A Goldcrest sang in a yew tree near the bridge.
On the other side of the path a Long-Tailed Tit arrived with some spider's web for the nest, and also some bits of grass. I don't think they use grass in their nests, so it was probably picked up by accident along with the web.
In the daffodil patch at the Vista, a Great Tit was turning over dead leaves looking for insects, just as a Blackbird would but it must have been quite an effort for this little bird.
The male Blackbird in the Dell was foraging in the grass.
At the back of the lawn a Robin perched on one of the large limestone boulders artfully arranged to disguise the slope of the earth dam holding in the Serpentine and make it look like a rocky hill.
The Starling which has reclaimed the nest hole in the plane tree perched on a twig in front of it, looking around vigilantly.
A Wood Pigeon in a cherry tree in the Flower Walk was not there to admire the blossom, but to eat it.
There were lots of Redwings on the Parade Ground today, not surprisingly when you see how many worms they can dig out of it.
There are also Carrion Crows looking for worms, but this one preferred a bit of flatbread it had scrounged from the Dell restaurant.
A crow at the Lido restaurant preferred more traditional food, worms and larvae in the soil in a flower pot.
Seven Lesser Black-Backed Gulls stood on the boat platform. It's unusual to see that many together in the park, but their numbers are increasing steadily.
The elder of the two young Grey Herons was prowling around the edge of the nest, but hasn't yet dared to climb out of it.
A Great Crested Grebe preened her neck under the willow near the bridge.
The female Egyptian Goose by the Henry Moore sculpture could be seen on her nest in a dead tree.
Her mate sat on top of the sculpture.
On the Long Water below three male Mute Swans busked around trying to intimidate each other. The dominant male hasn't yet dealt with this invasion, but he will.
There was chasing at the far end of the Serpentine.
Wonderful shots of the Goldcrest & Long-tailed Tit. I'd have to be pretty close to stand any chance of hearing the Goldcrest!
ReplyDeleteRound here Lesser Black-backs are far less numerous than Herring Gulls that have increased considerably since we moved here 20+ years ago.
Herring Gulls have increased hugely here because of the breeding colony in Paddington. There are far fewer LBBs but there is a steady modest increase and I think they've started breeding in town too.
DeleteWe haven't had a Great Black Back for at least a couple of years, haven't we?
ReplyDeleteI think Great Tits are much stronger than they let on. They certainly punch way beyond their weight.
Eminently sensible creature, that Wood Pigeon.
No. We used to get at least one Great Black-Back every year, but I haven't see one for two years. This may be just chance. They really are sea gulls, as their name Larus marinus suggests.
Delete