Better late than never

Apologies for the very late appearance of this post. I got into a muddle with my daily schedule and had to rush off just as I was starting to compile it, and only got back a couple of hours ago.

Encouraged by a sunny spell, a Coal Tit in the Flower Walk was dashing around the trees singing non-stop. He paused only to come down to my hand a collect a pine nut.

A Wren appeared in an oak tree in the middle of Kensington Gardens as I was on a diagonal route to the Round Pond, and I got a hasty shot of it.

In spite of the sunshine there was a chilly wind, and the Little Owl didn't feel like coming out of her hole. I got a brief one-eyed stare and that was all.

Seen first in the North Flower Walk and then in the Dell, crowds of Feral Pigeons rushed around in fallen leaves, evidently finding some insects to eat. But at this time you wouldn't have expected there to be much on offer.

Jackdaws are always polite, but when they want a peanut they let you know.

A restless young Black-Headed Gull played with a peanut, lost it. picked up a couple of leaves and discarded them, and had a scratch before it settled down.

The gull who owns the landing stage gave me a challenging stare. I wouldn't dare to intrude on his territory.

The Moorhen at the Vista was climbing around in its favourite bush. Was it looking for insects or just enjoying its agility?

Two good pictures from Ahmet Amerikali: the Little Grebe was under the Italian Garden and caught a small carp, but about as large as the little bird could swallow.

One of the young Great Crested Grebes on the Serpentine was doing a bit of flying practice. In fact they have been airworthy for more than a month: they weren't hatched here and flew in with their parents.

 

The Cormorants were also flying up and down, one up the Long Water towards the Italian Garden ...

... and another along the Serpentine towards the bridge. This movement may be a sign that the supply of satisfactory-sized fish is beginning to run out.

A Gadwall drake poked around in fallen leaves at the shallow edge of the Long Water. Like most ducks, Gadwalls are omnivorous and any small water creature or a strand of algae will be acceptable. I do like their neat grey plumage.

A Shoveller drake at Peter Pan was looking very fine in the sunlight.

The sunshine brought out a few late Common Wasps on the fatsia bush by the bridge.

The dark red leaves on the copper beeches behind the Albert Memorial have turned a beautiful pinkish orange colour.

Rocky Atkins was flying into Heathrow, and took this view of Hyde Park showing the huge extent of the Winter Wasteland. In his words, 'Viewed from above it looks like a massive rubbish dump.'