Saturday, 9 November 2024

Bold Wagtail

A female Pied Wagtail stood on the steps of the marble fountain in the Italian Garden, unworried by the throng of weekend visitors.


It dashed around on the pavement looking for insects. There are midges here right through the winter.


Feral Pigeons and Starlings gave their best attention to the remains of a burger and two plates of fish and chips on the restaurant terrace.


Two Wrens chased each other in the Rose Garden shrubbery This one was hurrying up a stem to escape its pursuer.


The young male Blackbird in the Dell is easier to see than its very shy parents.


The Little Owl at the Round Pond came out to the edge of her hole but didn't like the cold day and soon went back inside.


A Magpie perched in a willow on the edge of the Serpentine.


This Carrion Crow was in a gutter on the edge of the Italian Garden. It was in a very weak state and had avian pox blisters on its feet. I gave it some raisins as an energy boost and called the rescue volunteers. Let's hope it recovers.


A young Herring Gull lay obstinately in the middle of the pavement by the Serpentine, obliging people to walk round it. I though it too might be in trouble, but after a bit it got up and seemed bright enough. It was just in a stroppy mood.


Pigeon Eater's rival was on the Dell restaurant roof, but flew away just as I was about to photograph him. Turning round, I saw that Pigeon Eater himself had flown in. He can still dominate his rival. He stalked around eyeing potential victims.


Herring Gulls and Greylag Geese enjoyed themselves in the Diana fountain. On a cold day there were few people to disturb them.


The real Diana fountain in the Rose Garden attracted the local pair of Egyptian Geese. Although the pump is broken the bowl is still full of rainwater, which birds prefer anyway.


One of the young Great Crested Grebes on the Long Water peered below the surface looking for fish, and dived in an unsuccessful attempt to grab one. It will get better. It was glad to see its father arrive with a fish.


A pair of Gadwalls mooched around peacefully at the Lido.


There's a large colony of sleek and well fed rats at the place beside the Long Water where people feed the Rose-Ringed Parakeets and drop food all over the place.


A fungus on a cherry tree in the Rose Garden shrubbery looked like a large chunk of mozzarella. I think it may be a White Cheese Polypore, Tyromyces chioneus. If so, it's bad news for the tree as it brings white rot.

2 comments:

  1. That stroppy Gull not moving for anyone is my new hero.
    I take today's picture as confirmation that the Little Owl pops out to see you.
    Tinúviel

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    Replies
    1. Still not sure about the owl. She couldn't have seen me approaching from trhat angle when she was inside. The boring distant shots of her at the back of her hole show her field of view.

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