Grey Herons

It was only when people started bringing apples to the park to feed the Rose-Ringed Parakeets that the other birds discovered how good these new fruit were to eat. Now Carrion Crows routinely steal them, and I've seen Blackbirds and Chaffinches pecking fallen apples, and even the geese have a go if they get the chance.

The familiar Coal Tit in the Flower Walk perches on a red-leafed cherry twig.

A Long-Tailed Tit pauses on its way around the Long Water.

Tom took these pictures of a Chiffchaff beside the Serpentine ...

... and a Treecreeper climbing an oak.

This shot of a Greenfinch near the bridge is by Ahmet Amerikali.

David Element captured a Wood Pigeon bathing.

The family of Blackbirds in the Dell tolerate their grown-up offspring, but if one of them gets to close to its father it gets shooed away.

The very affectionate pair of Herring Gulls on the south shore of the Serpentine preen side by side.

Virginia's picture of a Cormorant on their favourite perching tree at the west end of the island.

Duncan Campbell photographed a Great Crested Grebe about to dive. They make themselves denser by clenching their feathers down before diving. If you see a grebe with its shoulders under water, it will dive soon.

Moorhens climb and preen on a fence beside the Long Water. Give them something they can climb and balance on, and they'll be on it.

On Wednesday, if I am spared, I will have a short trip into the park to try to see the Little Owls by the Round Pond and the Speke obelisk. Meanwhile, here is the young owl at the pond looking out of the nest tree, pictured by Richard Oxborough.

Today's bird is the Grey Heron.

The heron colony on the island has been an off-and-on affair for years, but as the larger one in Regent's Park declines ours has been looking up. The last two years have been quite successful, with three pairs fledging two young each. But, while other heronries seem to work briskly, producing young in late winter and early spring, ours is the scene of long hesitation and delay, with nests built and abandoned before the birds start breeding. This year the first young appeared in March, and the last were hatched in August and only left the nest in the first week of September.

Another unsuccessful nest built in March. I think eggs were laid and the birds sat on them for a few days -- they take turns to incubate the young -- but something went wrong and they gave up.

A heron breaks off a twig from the sprouting willow near the bridge to add to its nest.

Another carries a twig. Thanks to Virginia for this picture.

A pair display on their nest.

Herons mate in a Chinese privet tree near the bridge. They built a nest here, I think, because the island was getting overcrowded, but it didn't succeed. Maybe next year we shall have the beginnings of a second colony.

It takes a while for the young to be visible over the edge of the nest. When they do they are already quite large and gawky.

They beg for food by clattering their beaks. They are fed by the parent discharging regurgitated food directly down their throat.

They play in the nest. Here two slightly older chicks display to each other.

When they have grown to near full size they start climbing around, leaving the nest and venturing into the trees. They can't yet fly and it looks a perilous proceeding, but I've never seen one fall. They flap vigorously to strengthen their wings for flight.

Soon they come down, but for a while they will fly back up to the nest to be fed. Their parents will only feed them when they are in the nest.

Herons are masters of slow flying, performing precise 'zero-zero' landings as helicopter pilots call them, reaching zero forward speed exactly at zero altitude. A fine picture by David Element.

They are also exceptionally good at balancing. A heron on a swaying chain manages to reach down and take pieces of bread from the water.

They will eat bread if it's offered, but they have a very varied diet. Mostly it's fish. In Tom's photograph a heron catches a pike near the Italian Garden.

Here one catches two small carp in the Italian Garden fountains. A Coot chick keeps well away to avoid appearing on the menu.

This young Moorhen in the Dell was unlucky. In the end the heron couldn't swallow it and spat it out, but by that time the chick was dead.

A heron stalks a Moorhen but has to be content with a Common Darter dragonfly.

Herons also catch rats in the shrubbery. A dramatic but sad picture by Virginia.

One even had a go at a rabbit, far too large to swallow. The moment was caught by Takaki Nemoto.

Human food is eagerly sought. A heron at the Dell restaurant gets a bit of pizza, but then has to work out how to eat this large flappy object.

Another heron here became so bold that it would snatch food off people's plates. A German tourist is deprived of a sausage.

Not long afterwards, unsurprisingly, this heron was captured and taken to a sanctuary.

Herons are fed pieces of chicken. Not a good idea in my view.

Their curiosity can get them into trouble. One heron got a bit of plastic netting trapped around its beak so it couldn't open it to feed. It took five days to catch and disentangle it. Jenna lured it with food (which it couldn't have eaten) while Mateusz from Bluebird Boats wielded the landing net.

Herons are very territorial. Here is a threat display, wings half extended and lowered.

When they get overcrowded, fights can break out.

Often they fight by jumping up at each other.

Herons are inveterate enemies of Carrion Crows, which amuses themselves by tormenting them..

Some more peaceful moments: a pair perch on the Henry Moore sculpture, one of their favourite lookout points.

A heron preens in front of autumn Japanese maples in the Dell.

They bask in the sun in a peculiar position with their wings half extended and low.