A Blackbird found a worm in a flower bed at the Lido.
So did a Redwing on the Parade Ground.
A Pied Wagtail on the edge of the Round Pond looked for little water creatures in the puddles where the waves break on the edge.
A Wood Pigeon preferred blossom buds.
Another strolled past a patch of daffodils near the bridge.
A nesting Grey Heron was annoyed by another one standing too close to it ...
... and chased it off.
People who try to feed the Feral Pigeons beside the Serpentine are quickly mobbed by Black-Headed Gulls.
Cormorants can balance on chains, but they look uncomfortable doing it.
The Little Grebe in the Italian Garden was under the fountain. It can go right under the spray head, a safe shelter. There is quite a lot of space here and Coots have sometimes tried to nest in it, but have failed because there is nothing to fix the nest to.
Three Common Gulls preened on the buoys at the Lido. There are a lot of Common Gulls here this year, mostly on the Round Pond where there about 50, plus maybe another 20 on the main lake.
Seven new Egyptian goslings have come out at the Round Pond. They will need to be very lucky to survive so early in the year.
There are seldom many big gulls on the Round Pond, but the goslings face danger from Mute Swans, Carrion Crows, and rivals of their own kind.
The Black Swan on the Round Pond followed his Mute girlfriend, making a strange dipping display which seems to be something that only Black Swans do.
The girlfriend seems quite happy and sometimes follows him.
A detachment of the Household Cavalry rode down Rotten Row in full parade uniform.
'Little Horsies !', a small voice cries. Well caught. Odd to see them parade in silence. Not that I'm a fan of the military beat.
ReplyDeleteThey had their band earlier, doing the usual oompah and thumping. But it had turned into the barracks as they passed the gate and before the riders veered off on to Rotten Row for a bit of drill. I liked the child's cry about the very big black horses, so I kept it on the recording.
Deletethe best bit!
DeleteWhat a gorgeous spectacle. "Some say horsemen, some say warriors, /
ReplyDeleteSome say a fleet of ships is the loveliest".
I still think poor Black Swan must feel a bit like a stranger in a strange land. Most of his 'language' will probably not be understood, although his girlfriend appears to be willing to cross the linguistic barrier.
Sigh. Poor goslings.
Tinúviel
The absurd pseudo-medieval parade uniform of the Household Cavalry was invented in the early 19th century by the Prince Regent, who loved fancy dress. It's magnificent but inescapably comic.
DeleteYes, the Black Swan constantly talks and gestures to the Mute Swans, but his language is not understood. Nevertheless, he still utters melodious squeaks.