Feral Pigeons often get bits of string, fishing line or even hair tangled around their legs, which in the worst cases can tighten and cut off the circulation so that they lose the foot. Here is Jon Ferguson skilfully removing some black thread from a pigeon beside the Serpentine. The initial stages are most easily done with Spencer scissors designed for removing surgical sutures, which have a hooked tip. The pigeon wandered off, free but looking confused by the experience.
To get hold of the pigeon it's necessary to throw some birdseed on the ground, which attracts a mob and allows the pigeon to be grabbed in the middle of the crowd. Pigeon Eater saw them gathering and came over to try his luck. Jon shooed him off, telling him 'You can catch a pigeon, but not when I'm here.'
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It's mostly Herring Gulls that patter their feet on the ground to imitate rain and bring worms to the surface, but other species sometimes do it, perhaps having learnt by watching the Herring Gulls. This Common Gull at the Round Pond didn't find a worm when I was watching, but probably persistence paid off in the end.
Mahonia blossoms in winter, and its nectar-rich flowers provide food not for only Wood Pigeons but also for hardy Buff-Tailed Bumblebees overwintering in the sheltered Rose Garden (if the sun ever comes out I might get a picture of one).
In the shrubbery the usual pair of Chaffinches ...
... and the local Robin ...
... were joined by a Jay hoping for a peanut.
A Great Tit in the Dell waited against a bright background of dogwood stems.
The Grey Herons' nest halfway along the Serpentine island was busy.
A young Cormorant stared from a post below ...
... and a Moorhen climbed a chain.
The Coots' nest on the wire basket at the bridge has a firm foundation and never washes away, so the Coots continue to use it as a place to stand.
The Great Crested Grebe pair on the Long Water passed some Tufted Ducks.
A female Shoveller fed by Peter Pan.
Rain kept people out of the park, so the Wigeon on the Round Pond could come ashore undisturbed and walk over to the lawn to graze.
There were Gadwalls all along the edge of the Serpentine. I was surprised not to see any on yesterday's walk along the Thames, but Conehead 54 tells me that there are some downstream at Fulham Reach.
Pigeon Eater looks put-upon, but his turn will come.
ReplyDeleteI think Herring Gulls may be the most intelligent of all gulls. Evidence of it is that they came up with the dancing techniques, and are the most interesting in playing with objects, which is the next step up to using tools.
Tinúviel
And they are fascinated with things that roll. It's a shame that Nature gave them such feeble little feet. With prehensile feet like a crow they'd probably be making little wheels by now.
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