Monday 5 December 2022

A feast of sloes

The male Blackbird was feeding in the sloe bush at the Lido.


He was joined by his mate and a Song Thrush.


Just along the shore, a Pied Wagtail hunted for insects among the dead leaves.


A Wood Pigeon looked for food in the leaf litter by the Rose Garden. In theory they are vegetarians but I don't think they'd pass up a bug or two.


In the Rose Garden, a Robin perched in a rose bush ...


... and a Magpie did its best to look winsome. It would have got a peanut anyway.


A sunny interval brought out a couple of Buff-Tailed Bumblebees on the mahonia bush.


A Carrion Crow looking for worms in the Dell was repeatedly knocked away by a Grey Squirrel.


In the Long Water, a crow perched delicately on a twig to drink.


A little band of Jackdaws visited the gravel strip to drink and bathe.


Black-Headed Gulls are very variable about the time they go into breeding plumage. The one on the right is just beginning to change, and you can see bands of dark feathers coming out across the top of its head.


The Mute Swans in the Italian Garden were in separate pools ignoring each other. It looks as if the female has discovered what her mate is up to.


The dominant female on the Long Water, with whom he has been flirting, was at the Vista ...


... leaving her nesting island to be occupied by the usual motley crew.


The Black Swan is still on the Round Pond.


A female Gadwall went past on her own. She is smaller and neater than a female Mallard.

2 comments:

  1. Odd that the Grey Squirrel should be so aggressive against the Crow. Maybe it knows they are dangerous for their pups?

    That Magpies knows well that it is very, very pretty.
    Tinúviel

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  2. I've never seen a squirrel being so deliberately aggressive to a crow before. They compete for a peanut on the ground, but in a businesslike way. I wonder whether the crow had been playing that game of creeping up behind the squirrel and pulling its tail.

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