Thursday, 14 January 2021

It has been raining for a long time, and the park is completely saturated. An Egyptian Goose waded on what was supposed to be a footpath.


Black-Headed Gulls explored a flood on the edge of the Serpentine.


A Dunnock looked for food on the wet tarmac of the Lido restaurant terrace.


But it all makes no difference to a Great Crested Grebe.


A pair of Grey Herons from one of the nests on the island came down to the water's edge ...


... while a young one preened on the gate.


A young Herring Gull played with a rope attached to a buoy at the Lido.


It does look as if the lonely male Lesser Black-backed Gull here has found a new mate.


The pigeon-eating gull had had his breakfast, and Carrions Crows finished off the remains.


There was a little fleet of Tufted Ducks at Peter Pan.


On the Round Pond, the Black Swan bore down on a young Herring Gull, which left in a hurry.


There was a pair of Gadwalls ...


... and a Shoveller drake.


Urban Robins sing louder than country ones. They have to, to make themselves heard over the noise of the traffic. This one was on the edge of the busy Bayswater Road.


The one at the east end of the Lido clearly dislikes being photographed, but puts up with it because it knows it will be fed afterwards.


A Blue Tit eating a pine nut was interrupted by a Great Tit perching too close, and took its food off to finish elsewhere.


A squirrel tried to get into someone's rucksack, but couldn't work the zip. They'll learn.

9 comments:

  1. Is the notorious gull’s mate still around?

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    1. Intermittently. I saw what I think was her yesterday. She is less distinctive than him.

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  2. Is that squirrel at the Diana Fountain enclosure? I met a very bold one there while looking at the rare goose last month, also sniffing into my rucsac. Jim

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    1. No, it's on the path on the east side of the leaf yard where people feed the parakeets. But I've seen squirrels doing this in other places too.

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  3. I've seen Yellow-Legged Gulls go through the contents of people's picnic bags while at the beach. They were remarkably quick and efficient, excellent thieves that they are, although the bags, and the remaining food, was so much the worse for wear-

    Lovely image, the Tuftie fleet! Any opposing fleet would surrender to their charm.

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    1. The Herring Gull that steals crisp from a shop is famous. But here and here is one that dominates two cats and, of course, their owner.

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    2. The perfect mixture of impudence and bravery!

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  4. Lovely shot of the Egyptian Goose on the flooded path & also particularly like the Heron shot with the bills colouring up now into breeding colours.

    It was a horrid day yesterday though my pond is at least full after a fairly dry start to the year.

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    1. All the herons are looking quite smart now, a change from their usual tatty appearance.

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