A Robin perched on a sign in the leaf yard. It came to my hand to take a pine nut, although I'd never had any dealings with it before.
I didn't get a picture, as it was a surprise. So here's one by Mark Williams of one of his regular Robins in St James's Park.
%202023%201a.jpg)
A Robin in the Rose Garden sang quietly to itself.
A Pied Wagtail looked for insects in dead leaves beside the Serpentine.
It found a small off-white larva. I've seen wagtails with these before, but don't know what they are.
A Wren chitttered on a twig near the Speke obelisk.
The female Little Owl at the Round Pond came out on the doorstep of her hole.
Plates of leftovers at the Lido restaurant attracted Starlings, Feral Pigeons and Black-Headed Gulls, but a Carrion Crow dispersed them and took its time selecting a snack. The main attraction was mayonnaise, with chips second.
A crow enjoyed a bathe in the Long Water, then shook itself dry.
Another preferred a shower in the marble fountain in the Italian Garden.
This is the Lesser Black-Backed Gull that was on the blog yesterday eating a pigeon in the water. You can see its distinctive pinkish legs, not the usual yellow. It was hunting, but it's still only occasionally successful. However, it works hard at its bloody business and will doubtless improve.
The original Pigeon Eater, at the Dell restaurant as usual, missed a catch.
%20misses%20pigeon%202023%204a.jpg)
Bill Haines is now using blue plastic rings for the Black-Headed Gulls he rings, as they are more conspicuous than the previous dull orange ones which were almost the same colour as the gull's leg. Here is 2032.
For some time there has been a pair of statues wrapped in cloth in the niches on the street front of the Albert Hall. They have now been unveiled and are, as you'd expect, Victoria and Albert, occupying the labelled places that have been waiting for them since 1871. Both look distinctly Not Amused.
Two other statues of the late Queen and Prince Philip have been made for the south side of the hall. I hadn't known they were ready till after I took these picture, but will go and see them. I hope they look a bit more cheerful.
So the plan for the statues' placement was devised in 1871 and hadn't been fulfilled till now? Whew. La Sagrada Familia level of tardiness!
ReplyDeleteSo it seems, very surprisingly. The amount of grime on the 'Coade stone' name labels shows that they haven't been added recently, or indeed in the last renovation a few years ago when some of this washable ceramic material was replaced and still looks new and gleaming.
DeleteIs that the ‘Look Out For’ notice in the leaf yard? I saw a Robin perched on it the other day. It didn’t seem to have any fear of humans though looked slightly peeved it wasn’t included on the board.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is -- the notice that alerts you to the presence of Tufted Ducks in the bushes.
DeleteYou must have got the eye-hiding down to a T for crows to be so comfortable so close.
ReplyDeleteStreet View shows both the south side alcoves embossed with the name ELIZABETH. I wonder how they get around that, indeed how they could be so narrow-minded to begin with. Jim
I'll go and look at the south side tomorrow. It's perfectly possible that they've replaced one of the labels. The 'stone' is only Coade Stone tiles applied to a brick structure.
DeleteI've found pictures of the new and they have changed the letters on the respective side, but I cannot see any sign of a scar, join or augmentation, though both old and new letters abutted their surround. Very clever and maybe they had planned for this all along. Jim
DeleteThanks. Didn't make it to the Albert Hall today as I was photographing a new Peregrine, but will go tomorrow if I am spared.
DeleteHi Ralph, how does Bill manage to catch the gulls to ring them in the park? Obviously not mist nets or even canon nets which are used for waders.
ReplyDeleteI think he holds up a bit of food which the gull comes down to grab, but finds itself grabbed. That's what Roy Sanderson did and I watched him.
DeleteYes I have watched a ringer here do that with black-headed gulls. They get too close for the bread and he plucks them out of the air. Fascinating to watch and I wondered how long it took him to perfect the skill - and how many misses!
DeleteI have filmed Bill ringing gulls, but didn't catch the magic moment. Maybe next time.
DeleteThanks Ralph.
ReplyDelete