A Robin sang gently in the corkscrew hazel bush in the Flower Walk. This stretch of the path is absolutely packed with Robins, and at 8 seconds you can hear another replying from the next bush.
There are at least 11 Robins in the section between Queen's Gate and the Albert Memorial, at this time of year all in individual territories.
A Blue Tit looked out of a bush.
This is the Coal Tit at the southwest corner of the bridge, which occasionally comes down for a pine nut when it sees the numerous Great Tits flocking in.
A Wren appeared for a moment in the brambles at the other end of the bridge.
Encouraged by a mild day, the Little Owl at the Round Pond came out on an open branch for a change.
I haven't seen any Little Owls elsewhere for some time. The pair at the Serpentine Gallery didn't manage to breed because Carrion Crows nested in their tree, but they are still around and I heard one calling a few days ago. The pair by the Speke obelisk had to move when the old sweet chestnut tree they nested in died in the drought of 2022, and I don't know where they've gone. The dense brambles around the base of the tree are still there and Blackbirds nest in them every year.
There was a Jay in the Dell. You don't often see Jays in Hyde Park as they prefer the denser trees of Kensington Gardens.
A Wood Pigeon flapped around in a holly tree by the Rose Garden eating unripe berries. Some of the holly trees now have almost ripe fruit, but Wood Pigeons aren't fussy about these things.
The Grey Wagtail hunted along the edge of the Serpentine by the Triangle.
A Pied Wagtail perched on the roof of one of the small boathouses.
... but a young one under the marble fountain in the Italian Garden looked bored.
The pair of Egyptian Geese shared an urn above it.
The Moorhens that nested in the reeds under the fountain have only one surviving chick, the others probably having been eaten by the large pike that lurk at this end of the lake. It's grown up now but the family is staying together.
A fox rested at the Dell.
The Common Wasps' nest at the Triangle is still busy. It's under a photinia bush and they seem to like the waxy leaves, possibly because they have honeydew from aphids on them.
Come to think of it, is there anything Wood Pigeons are fussy about?
ReplyDeleteI imagine that walking through Robin territory armed with pine nuts must be the closest thing to running the proverbial gauntlet.
Tinúviel
Wood Pigeons are quite selective about the leaves they eat, seeking out tasty things like dandelions. But any berry is eaten at once.
DeleteFortunately only a few of those Robins expect food, and only two come to my hand. The Great Tits are another matter, and on a cold day they fly out in storms.