Sunday 21 February 2021

 A pair of Long-Tailed Tits are beginning to make a nest in an osmanthus bush in the Rose Garden. This is probably the pair that nested in the broom bush last year, only a few yards away. One of the birds paused on a rose stem before flying into the bush, which is too dense for anything to be seen.

A pair of Coal Tits visited the feeders in the Dell ...

... where the resident pair of Mallards rested on a rock in the stream.

Most of the birds are feeling the approach of spring and pairing up. Two Feral Pigeons shared a post at Peter Pan.

Magpies perched together in a tree.

Even the disorderly mob of Carrion Crows seems to be sorting itself into pairs.

Two Moorhens climbed in the collapsed willow by the bridge, where they make a nest every year in a hole that can't be seen from the bank.

A pair of Coots enjoyed a shower.

The Peregrines on the tower stayed at an unsocial distance, but even they were looking at each other and calling.

Only the Robins are still staying apart, but it won't be long before they give in to the call of spring.

Seven Grey Heron nests on the island were occupied today, though not all of them will progress to breeding. The right nest in this video is the one that has a chick in it, though I still haven't got a proper picture of it. One other nest, not seen here, has a heron sitting on eggs.

The old and incompetent pair of Egyptian Geese, notorious for never having managed to raise a single gosling in 21 years, were on an urn in the Italian Garden.

A Buff-Tailed Bumblebee browsed in a clump of snowdrops.

Purple crocuses are out beside the Long Water.

Going home from the park by way of the garden in Rutland Gate, I heard a Dunnock singing quietly on a bush.

4 comments:

  1. Isn't it wonderful how suddenly the first intimations of spring appear? Birds begin to sing all of a sudden, and think of pairing up. Even the asocial and sullen Peregrines begin to soften up, as do those cute little killing machines, Robins.

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    1. When the male Robins start feeding the females, you know that spring's really under way. Not seen yet.

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  2. It's lovely seeing the spring flowers emerging now. Always need a bit of sun for the crocus to look their best & then appreciated by the bees. Certainly noticed a few Honey Bees in the garden on Saturday when I was pottering.

    Very handsome blue chequer Feral Pigeons.

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    1. The bees haven't found that patch of crocuses yet, under an obscure bramble. Snowdrops must be scanty fare for a big bumblebee.

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