It was a day of gusty wind and occasional heavy rain. A Black-Headed Gull hung motionless over the edge of the Serpentine waiting to grab a bit of thrown bread.
Another had fished something more substantial out of the lake, a hoverfly larva. Even allowing for the fact that there are some algae clinging to it, it's surprising how such a large larva is needed to produce a small fly.
A third one was having a thorough rinse.
A Pied Wagtail trotted along the edge looking for insects.
There was also a brief visit from a Grey Wagtail, but someone frightened it away before I could film it.
A flock of Long-Tailed Tits ignored the rain in the bushes around the Diana fountain.
A Robin in the Flower Walk came out promptly for the daily treat of pine nuts.
The oak tree beside the Long Water was thick with Wood Pigeons eating acorns.
The female Peregrine was on the tower, ruffled by the wind.
The dominant Mute Swan and his family were missing from the Long Water, and later I found them on the other side of the bridge. I hope they haven't lost a fight with the pair that have invaded their territory with five large teenagers. However, I'm sure that they will cling tenaciously to their nesting island built for them near the Italian Garden.
The female of the new pair in the Italian Garden had managed to get out of the pool, probably with some difficulty because the trick of jumping up the edge has to be learnt.
A swan broke off a reed and chewed the leaves.
Mostly the Shovellers stay on the far side of the Long Water, but a drake came over to the edge at the Vista.
In the Rose Garden, a late Buff-Tailed Bumblebee was clinging to a Michaelmas daisy as the clump was lashed by the wind. I got one hasty picture of it holding on with a hind leg before it was blown off.
The weather cleared up later in the afternoon and the young Little Owl at the Round Pond emerged from the hole.
Maybe he taught her how to get out?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if swan teenagers ever engage in fighting against other swns like their fathers, or rather sit back and learn how to do the job by watching.
Tinúviel
I'm sure she could get out of the pond, but only by the horrifying method of racing across the water, colliding with the stone kerb at full tilt, and bouncing up -- which. even if you are well padded with a dense coat of feathers, must be painful. I've seen the male swan getting out without having to do this, just jumping up with a mighty flap. It's hard to see exactly what he does and you'd have to anticipate the moment and film it in slow motion to be sure. It certainly took him some time to develop the technique.
DeleteYoung swans are protected from full adult violence by being grey, a signal that they are to be indulged. I've seen them indulging in teenage horseplay but no more. And of course they watch adults fighting. I think that when they grow up and take their place at the bottom of the hierarchy they already realise that violence is the way up the rankings, but only some manage to practise it successfully. The low-ranking swans are on the Round Pond, and fighting here is rare.
I'm sure they lead much quieter and easier lives. Being a dominant swan must be too much of a hassle, all told.
DeleteTinúviel
I think the new pair that flew in with five teenage cygnets and invaded the Long Water are going to shake up the established order. At the moment it's hard to tell what's happening.
Delete