A Redwing, a Pied Wagtail, a Magpie, a Carrion Crow and a Herring Gull were all looking for worms and bugs on the ruined turf left by the Winter Wasteland. As usual, the Redwing was staying well away from the fence. There are still only a few here.
A Blackbird searched for worms in the bushes at the edge of the Rose Garden.
It found a wireworm ...
... and an earthworm in close succession.
A Wren preened on a bramble in the leaf yard.
The usual male Chaffinch saw me coming from a considerable distance and hurried over to demand several pine nuts.
A storm of Great Tits, with a few Blue Tits and the local Robin, poured out of a wintersweet bush at the Queen's Gate crossing of the Flower Walk. After I had fed them for a bit I left them in the care of a violin student from the Royal College of Music who was happily feeding them chopped almonds while filming them on her mobile.
This is the Common Gull I photographed being knocked off the No Swimming sign by a rival on the 15th. It's looking smug because it has just resisted an attack from the same rival. Clearly these two are evenly matched, or the contest wouldn't have gone on for so long.
The Black-Headed Gull on the landing stage was back in sole possession of his territory.
A young Lesser Black-Backed Gull just managed to stay upright on a buoy at the Lido. Herring Gulls, which are slightly larger, always cause the buoy to tip over.
The Grey Heron from the nest on the island was standing on the small nest above the one where it had been sitting. I still can't tell whether this nest has succeeded or not. Sometimes you give up hope only to be surprised by the clattering of chicks.
Its mate was on the next tree as usual.
The old heron from the Henry Moore sculpture was fishing on the edge.
There are still more Cormorants than you would have expected at this time of year. A young one perched on a post at Pater Pan ...
... and farther up the Long Water, two were backlit by the low sun on the fallen horse chestnut tree.
A Moorhen climbed around in the dead irises in the Italian Garden.
A pair of Gadwalls cruised past Peter Pan.
A pair of Egyptian Geese were making a racket on top of the Little Owls' tree at the Round Pond. The owl could be heard faintly calling from inside, perhaps telling them to shut up.
Cromwell Road Peregrines were there in the morning and the afternoon
ReplyDeleteTheodore
Thank you. Excellent news, since the pair on the Knightsbridge Barracks were also in place from before 12 to after 2.30 when I lost sight of the building. That really does show that they are two different pairs.
DeletePossibly not. Unfortunately, I walked past at 3:30
DeleteOh well, the hunt goes on.
DeleteCongratulations on getting a Wren to stay more or less still for a good-length video, and on catching it at its morning toilette too!
ReplyDeleteThat Wren's home used to be behind a bush, giving it privacy. Then the bush was cleared away. The Wren continues acting as if it still had cover. I've photographed it several times before.
Delete