Thursday 29 April 2021

There were three Grey Wagtails at the Lido restaurant, the pair we have seen here already and a third which they soon chased away. This is the male of the pair.

The female forgot that she was being watched and came very close.

A Pied Wagtail hunted on the sparse trodden grass beside the Serpentine.

A Stock Dove wandered around on the ground. You nearly always see them in trees, and I would have dismissed it as a Feral Pigeon if Tom hadn't spotted it.

Beside the Diana fountain, a Dunnock sang a few phrases in a bush swaying in the breeze.

One of the Long-Tailed Tits nesting here was dashing around in the bushes, almost impossible to photograph but Tom managed a quick shot when it paused for a moment on the railings.

Two Greenfinches near Peter Pan were also not doing us any favours. As soon as one came into view the other one disappeared behind a leaf.

The two younger Grey Heron chicks on the island were being a bit more helpful.

An adult was reflected in the lake.

Gulls, like so many birds, find red things particularly exciting. A young Herring Gull played with a lighter, and an adult Lesser Black-Backed Gull (in fact the pigeon eater's mate) pecked at a ball.

The two new Canada goslings came into sight at the Lido and enjoyed a wrestling session. This went on for several minutes under the eyes of their parents.

The eight Egyptian goslings wandered around freely, with their parents several yards away.

The Red-Crested Pochard at the Italian Garden was with his ex and her new mate. He looked sad, but at least he didn't get chased off.

A pretty vixen looked out from the railings of the leaf yard ...

... emerged confidently, and strolled past, pausing for a scratch.

I am deplorably ignorant about insects and can't begin to guess the species of this one seen walking up a reed stem.

6 comments:

  1. I wouldn't put it past the Gull to be carrying out some field research about turning lighters into portable flamethrowers.

    Always delightful to see a wagtail walk. They walk as if they were dancing, nimble and airy and graceful.

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    1. Yes, I was worrying about that lighter. But it demands the action of a human hand to work it, and anyway it was full of water after being fished out of the lake.

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  2. St Mark's Fly, so named for usually emerging around St Mark's Day, 25 April. I do believe this is about the 7th kind of "fly" I've now identified on this blog!

    Watching that Grey Wagtail in such detail does make one wonder how the vigorous tail wagging can really be worth the energy expended.

    Those Stock Doves do need to feed occasionally ;-) Enjoying all the wonderful pictures and clips as always. Jim

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    1. Thanks for identifying St Mark's Fly, and other insects unknown to me. Poor old Mark, he didn't get much of a deal, having only an insect named after him, a reputation for giving up, and the unflattering description of 'stub-fingered' for the bluntness of his Gospel (it seems that he did not suffer from brachydactylism).

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  3. Lovely shots of the Grey Wagtails & I do think Stock Doves have a subtle beauty. Do you think the forlorn Red-crested Pochard will need counselling? Such a sad sight.

    Concur with St. Mark's Fly. We saw quite a few the other day which my partner pointed out.

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    1. That Red-Crested Pochard has been looking miserable and confused ever since he was jilted. I was hoping he'd go off with the visiting gang of RCPs which was here quite recently, but no luck -- perhaps he thinks he's a Mallard now. Wish I knew an anatotherapist.

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