Wednesday 22 September 2021

A walk around the Long Water, starting and finishing at the bridge that separates it from the Serpentine.


A Long-Tailed Tit hung upside down in a hawthorn tree.


A Goldcrest hopped around in a yew near the bridge.


A Jackdaw looked down expectantly ...


... and got a peanut, which it shelled neatly.


The blond male Egyptian Goose stood on the willow near the bridge. His mate, with whom he is now happily reunited, was in the water nearby.


The Red-Crested Pochard drakes are emerging from eclipse and beginning to get their breeding plumage.


A Migrant Hawker dragonfly hovered over a pool in the Italian Garden.


On the Serpentine, the older Great Crested Grebe chick gave the camera a curious stare as it cruised up the island ...


... too far, and into the other family's territory, so it got chased away.


A Grey Heron stared at something on the Bluebird Boats platform.


A side view shows that it was looking at the gap between the pedalos, hoping an unwary fish would swim into view.


Three people were staring at the male Peregrine on the tower. He was mildly interested and stared back.


A young Herring Gull ate the remains of the pigeon-eating Lesser Black-Backed Gull's latest kill. 


He hadn't eaten much of it, so it was probably his second pigeon of the day. He was in his favourite place on the restaurant roof, preening.


A juvenile Wood Pigeon drank and had a wash in the pool at the top of the Dell waterfall. Not sure why it was pecking at the water -- maybe there were some small insects on the surface.


Finally, another fine picture from Rainham Marshes by Tom: the female Kestrel at sunset.

4 comments:

  1. This time that's not a Stock Dove on the Dell waterfall (further to 11/7/19) but a juvenile Woodpigeon, having the white wing covert stripes and no black wingbar. And as always a pleasure to tune in. Jim

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    1. You're right, of course. Odd the way their eyes change colour as they grow up -- but of course something similar happens to Herring Gulls.

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  2. I love the video of the walk around the Long Water. It makes me think, in short form, of the wonderful longer 2016 video about the birds at the park that you provided narration for and filmed.

    I think I haven't mentioned lately how much I enjoy each and every entry, and how good it does us, and how much it helps us cling to our sanity.

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    1. I just walked round the lake filming every time there was a view. The result reminded me of what a beautiful place it is. Thank you for your kind words.

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