The Long-Tailed Tits' nest in the Pittosporum bush in the Rose Garden has shown no sign of activity recently, but today birds were visiting it carrying insects, so the eggs must have hatched.
Two Pied Wagtails hunted on the boat platform. There are insects in the grooves in the planking, and they can also use it as a station from which to dart out and catch flying midges.
A Blackbird in the Dell found a worm.
The Tawny Owl came out around noon.
Blackcaps were singing at the northwest corner of the bridge.
This is where I filmed the Grey Herons mating in the Chinese Privet tree on Saturday. Today one of them was standing under the tree ...
... where there are two large nests. One of them is probably a Carrion Crow or Magpie nest, but this heap of twigs looks like a heron nest under construction. I haven't yet seen them visiting it.
When there is an aerial squabble of Herring Gulls, there is always a bird with a bit of food somewhere in it. Here the gull in the centre has just snatched a bit of bread from the one above it.
Herring Gulls can't resist pulling ropes, and the bungee cord around the boat platform is particularly attractive because when they let go it twangs back into place.
A Mallard here had nine new ducklings ...
... and wisely led them under the platform when a gull landed on it.
Sad to say, the Coots nesting on the post at Peter Pan have lost their chicks. A pair of Lesser Black-Backed Gulls were likely culprits.
The nest on the dead willow near the Italian Garden has reached an impressive size but hasn't yet got to the stage of hatching.
A Great Crested Grebe preened at the Vista.
At the island two rival male Mute Swans revolved in a display to assert dominance. It wasn't an encounter that either of them could actually win, but it made them feel important.
On the nest east of the Lido, the male swan left as the female returned from feeding.
There are now five eggs in the nest.
Extinction Rebellion were having a noisy display in the park, but at least they hadn't managed to glue themselves to anything. Here are some priestesses of the religion of Climate Change.
The bird life will have the boat platform to itself for some time yet. I heard today that the new regime is not due to start operations till July. I'll miss Mateusz' rescue missions.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information. The park management really have shot themselves in the foot over this. And the new boat people will need to be educated (and if necessary bludgeoned) to carry out their wildlife duties,
DeleteIs Mateusz no longer allowed to continue operating the boat business? If another letter-writing campaign is needed, I'm game.
DeleteImagine that all wars were decided the rivalling swan way, by circling artistically if menacingly around each other. I am picturing dancing tanks and tank biathlon competitions.
Mateusz was employed as the foreman of the Hyde Park boats by Peter Scott, the boss of Bluebird Boats. The firm has been ousted from the park by the management wanting a cheaper contract, and whoever comes back will be different. I hope Mateusz is still working at one of the surviving Bluebird Boats sites outside the Royal Parks.
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