Saturday, 11 January 2025

Two Little Owls

Another frosty night, and the Round Pond was almost completely frozen. Gulls loafed around on the ice, which they quite like as it's safe from people and dogs.


A patch at one side was kept clear by the waterfowl moving around on it. Two Shoveller drakes rested at the edge of the ice.


But it was a sunny morning, and both the Little Owls were out. We hadn't seen the male for some time.


The female was in a different tree.


The Robin by the Henry Moore sculpture took seven pine nuts.


The male Chaffinch in the Rose Garden was waiting in a flower bed.


A Jackdaw trotted over the horse ride beside the Serpentine to get his peanut.


Carrion Crows were milling around on the frozen ground in the Dell. They must have been finding something, or they wouldn't have stayed. One of them chased off a squirrel.


A Grey Heron on the island guarded the chicks in the nest at the top right of the picture.


Pigeon Eater was by the Dell restaurant thinking about lunch.


A pair of Great Crested Grebes were displaying near the boat hire platform.


This turned out to be because more grebes have arrived on the Serpentine, probably escaping from smaller ponds that were freezing over. The residents didn't like being intruded on.


Agile Moorhens are good at walking on slippery ice, Coots not so good.


A pair of Gadwalls were puzzled at getting through the floating ice on the Serpentine. It was easier to fly over it than to push through.


The Mute Swans were also hampered. The ice is too thin for them to walk on. They can push through it, but it's an effort. However, there is always some clear water on the Serpentine and grass to eat when the crowds have gone.


The Diana fountain continues to work in frosty weather, as its pipework and pump are underground. A pair of Egyptian Geese appreciated this.


The sun was setting as I went home through Mount Gate. Several Jays were waiting.



The Coal Tit was in a treetop and seemed reluctant to fly down, but eventually it came and took some pine nuts.


How I wish I could put up a feeder to help the small birds through the winter, but it would soon be removed on the orders of the management. I have tried feeders in hidden places, but these have always been stolen by rough sleepers to sell.

7 comments:

  1. Right now I'm scattering birdseed around, everywhere I can and I everywhere I go. It will reach some, even if not all. Could that be done?
    Tinúviel

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    Replies
    1. I fear that here almost all of it would go to the thronging pigeons and numerous rats.

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  2. Surely it would be much better for the hated signs to give advice on feeding birds not a blanket ban. Appropriate food to appropriate birds, not tipping
    sacks of stale white bread onto the walkways or polluting the Serpentine by lobbing old burgers into it. Maybe a total ban on some species. Parakeets?
    But then what is appropriate food? The RSPB seems to be saying a decent wholemeal bread is ok in small quantities. Cue a heated correspondence on angel wing.
    I don't know but I think we should be told.

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    Replies
    1. We aren't dealing with reasonable people here. We are dealing with wooden-headed officials.

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  3. With the issue of feeding wildlife in the parks, can say there is nothing in park rules about it so far as I can see. The various signs dotted around seem to be worded as a request, as opposed to a prohibition. A friend in the legal service assures me that they don't have a basis. Finally, a happy to report that the police have joined in with the feeding more than once, bless them. ;)

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    Replies
    1. Their argumentation is that they should be "wild" and fend for themselves....As Ralph says, what do you do with people like Michael Rowland in charge?! In my view he has no clue.

      Jenna

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    2. Good to hear about the police. Only some of them, though, there was a WPC a while ago who was seriously nasty and reduced some people to tears with her bullying.

      And yes, the park regulations are on notices in plain sight and they say nothing about feeding. Obviously you mustn't do it in a way that could be considered littering.

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