When the Carrion Crows on the Parade Ground started tearing up the new turf to get at worms underneath, the returfing people put up glittery toy windmills to scare them off. The crows saw through this flimsy ploy.
A crow at the Lido restaurant saw its chance and grabbed a chicken leg.
A Long-Tailed Tit brought more spider web to a nest beside the Long Water.
A Great Tit was dwarfed by the enormous flowers of a magnolia tree by the bridge.
A Blue Tit perched in the forsythia at Mount Gate ...
... where it was joined by a Coal Tit ...
... and a Robin, all eager for pine nuts.
A Blackbird watched from the top of a tree.
A Pied Wagtail hunted from the boat hire platform.
The Peregrines were on and off the tower for several hours. Here both of them are coming back from a flight over the lake.
The young Grey Herons had returned to their nests, one in each. They get fed here and only here, so they don't stay down for long.
It really looks as if the pair in the nest at the west end of island are serious about breeding, with one sitting down and staying there all the time I was watching.
The last surviving Egyptian gosling is still with us. A brisk wind over the lake sent it to shelter behind its father.
The wind ruffled a Mute Swan at the Dell restaurant.
On the other side of the lake the Black Swan and his girlfriend were at the east end of the Lido again, by the place where they could nest if they pressed their claim. Another pair of swans have been looking at the site, but possession is nine tenths of the law.
The male swan of the pair that nested at the island last year was on the best site, a secluded place where the fence diverts around some bushes. It looks as if he intends to nest there.
Whoever comes up with such absurd ploys has little experience with corvids, I've gathered.
ReplyDeleteTinúviel
Better stick to turf. At least it won't out-think you.
DeleteWe have also seen that Canada Geese quickly see through this sort of scaring device. Any other fast learners? Any non-learners?
ReplyDeleteSome coverage here of the Grand Union Canal oil spill. Jim
You'd expect geese to be fast learners, they're pretty bright. The fastest would be corvids and the larger parrots. followed by gulls. Coots seem to be notably slow.
DeleteSo they know where the oil spill originated. But the kitchen staff will be untouchables, so arrests are most unlikely.
Those crows are fantastic, great video
ReplyDeleteAnd are the magnolias flowering earlier than usual this year?
ReplyDeleteEverything's happening early this year.
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