Two visits to the Serpentine Gallery didn't find the Little Owl, but the third time was lucky. She was out on a branch ...
... calling.
The leaves are now coming out fast on the earlier trees, and there will soon be enough cover on the horse chestnuts at the Round Pond to tempt the Little Owls there to perch in a tree. A Robin examined a new shoot.
A Blackcap was singing volubly in the Flower Walk. You saw only a momentary glimpse of it from time to time as it moved around in the bushes, so there was no chance of a video.
The Song Thrush by the Henry Moore sculpture was also in good voice ...
... and so was a Chiffchaff at the Round Pond, another bird that hops around as it sings and is very hard to film.
The usual male Chaffinch ...
... and his mate spotted me near Physical Energy and followed me down the path.
A young Herring Gull on the Serpentine played with a bit of dead grass, not an exciting toy and the bird quickly dropped it.
One of the young Grey Herons on the island had ruffled up its feathers and was looking remarkably untidy.
It started leaping around. The novelty of being able to fly hasn't worn off yet. It found a worm but didn't know what to do with it.
The heron in the nest at the west end of the island stood up to have a preen. It's still far from certain that there are eggs in the nest, though there are beyond any doubt in the one at the other end where a heron is sitting stock still all day.
Three pairs of Great Crested Grebes were competing for territory on the Serpentine, though probably the ones at the west end are from the nest on the Long Water side of the bridge. This is the pair at the east end.
A Coot nesting in the reed bed near the Italian Garden made a few minor adjustments to its nest. Coots can build expertly with both reeds and twigs, depending on what's available.
There are Coot nests all round the Long Water, including one at Peter Pan ...
... a very exposed nest on the remains of the fallen horse chestnut tree ...
... and the one hidden in a planter in the Italian Garden.
An Egyptian Goose on the Serpentine splashed vigorously and preened its wings.
Lovely Blackcap. Haven't seen or heard one yet & unusually didn't see any wintering birds.
ReplyDeleteWe had at least one seen by the Long Water a couple of months ago, probably more unseen in the bushes.
DeleteWhat a funny goofball, that Heron. They tend to look so stately and dignified, sometimes even grim, it's funny to see them behave like overgrown kids. Which I suppose that particular Heron is.
ReplyDeleteI could spend hours looking at that owl and hearing her call.
The Little Owl looks as majestic as an Eagle Owl, and you tend to forget how small she is. It's that fierce stare under the ominous eyebrows.
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