A Grey Wagtail perched on the Henry Moore sculpture before flying off to hunt insects over the Long Water.
The Chiffchaff family near the bridge were showing well.
The small birds are getting noticeably hungrier as autumn sets in. Thanks to Mark Williams for this shot of a Great Tit on his hand.
The female Little Owl near the Serpentine Gallery was being scolded by a Great Spotted Woodpecker, which I couldn't get a get a clear sight of. I had never heard its scolding call before, a rasping noise rather like someone filing a piece of metal.
The Peregrines will be disappointed when their crane is taken down. They always go for the highest vantage point, and the crane is the tallest in the area. This looks like the male, darker than his mate.
One of the young Grey Herons from the nest on the Serpentine island had chased a parent on to the Long Water, clamouring to be fed. The parent took no notice until its offspring literally jumped on it, and then just flew away. It's time these young birds were feeding themselves.
The other was doing just that, fishing in the Dell stream ...
... while a Moorhen waded across the small waterfall, clinging on with its strong toes to avoid being swept away.
The other heron parent was relaxing on the island, standing on the gate directly below the nest.
Although the crayfish are dying off, there are still enough for the Herring Gulls to find.
The pigeon-eating Lesser Black-Backed Gull interrupted his hunting to give the camera a challenging stare.
The Great Crested Grebe family on the Long Water cruised past the fallen poplar in an orderly line.
Two of the teenage Mute Swans on the Long Water had a splash, a preen and a flap.
Willow Emerald damselflies mated on a hawthorn twig.
A Small White butterfly looked out with its strange spotted eyes from a patch of Michaelmas daisies ...
... where a Honeybee was evicting a smaller insect from a flower.
Was it definitely not a squirrel or some other bird making the scolding sound? As I have often observed Great Spotted Woodpeckers use their common call for scolding, I was once buzzed by one doing this. Jim
ReplyDeleteIt was this call, interspersed with the usual 'chik' call.
DeleteI think you have a grey wagtail in the first photo??
ReplyDeleteHi Ralph - your wagtail is a Grey rather than a Yellow, lovely photo!
ReplyDeleteWell, I bow to your superior knowledge, but the pattern looked more like that of a Yellow than a Grey to me, and it's difficult to tell the colour of its back on a grey day.
DeleteI wonder what Pigeon Killer is thinking of when he looks at the camera so.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the peregrines think the crane is a swing. My late lamented canary loved to sleep perched on his swing and would rock himself softly to sleep.
Pigeon Killer has known me for over ten years. He's probably thinking 'Oh, it's him again. Wish he'd leave me alone.'
DeleteThe crane moves quite slowly and gently, but the Peregrine is very near the cables roaring round the pulleys as the load goes up and down.
I do think he likes having admirers. I suspect he is a bit vain about his appearance.
DeleteHe certainly takes care with his appearance and always looks immaculate, though now he is going into his less showy winter plumage.
DeleteLovely shot of the Grey Wagtail.
ReplyDeleteGood to see the Willow Emeralds still active.
Migrant Hawker today, though it was too far away for a good picture.
DeleteRalph, would you mind posting again the Google map reference for little owls' nest tree?
ReplyDeleteDavid Jeffreys
It's at 51.508986, -0.178760 but the owls have become more mobile and are harder to find. They may be anywhere between the leaf yard and the Bayswater Road -- one was heard calling from each direction today.
ReplyDelete