There are five singing male Reed Warblers on the lake: three around the Long Water and two on the Serpentine in the Diana fountain reed bed. There was a brief glimpse of one of these.
A pair of Long-Tailed Tits jumped around in a hawthorn tree near the Henry Moore sculpture. They are nesting in the brambles below.
A Wren looked nervously around a branch near the Round Pond.
A Starling at the Lido restaurant wasn't interested in coleslaw but did like the mayonnaise.
The male Song Thrush of the pair at the Speke obelisk was singing on a dead tree.
There was no sign of either Little Owl, hardly surprising on a busy Bank Holiday Monday. A Stock Dove perched outside the Speke nest hole. Stock Doves are always rivals for Little Owls' holes but this may be a sign that the pair, which I haven't seen for a couple of months, have found themselves new quarters.
A Jackdaw perched on the owls' tree at the Round Pond, waiting for a peanut.
A Jay in the Flower Walk had the same idea.
This pair of Lesser Black-Backed Gulls are constantly seen together on the Long Water.
The Grey Herons in the third nest on the island were on the upper level, looking down at the chicks in the lower nest which were making a tremendous racket.
A view from the other side of the lake shows the arrangement.
A Great Crested Grebe on the Serpentine was doing absolutely nothing. They are very good at this.
A Mandarin drake at the Lido smartened up his gaudy plumage.
A pair of Grey Squirrels in the Dell had a wrestling bout before -- and after -- mating.
Good to see your Reed Warblers are back. I haven't had a good view of one yet but heard several on recent trips to the London Wetland Centre. For me their churring, rhythmic song is a sound of summer.
ReplyDeleteDes reported a Sedge Warbler too but i haven't heard it myself. Reed Warbler singing today in the Rose Garden, an odd place for one, but I can't think of any other warbler with that unmistakable song..
DeleteI find the Reed Warblers fascinating and have yet to see one.
ReplyDeleteTheodore
Wait by a gap in the Diana fountain reed bed and you will get a one-second glimpse of one crossing. Or spend ages hanging around a place where a male is singing and it may climb up a stem into sight. Or not. They are not easy birds.
DeleteI want to be a Grebe in my next life. To look so fine doing absolutely nothing.
ReplyDeleteBTW, how many birds would you estimate follow you around in your daily walk?
Tinúviel
Difficult to tell, since a batch of Great Tits and Blue Tits follow me along and past the Flower Walk and I can never know whether I'm feeding a new one or one that has come before. The same at the Speke obelisk. Robins are easier: three.
DeleteHope the reed warblers will give photo ops like they did last year!
ReplyDeleteYes. Patience and luck needed.
DeleteThanks!
ReplyDelete