The widowed dominant female Mute Swan was busking on the Serpentine, determined to hold on to her territory. She chased away a small thin female which I think was the one from the Italian Garden though then they were too far away to be sure.
Later the Italian Garden female returned to her usual pool ...
... along with a teenager which hasn't been here before. It will have to learn how to get out through the marble fountain at the end of the garden. They always seem to manage.
An Egyptian Goose on the Serpentine had a brisk rinse and flap.
Ahmet Amerikali got a dramatic shot of two Egyptians fighting.
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The pigeon-eating Lesser Black-Backed Gull wandered through a crowd of pigeons looking for his chance. They kept at a safe distance from him.
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It's mostly Herring Gulls that you see pattering on the ground to bring up worms, but other gull species do it too. This Common Gull was in the Diana fountain enclosure, a peaceful place while the fountain is closed for maintenance.
A Moorhen climbing in a willow clung to a windswept branch as the wind whipped it up and down, but finally gave up and jumped off.
It was too windy at the exposed Round Pond for a hope of seeing the Little Owl there, but in the shelter of the trees around the Speke obelisk the other owl came out to enjoy the sunshine. He was in the same place in the same oak tree as when last seen five days ago.
The Peregrines were on and off the tower during the day. This is the male, rather dark in colour.
A Magpie dug in fallen leaves across the path from the leaf yard.
Ahmet took this picture of a Goldcrest in the yew at the bottom corner of the Dell.
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Unlike the Great Tits in Kensington Gardens, the ones in Hyde Park are unused to being fed and are quite shy. This one was lurking in a bush in the Rose Garden.
Long-Tailed Tits flew along the back of the Lido. I think the local family hunts around the edge of the Lido buildings, which are surrounded by trees. There is always at least one nest at the east end of the swimming area every spring.
If you look up the hill from the Italian Garden you can see the Speke obelisk and the spire of St Mary Abbots side by side.
What a gorgeous picture. St Mary Abbots would look at home in Gondor.
ReplyDeleteA bit sad to see the Moorhen had to give up with so much wind. Sometimes even expert tightropers will find their match.
Tinúviel
St Mary Abbots is a neo-Gothic church of 1872 in a vaguely 'Early English' style (which is what early French pointed is called here) by George Gilbert Scott who also designed the Albert Memorial. The spire is the tallest in London. I've never been in. Really I should go and look at the interior. It might be rather fine in a Victorian way.
ReplyDeleteIf you do, please report!
DeleteTinúviel