A Blackbird called in alarm from a tree in the Rose Garden. I couldn't see what had disturbed it, but there are always Carrion Crows and Magpies around, and Blackbirds are extremely nervous.
The male Chaffinch followed me from the Flower Walk to the Round Pond, and from there to the bridge. Here for a change is a picture of his much less adventurous mate, who will also take pine nuts thrown in the air but stays in the Flower Walk.
A Coal Tit perched in a few remaining yellow leaves.
A Blue Tit looked for insects in a tree in the Rose Garden.
A Great Tit waited in a winter-flowering cherry at the bridge. The tree is a rather feeble specimen and never produces more than a few stunted blossoms.
David Element got the best picture of the day. The advancing Waxwings have got as far as Balham, where they are attracted by the fruit on an ornamental rowan tree in a garden.
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On a day with a sharp wind, the Little Owl at the Round Pond waited till it was nearly dark before she appeared at the back of her hole. I had to use the special twilight setting on my smaller camera to get any kind of a picture.
Black-Headed Gulls beside the Serpentine hovered by flying into the wind to catch bits of bread being thrown into the air.
The pigeon-eating Lesser Black-Backed Gull was on the ground below to catch anything they missed.
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The wind stopped the Grey Herons from doing any nest building. I suppose the sitting heron was on the nest, but hunkered down to get out of the wind and invisible from the shore. The one unattached heron was standing on the edge of the island.
The female Great Crested Grebe from the nest on the island cruised past Fisherman's Keep.
By going well past the end of the reed bed it was just possible to see the whole family. The young grebe was on the right, heading off to fish along the edge of the reeds.
Two pairs of Coots were having yet another fight.
Blondie was walking up the edge near the Dell restaurant.
The Black Swan preened his ruffles on the edge of the Round Pond
A label tied to the railings at the bridge proved to be a sad memorial.
But there was a cheerful sound of Harley-Davidsons, and a band of bikers dressed as Father Christmas trundled over the bridge.
A very happy Christmas to all readers, and may the New Year bring some much needed improvements to us all.
Merry Christmas from me, too. And, we've just had the Solstice, so the days will be getting longer. Slowly but surely.
ReplyDeleteIt's always a relief to be climbing out the black pit of midwinter, though I don't think we see any sign of lightening till the 28th. The whole business of going round the sun at a rakish angle of 23.5° on an elliptical orbit and wobbling as we go is beyond my feeble brain.
DeleteSame here, but we can enjoy the result. It felt a little lighter to me already, but I think that's because the last 2 days weren't so entirely dreary.
DeleteAlthough the day length stopped shortening on 21 December, the evenings started getting lighter before then on 18 December, and in the seven days since we have gained three minutes more of evening light. To help with this, the mornings have continued to get darker and don’t start getting lighter again until 3 January. You’re right, it’s all to do with the earth wobbling about and not following the strict rules of the human calendar. Ulrike is also right in identifying the sun’s role as the deciding factor in the illusion of noticeably longer days - until we get to the end of January. Happy Christmas! Joe
ReplyDeleteThank you for the clarification. I hadn't realised how far out the arrangement is.
DeleteMerry Christmas to all the friends who read and visit here, and of course to Ralph, without whom none of this lovely little community of bird lovers would be possible!
ReplyDeleteThere is a Spanish saying "Santa Lucía, menguan las noches y crecen los días". For us days begin to grow noticeably longer around Saint Lucy's day (Dec 13th).
The current time is actually a solstice, the sun 'standing still' and refusing to go higher at noon for several days. We are going around the broad bottom loop of the analemma and the line representing day length is almost horizontal.
DeleteBelatedly a Happy Christmas Ralph.. Always enjoy looking at the blog. I'm going to try for the Waxwings at Balham this morning just in case none get closer.
ReplyDeleteAnd an even more belated happy Christmas to you, and best wishes for the New Year. I hope you found some Waxwings. Shamefully, I was overcome with seasonal lethargy and didn't make it to Balham. I must pull myself together and have a go at the new ones in Camden.
DeleteThanks. Luck was on my side as the Waxwings were on show as I arrived, but they disappeared for half an hour not long after I arrived. At least I had some good views but they were quite skittish.
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