Saturday 19 February 2022

Back to normal

The wind had died down to merely blustery and it was an ordinary nasty February day with spells of rain. The male Blackbird in the Dell was perfectly happy with that, as it improved the chances of finding worms.


A Song Thrush sang in a treetop near the bridge.


I couldn't see any Redwings on the Parade Ground. There was just one Mistle Thrush, which I think is a resident, perhaps one of the pair that has nested several times in the Dell. It has been hunting in the same place every day, too far away for a good photograph which is why I hadn't bothered before.


On the path at the bottom of the Parade Ground a Carrion Crow was eating a conker. The rain had caused most people to leave the park so there weren't any scraps for it, and perhaps all it could find was this bitter and unattractive thing.


I threw down a peanut to see if the crow would prefer it, and it instantly left the conker and attacked the peanut with enthusiasm.


Crows wandered among miniature narcissi at the Dell restaurant, not appreciating them as they are no good to eat either.


During a clear spell a Long-Tailed Tit came out of the pair's nesting bush in the Rose Garden ...


... and a Robin sang from a rose stem.


The Grey Heron with the chicks was in the nest and there was a faint clacking sound as one of them begged, but nothing much to be seen. Here for a change is the heron on the largest nest, which has been continuously occupied for some time and I now think they are serious about breeding.


The number of gulls of all species has fallen considerably since the storm. But the pigeon-eating Lesser Black-Backed Gull and his mate are permanent residents and were in their usual place next to the Dell restaurant, looking out over a soggy expanse of windblown leaves.


The number of Gadwalls, on the other hand, seems to be going up. They used to be only occasional visitors, but last month's count found 18 of them and I think there are more now. I'll be counting again on Monday.


A pair of Egyptian Geese claimed territory by standing on the branch of a plane tree at the back of the Lido and making a noise. Here it is the male who is calling, but it could be either or both. Any high place will do for the performance -- it's the tree with a hole where they intend to nest, and indeed they may deliberately choose a different place to conceal the location of the hole.


Coot fights are often between two pairs. What I suppose are the males do most of the fighting and chasing, with the females joining in from time to time.


The hole in the netting near the Lido was cut so that the local pair of Coots could come in and make their nest safely inside the net, safe from swooping gulls. Of course they have taken no notice, and build on the outside every year.


The wind was still strong enough enough to raise waves on the Serpentine, which a Moorhen was enjoying. They do like a challenge, whether it's climbing or surfing.


A Moorhen in the Dell poked around under dripping leaves.

5 comments:

  1. charming pictures once again Ralph. the blackbird, common as it may be, is a v attractive bird i always think. i was surprised no reports of fallen trees in the park, so im assuming it didnt take a toll? keep on keepin on. Mark W2.

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    1. The gardeners told me of two trees in Kensington Gardens that had fallen, and I found a third myself. So there have been casualties, but nothing like 1987. I didn't see any in Hyde Park, but I only went round the edge of the lake and the Dell and Rose Garden.

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  2. ah thanks Ralph. good to know. i've been too unimpressed with the weather to make it out. you are a tougher sort than me. a kind of ornithological marine!? Mark W2

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  3. I like that. Ralph is certainly an ornithological marine.

    Glad to see there has been little damage after Eunice, and that birds are back to their ordinary selves.

    That Crow ought to have thank you at least. Ungrateful little brat.

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    1. Crows do not do gratitude. I like them all the better for it.

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