Friday 9 February 2024

Still three Egyptian goslings

There are still three Egyptian goslings at the Round Pond, perilously surrounded by big gulls and corvids. Their mother will look after them well unless another pair of Egyptians appears, which may cause her to rush off in a territorial dispute and leave them alone for a few moments -- which is all it takes for them to be snatched.  They expect any human who pays attention to them to feed them, and rush up to your feet, but I don't have any food for Egyptians and they are much better off eating grass and bugs.


The male Egyptian at the Henry Moore sculpture is still waiting for his mate to emerge with the goslings.


It had rained steadily during the night and early morning and much of the grass was flooded, as often happens because the soil is impervious London clay. A pair of Egyptias investigated the swamp near the Vista.


Herring Gulls and lesser Black-Backs looked for worms on the soggy lawn below the Dell.


The Common Gull with pale yellow legs seems to have won the battle for ownership of the No Swimming sign from the one with off-white legs, who hasn't been there for several days.


No change at the Grey Herons' nest, but the heron is starting to vanish into the plum blossom.


Both Peregrines were on the tower.


The Dunnock could be seen again hopping around surreptitiously in the bushes by the Lido restaurant.


A Song Thrush sang from the top of a holly tree near Mount Gate ...


... where the Coal Tit is still wanting to come down to be fed but doesn't quite dare.


A Blue Tit in the Flower Walk looked at a catkin.


A Wren emerged briefly from the bushes by the Italian Garden.


The familiar Grey Wagtail was hunting along the edge at the Triangle car park.


The Redwings on the Parade Ground were all up in the trees, distantly visible. From their chattering it seems that there are quite a few.


The Robin by the Henry Moore came out for a pine nut.


On a fallen tree trunk below there was an attractive fungus. I think it's Turkey Tail fungus, Trametes versicolor.

7 comments:

  1. It's a hard pill to swallow, knowing those three pretty babies are doomed.

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  2. Surely not hawthorn the Heron is nesting in Ralph? Looks more like Cherry Plum to me or closely allied species. Would seem far too early for the former to flower (usually April/May) & also branches look wrong with no thorns.

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    1. Yes, I think you're right. I got it mixed up with the nest at the west end of the island which is actually in a hawthorn tree.

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