It now seems almost certain that the second pair of Grey Herons on the island are serious about nesting. One flew in to relieve the other -- they take turns sitting on the eggs.
After its mate flew out it poked around busily in the bottom of the nest.
Virginia got a remarkable picture of one of the young herons from the first pair in flight, looking even more prehistoric than usual.
%202023%201a.jpg)
This is one of the two raised by the first pair last year, now often seen fishing in the little stream in the Dell. It's just getting its adult black and white face.
Another heron was being chased around the Serpentine by a Herring Gull.
This is the Belgian Lesser Black-Backed Gull I photographed yesterday, seen again on a post at the island. It was in a position where I could see the beginning of its ring number, and this is as I suspected preceded by a letter. So it's L926985, and I can report this to the ring recording site and see if it has any history worth mentioning.
The pigeon-eating gull, on the left in this picture, was with his mate on the Dell restaurant roof where I think the pair are nesting.
%20and%20mate%20on%20roof%202023%201a.jpg)
Another fine picture by Virginia: a Great Crested Grebe catches a perch at the island, seen in evening light.
%202023%201a.jpg)
The Mute Swan was on her nest at the Lido while her mate, the ultra-aggressive thug, cruised around with his wings up looking menacing.
The pair of Mandarins in the Italian Gardens fountain picked larvae off the surface of the water until they saw the more attractive prospect of someone throwing unhealthy bread to them.
A second visit to the Round Pond found the female Little Owl on the edge of her hole in the dead tree.
Two Feral Pigeons examined a bit of sweetcorn beside the Serpentine.
A pair of Wood Pigeons came down for a drink at the top of the Dell waterfall.
One of the ubiquitous Wrens on a branch near the Speke obelisk.
Two interesting insects. Jabir Belmehdi photographed what I am almost certain is a Tawny Mining Bee, Andrena fulva, in Kensington Gardens.
%202023%201a.jpg)
And I found a Dark-Edged Bee Fly, Bombylius major, in a flower bed in the Rose Garden.
Virginia's picture is fabulous. One is almost tempted to imagine what thoughts may be crossing the Heron's mind. Maybe it is telling itself to slow down on pain of making a hard landing.
ReplyDeleteI think it's singing ' 'Ere we go, 'ere we go, 'ere we go' to the tune of the Souza Stars & Stripes march.
DeleteThat young Heron does look incredibly ungainly in flight.
ReplyDeleteAgree a female Andrena fulva.
Thank you. I'm never confident with insects.
DeleteYou'd think being so streamlined and slender they'd be on the graceful side while flying. Nope.
DeleteTinúviel
Actually heron flight is a miracle of V/STOL skill. The way they can land on the tops of posts and slender branches is quite remarkable. And as for takeoff, one flap of those huge magic carpet wings and they're soaring upwards.
Delete