A Starling brought food to its young in a nest behind a missing plank in the roof of one of the small boathouses. The harsh squawks you can hear at times come from its mate, which was scolding some Carrion Crows and a Magpie.
Another landed on the shelter on Buck Hill with a worm for the nestlings in the eaves.
The Long-Tailed Tits were busy in both the nests on he hill. This is the one near the Italian Garden.
Neither of these nests can be seen, but Ahmet Amerikali got a view of one in Southwark Park.
One of the three young Grey Wagtails at the Lido restaurant preened while waiting for its mother to bring food.
I tried to get a picture of one of the Whitethroats in the brambles near the Queen's Temple, but they stayed behind twigs. However, the hawthorn here was visited by a Blackcap ...
... several Greenfinches ...
... and a Song Thrush which refused to come out into the open.
All five young Grey Herons were visible in their nests today. The three older ones can leave and return to their nest as they like, but stay because they only get fed in the nest.
Lesser Black-Backed and Herring Gulls made a commotion next to the foxes' earth in the Diana fountain enclosure. Foxes have been able to live here because the gates have been closed since the beginning of the Great Panic.
The Great Crested Grebes' nest on the Long Water should be hatching out soon.
A male Coot chased a female, who was not interested in his amorous advances.
The nesting Mute Swan had uninvited guests on her island.
The original Black Swan is completely uninterested in the new one, and prefers the company of her Mute mate. If the newcomer gets close they chase it away.
The two Canada goslings are slightly larger.
Buff-Tailed Bumblebees visited a Mexican Orange and a Ceanothus bush in the Rose Garden.
Buttercups have come out in the grass near the leaf yard.
Looking forward to seeing the first Grebe chicks of the year!
ReplyDeleteI do think our Black Swan must be confused. So much time spent in the company of Mutes, maybe she thinks they are the same species.
She must have some memory of being a grey teenager, and now as a young adult knows that such creatures have to be kept in their place.
DeleteThe scolding sound from the Starlin is something I'm very used to as I have a pair nesting by my neighbour's gutter & hear the same when a Crow or Magpie goes past.
ReplyDeleteLove the long call sounds of the large gulls-one of my favourite bird sounds.
Just for interest your buttercups are Bulbous Buttercup with the reflexed sepals.
Reminded of the story about the man who wanted to demolish a shed and replace it with an area of grass. He had to apply for planning permission. The council said that he had to provide a planting scheme with the names of proposed species. He replied, 'Bellis perennis, Taraxacum officinale, and Ranunculus bulbosus.' This was approved, and he settled back to let the daisies, dandelions and buttercups come up by themselves.
DeleteNice story, Ralph. Haven't heard that one before.
ReplyDelete