I hadn't seen the Grey Heron chick in the nest at the west end of the Serpentine island since it was hatched, and assumed that it had died at the same time as the one in the central nest, which has definitely gone. But it had been here all this time, and showed up because its parent, dealing with a large fish it had brought, had shoved it to the side of the nest.
Another heron was fishing in a reed bed on the other side of the lake.
The original gang of five Red Crested Pochards has grown to seven, still with only one female, and they were back on the Long Water. They probably fly in from St James's Park or Regent's Park, both of which have fair sized flocks.
The pair of Mandarins were also visible at the Vista. I think they've been here for a while, but they spend a lot of time in the bushes are are often invisible.
One of the reasons why the seven Egyptian goslings by the Henry Moore sculpture have survived for so long is that they obediently follow their mother and come when called. Other broods are less well behaved and goslings wander away and get eaten by the ever attentive Herring Gulls.
The six Egyptian goslings on the edge of the Serpentine were in good order, but it was a windy day and they were happy to shelter in the lee of their mother.
And the last survivor of the third brood was on the other side of the lake.
Still no sign of nesting from the dominant swans on the Long Water, although other pairs began some time ago. Two of the teenagers were asleep on the nesting island, along with a pair of Herring Gulls that have been hanging around the Italian Garden for several days.
We haven't had a picture of a Robin for a while. They are less visible at the moment, as they are busy with their nests in the bushes. This one came out briefly beside the Long Water.
The family of Chaffinches near the bridge also seem to have dispersed. This one was near Peter Pan.
But many Wrens are highly visible because the males are singing. Both of these were in the woodland at the foot of Buck Hill.
The usual Blue Tit was here too, hopping around impatiently because I was photographing it instead of feeding it at once.
Feral Pigeons generally seek mates of their own colour, but here is a mixed couple beside the Long Water.
There are bluebells here, more mauve than our Common Bluebell. They are hybrids of Common and Spanish Bluebells.
I'm ashamed to confess that I had to look up what we called Spanish Bluebells: jacinto de campo (is it a hyacinth in English? For the Spanish tongue it is).
ReplyDeleteGreat news about the miraculously saved Heron chick. Hope the lucky strike will continue, for both itself and the little Egyptians. The picture of the lone survivor would melt anyone's heart.
The Spanish Bluebell is Hyacinthoides hispanica, the Common Bluebell is H. non-scripta, and the Common Hyacinth is Hyacinthus orientalis, so bluebells and hyacinths differ at genus level.
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed that I didn't manage to see the heron chick for so long. I have been past that nest twice every day, always looking and listening. But it's a deep nest into which even the parent can disappear.
Strictly they're not Spanish Bluebells, which aren't that common over here but the widespread hybrid between it & our native one & is H. x massartiana.
ReplyDeletePleased to see the Heron chick is alive & well. Also lovely to see the exotica of a flotilla of Red-crested Pochards.
Thanks. I was wondering about those bluebells. Will sort out the text when I get back to the computer.
DeleteFingers crossed for the heron chick. I thought the last one was safe, and so did the parents who left it unattended. A lesson for us all.