The Great Tits have brought out their fledglings, and you can hear them making scratchy begging calls in the trees. This one was in a lime near Mount Gate.
The young Long-Tailed Tits have been out for some time. Here is one in a red-leafed cherry in the Rose Garden.
So have the young Starlings. Families jumped around noisily in a hawthorn while looking for a chance to raid tables on the Dell restaurant terrace.
The pair of Coal Tits at Mount Gate came to my hand. They're looking tatty from feeding chicks, but these aren't out of the nest yet.
A Wren scolded a Magpie beside the Long Water.
The male Little Owl at the Round Pond stared down from a horse chestnut.
The hens at the allotment have been allowed out again after the bird flu has abated, but sadly only three are left. I think the losses are due to natural accidents.
The young Grey Heron in the Dell has taken to standing next to the railings. Evidently people have been feeding it.
The arrival of more Great Crested Grebes on the Serpentine has upset the territorial balance and there was a fight at the east end of the island. This is a prized spot, as there is an overhanging bush behind the line of baskets where a nest can be built.
The Coots on the nest in deep water at the Serpentine outflow now have a well furnished nest, but it remains in danger of being washed away by waves raised in a strong west wind.
The pair in the Italian Garden have hatched five chicks.
But there is no progress on the nest by the bridge, and I think all the remaining eggs must be duds. Such a high failure rate is most unusual, but so is the whole setup here with two females.
The Mute Swan from the island gathered algae for her cygnets.
The brood of six is in good order and there have been no further losses on the Long Water.
Five new Egyptian goslings came out on the water below the Triangle car park.
The eleven were in a heap, keeping warm in the chilly east wind.
A pair of Pochards rested at the water's edge near the island.
Tom has just returned from a holiday on Lesbos, and sent fine pictures of a Crested Lark with some poppies ...
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A Bee-Eater ...
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... and a Flamingo.
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The Chickens used to be hunted by a fox which used to grab a few occasionally. There used to be a poster on the coop that said Wanted: Fox.
ReplyDeleteTheodore
The wire mesh looks impregnable, but I suppose foxes will always find a way, perhaps underneath.
DeleteGood to see the fruit of the Coots labour paying dividends.
ReplyDeleteSean
Hi. We are birders from Singapore visiting London for the next couple of days and very keen to see the little owl at the Round Pond. Is there a specific time when there’s a better chance of seeing it?
ReplyDeleteThe owl may be seen at any time, but in general it's best to come early before there are many people or dogs in the park. The park opens at 6am. If you come late in the day, weekdays are better than weekends. The owl is more likely to be seen on a sunny windless day. If you would like further information please email me at the address on the blog.
DeleteHi Ralph. This is Herman. I sent an email to you this morning. Not sure if you received it.
DeleteThanks for alerting me. Gmail had sent your message to the spam folder. Have just retrieved it and am about to answer.
Delete