Great Tits have nested inside an old cast-iron pump. The down pipe must be blocked with debris, allowing them to make a nest quite near the top.
This is not a good video, but it's the best I could get in a very dark and awkward place.
A parent emerged from the nest.
The young Long-Tailed Tits in the gorse bush are now quite well grown and starting to look out of the nest.
A parent climbed out after feeding them.
Neil got a good picture of a young Robin being fed in the Flower Walk. The parents must be very eager to find food as one came to my hand for some pine nuts, the first time one of this pair has done so.
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A young Blackbird appeared for a moment in the Dell. The Blackbird family here is hard to keep track of, since the birds are in a fenced-off area, but they seem to breed successfully every year in spite of the numerous Carrion Crows.
Two crows had a noisy disagreement in the top of an oak tree.
And Neil captured one attacking a Grey Heron. For some reason the two species are particular enemies.
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The oldest Coot chick on the Long Water, a single survivor, is now big enough to feed itself, and its parents have stopped bringing it bits of algae.
The eight small chicks in the Italian Garden were whizzing around while their parents dived to get food for them.
The female Mute Swan on the little island in the Long Water was very restless, constantly getting up and poking her eggs. I think they are about to hatch.
A swan has made a nest on the gravel bank in the Long Water. This will seriously annoy the dominant male and there may be a fight.
Two Mandarin drakes fought near the bridge.
Pochards are a migratory species and visit the park in the winter. But there are usually a few that don't go away, and there was a female on the Serpentine.
A pair of Houseflies mated on a leaf in the Rose Garden.
Mark Williams got a picture of what he thinks is a Chalk-Hill Blue butterfly in the Flower Walk, and after consulting my butterfly book I agree with him. I've never seen one in the park.
Update: a comment identifies it as an ordinary Holly Blue, and I've already seen a couple of those in the Flower Walk.
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And Neil captured three male Brimstones fighting, a remarkable shot.
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The chalkhill blue was fluttering around the South Flower Walk will have another look for it tomorrow. Mark
ReplyDeleteThanks. So will I, of course.
ReplyDeleteWasn't one crow begging from the other? The wing-shaking suggests that.
ReplyDeleteI think since Carrion Crows high in trees, singly, they have to not merely harass herons but try to intercept them, in attempt to deter them from flying across their territory in future. Though it helps that a heron is less manoeuvrable than a buzzard which they will also attack. Jim
It did seem a bit violent for begging. I've seen both young and female crows begging and they never actually come to blows as here.
DeleteThat a Holly blue chalk hill not out until July
ReplyDeleteAll right. Its white wing borders do seem too broad for a female Holly Blue, but it might be flare from the sunlight.
DeleteSo many babies! I just love spring.
ReplyDeleteGreat Tits seem able to nest pretty much any crazy place. I hope the nest will be successful.
Tinúviel
Nothing is as good as a nest of the finest Victorian cast iron. Not even an eagle could attack it.
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