A pair of Stock Doves perched in a tree near the leaf yard. What could be a more peaceful image? ...
... until they started slapping each other and it developed into a full-scale fight, with a third one joining in.
A few Long-Tailed Tits gathered around the feeders in the Dell, which are kept filled by the faithful Andrea who maintains the place. They like the mealworms in one of the feeders.
One of them preened on a twig.
A Song Thrush sang in the leaf yard, but it was deep inside a laurel tree and I couldn't get a picture. But later another peeped out from under the fence around the Henry Moore sculpture.
It was quite an active area, with the Magpie family on the rails at the far end ...
... and the rabbit -- I think there's only one now -- coming out to graze in the sunshine.
After yesterday's strong wind the Grey Herons have returned to their nests. This nest at the west end of the island is often occupied and likely to be used for breeding when the herons finally get around to it.
The pigeon-eating Lesser Black-Backed Gull (or less likely some other gull or crow) had struck twice this morning. A Herring Gull and two Carrion Crows disputed over the remains of one victim.
The Coots at Peter Pan continue to build their doomed nest on the post, with gulls looking down at them. They haven't managed to make the twigs stick yet.
The Black Swan on the Round Pond had temporarily stopped threatening the the Mute Swans.
One preened on the edge.
On the Serpentine, some swans were grazing on the bank at the back of the Lido ...
... and others were eating dried reeds, which they seem oddly fond of.
A little group of Shovellers at the Vista made a fine sight as they revolved in the sunshine.
Maybe they like dry reeds like we do dried herbs? Like condiments.
ReplyDeletePigeons and doves can be very cruel. Konrad Lorenz once remarked that Picasso obviously hadn't met many pigeons.
Unlike Monet.
DeleteI have pictures just like that with the famed white pigeons from the PLaza de América in Seville!
DeletePerched on people, I hope, not trying to murder each other. They have a reputation to maintain.
DeleteLong-tailed Tits are such exquisite birds when seen up close in good light as we were blessed with yesterday!
ReplyDeleteI visited Ruislip yesterday & was amazed at the number of Song Thrushes that were singing- there seemed to be one singing every 30 metres or so. When they're not singing I would probably only see one or two. Certainly had twice as many song Thrushes as Blackbirds but the Blackbirds weren't singing so a bias in the easier detectability of the former species.
Some lovely swan photos.
i have already heard a Blackbird singing this year, but they're generally late starters. And several Mistle Thrushes.
DeleteYes I had a Blackbird down my road singing at dusk on a few days at the start of the year but has stopped now.
ReplyDelete