After an apocalyptic weather forecast of gales and thunder it was a perfectly ordinary autumn day of sunny intervals and showers. I saw the two Rock Pipits in the rough grass south of Kensington Palace, but they were very shy, fleeing from tree to tree and over the wall into the palace garden, so I didn't get a picture.
The Little Owl was out on her usual tree ...
... but a few minutes later a sudden downpour would have sent her into her hole. It forced me into cover in the Italian Garden loggia. A Moorhen didn't care, and for a Mute Swan it helped with preening.
A Blue Tit was fully fluffed up in a treetop beside the Long Water.
The familiar Robin in the Rose Garden was looking for insects in the bark of the Caucasian Elm.
Another was in a bush watching the gardeners digging up a flower bed, hoping they'd turn up a worm.
You see Wrens climbing tree trunks much more often than Robins. This one was in a big oak near the bridge.
Just along the path the pair of Magpies were looking very fond of each other.
A Jackdaw was oddly untidy. They are usually very neat birds.
A pair of Black-Headed Gulls beside the Serpentine walked the walk and talked the talk.
The pigeon-eating Lesser Black-Backed Gull was stalking by the Dell restaurant.
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When I came past again a few minutes later I had just missed him catching a Feral Pigeon. He was finishing it off in the water.
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Grey Herons never used to visit the Round Pond, but the new gravel strip has given them a fishing platform. The gravel was intended to be as neat as a garden path, but having swans and geese constantly standing on it has really messed it up. Plants will be growing on it soon, which will improve the sight.
This hasn't happened to the earlier gravel strip in the Long Water, which remains fairly clean. It doesn't get such a density of birds.
There were eight Cormorants on the raft ...
... and more were on the posts all the way round the Serpentine island. One climbed on to the only vacant spot to dry its wings.
The youngest Great Crested Grebe chick was being fed ...
... and there was an older one by the island. You have to see them in clear water to realise how enormous their feet are.
A brief sunny spell was enough to bring out the foxes in the Dell.
Certainly no dreadful pictures today !!.I especially liked the foxes, regards,Stephen.
ReplyDeleteWell, there's another gory one of the notorious gull.
DeleteWell, the apocalypse took a sharp turn and ended up here. There's been floods, uprooted trees and inundations galore here. Thank God birds made themselves scarce until it blew itself out.
ReplyDeleteTinúviel
Oh dear, sad to hear that.
DeleteI was tempted to wear galoshes to reach my office today!
DeleteTinúviel
No shame in yielding to that temptation. I resort to my Huge German Boots when it has rained heavily.
DeletePleased you connected with the Rock Pipits, Ralph. Unusual to see them in such an urban setting, though of course are regularly seen on the estuary at Rainham in the winter along with Water Pipits.
ReplyDeleteLovely footage of the Foxes enjoying the sunshine.
I was very pleased to see them, even fleetingly, as they were a first for me. Never saw any at Rainham, but I only go there occasionally.
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