Monday 12 December 2022

A snowy day

Several inches of snow fell in the night. A view of the Albert Memorial ...


... and the Long Water.


The roses in the Rose Garden were doing their best in the conditions.


The small birds in the Flower Walk were hungry and hurried out to be fed: a Great Tit ...


... a Blue Tit ...


... and a Coal Tit.


I wanted a classic picture of a Robin on a snowy twig, but the familiar one wouldn't get into a good position and was getting annoyed by by attempts to photograph it. So I gave in and it came to my hand, looking a bit disgruntled, and took five pine nuts.

Several Jays were also waiting.


Rose-Ringed Parakeets gathered in a treetop beside the Long Water.


The plane trees south of the Rose Garden sometimes have Goldfinches in them, and a couple were twittering from the tops today.


The usual two Jackdaws here came out to be fed.


No one was expecting to see Little Owls on a day like this but Belinda, Neil and I went to their places in vague hope, and were rewarded by a sight of the young owl at the Round Pond looking out from the back entrance of his tree ...


... and the male owl of the pair at the Speke obelisk surprisingly out on a snowy branch.


And there was more: a Sparrowhawk staring fiercely down from a treetop.


A Grey Heron perched on the Mute Swans' nesting island on the Long Water. There are patches of clear water along the edge where they can fish.


Two Moorhens had a disagreement on the ice.


The new pair of swans were next to the Italian Garden. The water never freezes completely here, as it's where the borehole that feeds the lake discharges water at a steady 10°C, winter and summer.


Egyptian Geese were finding grass in the snow by the Winter Wasteland until a loose dog frightened them away.


Someone was stabbed here last night, but fortunately not fatally.

Greylag Geese browsed in the enclosure of the Diana fountain, which is closed so they could feed in peace. 

6 comments:

  1. Does snow reduce the number of visitors? I never go to central London when it snows, if I can helpit. The trains can be very unreliable.

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    1. From tomorrow the trains won't just be unreliable, there won't be any. It's the first day of the strike by the fragrant folk of RMT.

      There weren't many people in the park today, but it was Monday after all. Serious frost and snow brings hundreds of geese in from small ponds that have frozen.

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  2. What lovely ethereal, fairytale like pictures. I have no doubt that snow makes for misery and suffering for all concerned, but darn it if doesn't make for the loveliest background on earth.

    It looks as if everyone is going on strikes pretty much everywhere.
    Tinúviel

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    Replies
    1. Yes, rail, post and nurses all striking here. Getting like 1977 but no Thatcher in sight.

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  3. Interesting to see the snowy scenes as it's been a couple of years since we had some-but hope it goes soon!

    While doing my WeBS counts yesterday I was surprised to see over 200 Canada Geese on the snow covered Barn Elms playing fields. Presumably they were still able to access the grass below.

    Certainly increased numbers of duck (particularly Mallard, Teal & Tufted Duck) on the river.

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    Replies
    1. Presumably the geese were displaced by small ponds freezing. We get geese, both Canada and Greylag, arriving in the park during seriously cold weather, and they seem to be able to get enough grass through several inches of snow.

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