Peregrine's lunch date

The male Peregrine on the Knightsbridge Barracks tower had caught a Feral Pigeon. He invited the female over to share it, hoping to be able to mate. She ate some pigeon but wasn't in the mood, and flew off ...

... leaving him looking disgruntled and foolish. But at least he had the rest of the pigeon.

A Wood Pigeon ate a horse chestnut blossom. I wonder whether they are too large for a Peregrine to carry, and therefore reasonably safe. Their numbers are increasing yearly, and soon their large families will be wandering around on the grass.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker hung upside down from an oak near the bridge.

A Long-Tailed Tit carried a small insect to a nest near Mount Gate.

A Carrion Crow dunked a bit of food in the marble fountain in the Italian Garden. You wouldn't think that the fountain was made of fine white marble, so encrusted is it with algae and stained with rust from iron pipes. Attempts to clean it last only a few weeks before it reverts to its pristine filth.

Ahmet Amerikali was at Russia Dock Woodland, where he photographed a House Sparrow drying itself after bathing.

Des McKenzie saw a sparrow in Kensington Gardens on 5 May. They may yet return before I drop off the twig.

A pair of Herring Gulls are often seen at the end of the Lido jetty. This is not the pair that are constantly together farther east along the shore.

An Egyptian Goose on the south side of the Serpentine sheltered her 11 goslings, most of which you can't see because they're under her wings.

The staff of the Lido restaurant found two abandoned Egyptian goslings.

Jenna and I tried to introduce them into this large brood. But for this to have a good chance of working the goslings have to be the same size, and these were too small -- they are the two nearest the parents. The adults started pecking at them, so the little creatures had to be hastily scooped up. They will be taken to a sanctuary where they can grow up in safety.

The five Mallard ducklings scooted around catching midges. These provide extra protein in their diet, necessary for growth.

The Black Swan is now constantly near the outflow on his own. His attempts to befriend a Mute female seem to have failed. The swans on the Serpentine are a tougher lot than the low-status birds on the Round Pond.

A blossoming laburnum at the Magazine was full of Buff-Tailed Bumblebees.

Aspens are flowering beside the Serpentine. These poplars (Populus tremula) are famous for having leaves that quiver in the slightest wind, giving the tree a shimmering appearance.

After yesterday's yellow iris, here is a purple one in the Rose Garden.