneasily shared the top of the Henry Moore sculpture.
The male Peregrine perched on the right side of the barracks tower ...
... and was joined by the female on the left, who as usual kept a considerable distance between them.
A picture from yesterday: Tom saw a Buzzard over the leaf yard.
A Carrion Crow enjoyed a splash in the Serpentine.
A Magpie looked down from a hawthorn in the Rose Garden.
A male Chaffinch foraged in the shrubbery near the bridge.
Above it, another preened in a holly tree.
I know we had a video of a Robin singing yesterday, but I can't resist recording their lovely song, the only birdsong we usually hear in winter. It was on the wide expanse of boggy football fields where the Crystal Palace was built for the Great Exhibition of 1851.
Two more pictures by Tom: a Great Spotted Woodpecker in a cedar near the Rose Garden ...
... and a fine portrait of a Grey Wagtail in Richmond Park.
Snowdrops were out already, which seemed strange. But I was told that there is an early variety called Autumn Snow. Somehow it feels like cheating.
For years I've thought those early snowdrops in Hyde Park were confused by erratic weather. Thanks for providing a rational explanation, Ralph.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised too. But while I was looking at the snowdrops I happened to meet a couple of women who had gardens and knew about this variety.
DeleteI feel sorry for the the people who run Bluebird Boats. They’ve had a bad year
ReplyDeleteSo has everyone except the politicians who are making fortunes from pharmaceutical, PPE and similar firms via shares, sinecure directorships and outright bribes.
DeleteVery, very sorry about the excellent people from Bluebird boats. I hope they will hold on and hold tight - so many worthy people are having such a diffficult time with all these senseless measures.
ReplyDeleteRobin song makes even the most dismal day better.
I've never understood how Bluebird Boats survives even in normal times. Every rainy or cold day leaves it empty, and it's only really busy in sunny weather in the school holidays.
DeleteI wasn't expecting to see snowdrops- but lovely to see! I'm aware of early flowers like this but haven't seen yet, though nice to see the delicate blooms of Crocus speciosus recently.
ReplyDeleteLovely image of Grey Wagtail from Richmond Park. I presume if it was taken yesterday it must have been in the afternoon as I was up there before 8 but was still foggy when I left by 11.30, so no wildfowl count done! The Egyptian Geese were clearly getting ready to breed with several territorial pairs calling loudly from various woods around the park.
Like cultivated snowdrops, Egyptian Geese have no idea of the seasons -- hardly surprising when you consider that their habitat extends north and south of the equator. I filmed a pair mating yesterday but had too many things for the blog to put it up yet.
DeleteLoved the threesome on the Henry Moore
ReplyDeleteI don't think they were getting on well with each other.
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