Starlings are well settled in the nest hole in the plane tree by the boathouses which they have used in previous years. (No, I didn't turn up the colour on this picture.)
Another pair of Long-Tailed Tits are nesting in the bushes between the bridge and the Vista. One brought an insect to the nest.
The holly tree also had a Chiffchaff on a high branch.
A Peregrine circled high above, the first time I've seen one in the park for several weeks.
There was one Swift, one Swallow and maybe three Sand Martins over the Long Water, and I didn't get a picture of any of them. Tom got a record shot of the Swift, which I will put up when he sends it. A House Martin was also spotted on the Long water a few days ago.
It was a busy scene at Mount Gate, with the pairs of Coal Tits ...
... Blue Tits ...
... and Robins ...
... and a Blackbird coming out for food. The mate of this male is now accepting pine nuts thrown on the ground, though he remained in the tree. I must get some raisins for them, which Blackbirds love.
A Wren on the edge of the Serpentine surveyed the scene, including the people photographing it.
But sad to say, it looks as if the Goldcrest nest at the bridge has been predated. It was too near the surface of the yew tree, and if I could see it a Magpie could too.
A pair of Grey Herons on the island have built a nest very close to the nest with chicks it it, and were mating on it to the fury of the resident. The chicks, just visible in this picture, were watching too.
The Coot chicks in the Italian garden are growing well. These are three of the six in the northeast pool.
Two very new Mallard ducklings have appeared on the north shore of the Serpentine. Sadly, an awful lot must have disappeared in the two days since they came out of the nest.
They fidgeted and preened.
The other five are in good order and getting bigger by the day. They were at the Lido.
The Mute Swans beside the Lido restaurant terrace are now nesting seriously. The Wildlife Officer, Nick Burnham, has put a fence around the land side of the nest to keep inquisitive humans at a distance.
The swans at the boathouse also seem to be established, and are comfortable on some straw provided by Nick.
The Egyptian Geese here still have their seven goslings in assorted sizes.
Poor Goldcrests. I do hope they'll learn to choose a better spot next time. I love magpies, but sometimes they make it very difficult.
ReplyDeleteWhat otherworldly iridescence on that Starling. If such astonishing irisation was seen in tropical birds rather than in such a common as dirt bird, we'd all be oohing and aaahing over it.
Tinúviel
Oddly, a few minutes after taking that picture I walked through the Triangle car park and an Iraqi drove in with a Ferrari (the vanity plate W1 1RAK was a bit of a giveaway here). It was painted with iridescent paint in exactly the same green-brown-purple as the Starling. And it looked absolutely horrible. Some things are best kept to birds.
DeleteAnother swift seen heading north along the Long Water at 7.08pm today. My first of the year.
ReplyDeleteIt was surprising to see three of our four hirundines for the first time on the same day, and indeed within a quarter of an hour of each other.
DeleteThat is a very gaudy Starling. Perhaps a new form-Sturnus luridus?
ReplyDeleteClassic Peregrine flight profile. I was leading a walk around Warren Farm yesterday morning & we had one of the nearby Ealing Hospital birds flying around & briefly mobbing a Lesser Black-backed Gull over the meadow.
Sad news about the Goldcrest nest. Same thing happened to the Robin nest in my garden. Maybe they will try again?
I was looking carefully at Starlings today, in rather dull light, to see how much difference there is in iridescence. Not a lot really. It's largely a matter of the angle at which the light falls. The brightest shine comes when the sunlight comes over your shoulder on to the bird so it's nearly in your shadow.
Deleteone bird on HPB this afternoon 5.30pm-ish.
ReplyDeleteThanks. None earlier, I looked several times during the day.
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