There was a Black-Headed Gull from Denmark on the edge of the Serpentine, with a metal ring 6J-1833 and a colour ring White V17U. I've reported it on the Euring recording scheme. Since it's an adult it may have a bit of a history.
Pigeon Eater looked down imperiously from his place on the restaurant roof.
%20on%20roof%202024%204a.jpg)
The Little Owl at the Round Pond was leaning against a twig, which sank a long way into her feathers. Inside their thick plumage owls are thin birds.
The male Chaffinch in the Rose Garden shrubbery waited in a bush.
A Coal Tit flitted overhead and paused for a second on a branch of a red-leafed cherry tree. I've seen Coal Tits in this tree before and I think they nest in it.
A Robin in the Flower Walk sang loudly ...
... at the next one along the path, the Robin that lives inside the yew hedge. Secure in its sheltered home, it didn't bother to reply.
The crowd of Cormorants at the Serpentine island has spread on to the boats. I'm glad I don't have to clean these.
A pale young Cormorant dried its wings across the Long Water from Peter Pan.
A Great Crested Grebe on the Serpentine looked at the camera with mild interest.
Another dashed off in a panic when a rival deliberately surfaced under it.
The Black Swan at the Round Pond doesn't come ashore much, because he attracts too much attention from the humans.
The fox in the willow was in a better place, but not for long. It gave a tremendous yawn ...
... turned round, and settled down to sleep.
A headless horseman rode along the Serpentine Road. Normal for the time of year, I suppose.
Another seasonal touch: there were some strange-looking Elfin Saddle fungi, Helvella crispa, under the sweet chestnut trees across the lake.
Hi Ralph, great Dane !! Even by your high standards today's blog was extraordinary !!.. headless horseman, invasive Scandinavian gulls and a fox in a tree !!...my own birding experience up here is DULL by comparison !!..regards, Stephen.....
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words. The headless horseman was new and a surprise. I must ask Alan Gibson, the most serious gull recorder, about that Danish gull. He knew of one Danish gull that was a regular at the Round Pond, plastic ring OHV, but I could never find it.
DeleteLove the headless horseman! And a fox in a tree - amazing
ReplyDeleteIt was Andrea the gardener who found the fox in the tree. Most of the time it's more or less invisible, and the still shot I got was really a piece of luck.
DeleteLovely shot of the chaffinch. Used to have a pair of males who were willing to handfeed at the leafyard in the early days - alas, a very distant memory now. :(
ReplyDeleteAll the Chaffinches that come to be fed, by hand or otherwise, seem to have badly virus-infected feet. I think they're held back by their condition and therefore hungrier. Have you noticed that it always seems to be males that have bad feet, or is this mere chance?
DeleteHmm, good q...have to admit that I only noticed the male chaffinches feet because they were willing to come so close...it's hard to imagine that the disease can make a distinction between genders, and tbh, I have no idea why it only chooses males to afflict. :(
DeleteHi Ralph, I'd really like to photograph a Jay in an Autumnal tree and I am in London on Sunday, would you have anywhere best to recommend where I can use a monkey nut etc to lure one into a nice position? Happy to go to Hyde Park/Kensington gardens or if there's a better park such as St James's - the ideal thing is the tree is autumnal so any advice much appreciated!
ReplyDeleteKensington Gardens is probably your best bet, rather than Hyde Park or St James's. Try the South Flower Walk, the path running eastwards from the Albert Memorial to Mount Gate south of the shrubbery, and the east side of the Long Water. Jays are busy burying acorns at the moment, so it's not the best time of year to see them, but keep your eye on and under any oak trees.
DeleteThank you Ralph, really appreciate the info!
DeleteDid you get the history of the Danish visitor?
ReplyDeleteTinúviel
Not yet, but hope to.
Delete