Monday 8 February 2021

More snow. A Robin struck a jaunty pose ...

... but daffodils which had dared to show their heads were sadly wilted.

The Long-Tailed Tits that visit the Dell were hunting farther afield, and I found them in a tree beside the Serpentine Road.

A Pied Wagtail hunted for insects along the edge of the road. These are thin times for insect-eating birds.

Another Pied Wagtail worked its way along the Serpentine shore.

A Magpie probed the snow for worms in a flower bed in the Rose Garden.

A Carrion Crow found what appeared to be an ordinary hen's egg on the shore of the Serpentine. I was about to video how the crow dealt with it when the careless bird knocked it into the water and it rolled away. You can see the crow's annoyance.

Both the Peregrines were circling over the east end of Hyde Park.

The Grey Heron in the nest at the end of the island was huddled down in the freezing wind, and all you could see was the top of its head.

The heron in the reed bed near the bridge was in exactly the same places as yesterday. Clearly it's a good fishing spot.

A Black-Headed Gull caught a small crayfish.

The pigeon-eating Lesser Black-Backed Gull was in his usual place, choosing his lunch. Snow or not, he's in his summer plumage now and looking very fine.

A Moorhen trotted across the frozen Italian Garden.

A pair of Mute Swans courted under the bridge.

The dominant swan on the Serpentine hates displays of affection on his territory, and cruised over menacingly to break them up.

4 comments:

  1. How long will the cold spell last? The entire week? Is it normal, a prolongued cold spell in the beginning of February? Hope you are bundling and suiting up properly.

    We've had an unseasonably cold and very windy day here. I imagine what is afflicting England right now must be giving us a weak glancing blow as well.

    Praying for the little birds to come through :-(

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    1. If the weather forecast is to be believed (a big If) the cold spell will ease up on Saturday. But I'll believe that when I see it. Meanwhile I am going round the park wrapped up like an Egyptian mummy.

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  2. I felt a bit like those daffodils yesterday! Certainly the coldest weather for 3 years here.

    Could be a good time for the Peregrines as they pick off sicker birds in the cold?

    The Lesser Blackback is certainly looking handsome in his breeding plumage.

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    1. The football fields below the barracks tower are always swarming with pigeons. For the Peregrines it's like an all-you-can-eat buffet. They need look no farther.

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