One of the Blue Tits in the Flower Walk is very tatty and dishevelled, as sometimes happens to Blue Tits, but it looks prettily fluffy with the light behind it.
In contrast, there was a very smart Blue Tit in the red hazel bush.
This bush also had a pair of Robins perched peacefully a few feet apart at the bottom ...
... and near the top. They will get together soon.
A Great Tit took a pine nut from Neil's hand.
A Rose-Ringed Parakeet had a background of polyanthus.
Neil took this picture of a Great Spotted Woodpecker on a Winged Elm near the Italian Garden -- it was one of three woodpeckers he saw around the Long Water. They are drumming now, which makes them easier to find.
The number of Redwings on the Parade Ground has fallen, but there are still a few. Probably the large number yesterday were a flock on their way north, in which case it's a bit surprising that these didn't go with them.
My Finnish friends who sometimes come to the park to photograph birds tell me that in summer the Redwing is the commonest thrush in Finland.
Pied Wagtails stay here all the year round. This is a male ...
... and a female, again on the Parade Ground.
There are two young Grey Herons in the nest on the island, not one as I thought. This video was shot from the far side of the lake at a distance of 200 yards, which was where I happened to be when they appeared, so it's not very distinct. I hope to do better soon.
An equally distant photograph at least shows plainly that there are two.
The pigeon-eating Lesser Black-Backed Gull gave me a challenging stare. We've known each other for years and he's probably thoroughly bored of being photographed and filmed.
The Great Crested Grebes on the Long Water are well settled on their stolen Coot nest, and I don't think the Coots will be getting it back.
A Moorhen looked for food amid floating leaves on the edge of the Serpentine.
Another nonchalantly stood while a wave was about to break over it.
The dominant male Mute Swan on the Long Water is beginning to chase away his four cygnets from last year, a sign that the pair are thinking of nesting again. He was keeping one of them from coming in to the edge at the Vista, where someone was feeding him.
An Egyptian Goose sat alone on Buck Hill. This may be the male of the pair at Henry Moore, and if so it means that the female has started to nest in a nearby tree.
Maybe Pigeon Killer is wondering if there is profit to be made from your acquaintance. Doubtless he must be expecting you to produce sardines or such like.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the tatty blue tit is deficient in oil and thus cannot preen very well. It does look very poorly, although I note that its eye seems fine, so it must be in passable health.
I've never given Pigeon Killer as much as a crumb, or fed any bird in his vicinity. I'm sure he remembers that. He just thinks I'm a regular nuisance.
DeleteA good explanation for the Blue Tit. But despite its appearance it seems very lively and flies well, expertly catching thrown pine nuts in midair.
An observation of Redwings, with a suggestion that they were en route back north, also featured in Sunday's episode of The Archers. Jim
ReplyDeleteThank you. Haven't watched or listened to the BBC for many years, and much happier for it.
DeleteRe Redwings, I visit Park pretty regularly on Mondays about 10.0 am and since 24 January each Monday including yesterday have seen flock of c 10+ on Buck Hill roughly opposite Play Area, road side and foraging in earth under hedge bordering West Carriage Drive. David Jeffreys
ReplyDeleteI have been up there several times and not seen them. I think they leave when the park begins to fill up with people, and probably fly to the Parade Ground. There were still a few here today, but too distant and the light too bad for a picture.
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