On a misty drizzly day it was a surprise to see the Little Owl at the Round Pond out in her tree, especially as there is really no cover on it any more. She was looking down disapprovingly ...
...at a Jay which had landed on a lower branch.
There were lots of Jays. Two followed me from the Queen's Temple via Mount Gate to the Flower Walk, demanding peanuts till I ran out.
A Feral Pigeon in the Flower Walk had traces of the original Rock Dove pattern with black wing bars, broken up by large white patches.
A Wren climbed up a lime tree north of the Flower Walk.
Another in the Rose Garden posed in Mexican orange blossom.
A Great Tit managed to get a background of both pink fuchsia and Mexican orange ...
... but a Blue Tit was looking soggy and sad.
Starlings on the Lido restaurant terrace chattered as they waited for a chance to raid leftovers.
It's remarkable that this Lesser Black-Backed Gull could stay standing on a plastic buoy at the Lido. Herring Gulls, which are only slightly bigger, make the buoys revolve and are tipped into the water. Note also the struggles of the much smaller Black-Headed Gull on the right at the start of the video.
Pigeon Eater had come and gone, and a young Herring Gull was finishing the mangled remains of his lunch.
A Cormorant on the island played with a twig. It might have been some vague nesting instinct setting in, or it might just have been playing.
There was a full house on the posts and baskets.
The Mute Swans on the Serpentine were in a foul mood. One pointlessly chased another ...
... and this one drove off another swan which had come to be fed by a visitor.
A female Shoveller at the Vista spun dizzily as she scooped small aquatic creatures out of the water.
Perhaps that bird has an exceptional balance? Or maybe its legs are set at a different, more stable angle from those of Herring gulls?
ReplyDeleteHow utterly gorgeous the Little Owl looks.
Tinúviel
I was certainly surprised by how well that gull balanced. Even Common Gulls sometimes make the buoys tip over.
DeleteI looked up the weights. Surprised at how much smaller Lesser Black-Backs are than Herring Gulls. These are rough figures rounded off from various data on different sites. Herring Gull males 1000-1500g, females 700-1100g. Lesser Black-Back males 600-1000g, females 500-900g. Common Gull males 325-550g, females 290-480g.
Lovely Jay photos Ralph! I never had any luck when I visited a week or so ago, I did try the flower walk but maybe I was a touch too early and they were still busy collecting wild food. I will try and return soon if you think they are becoming more responsive to food?
ReplyDeleteThey know I am going to feed them, and make themselves visible when they see me. So I see more Jays than other people do. It would take some time to start this arrangement, certainly several visits.
DeleteOK that's understandable Ralph. Maybe I could meet you one day and walk with you?
DeleteYes, indeed. My email address is on the blog.
Delete