The Little Owls at the Round Pond were perched together in a horse chestnut tree.
The Fieldfare was still on the Parade Ground.
It was unexpectedly joined by three Redwings, which have been unusually scarce here this year. One pulled up a worm.
Both Coal Tits showed up in the Rose Garden, one in the wattle blossom ...
... and the other on a twig with a pine nut.
There's also a pair of Coal Tits in the Dell, though I only saw one today.
This Long-Tailed Tit seen east of the bridge was apparently looking for lichen to add to a nest.
There was a pair in the Rose Garden. One perched on a rose stem below the place in the pergola where they nested last year.
Feral Pigeons clustered in border plants, clearly finding something to eat but I couldn't see what -- perhaps small aphids though it seems a bit early for those. The plant is a Big Blue Liily-Turf, Liriope muscari.
One of the Robins in the Flower Walk near Queen's Gate was busy in dead leaves.
A Carrion Crow disputed ownership of a dead frog with a Moorhen. The crow won, of course.
This was on the edge of the Serpentine just below the Ranger's Lodge garden. I've seen dead frogs here before, and think they have been accidentally dropped by a Grey Heron carrying them from the garden to the island.
Two of the heron chicks in the upper nest stared hungrily at a parent.
Two could also be seen in the east nest.
I only saw two in either nest, but that's no reason to think the third ones have been lost. They simply disappear into the nest when they sit down.
Great Crested Grebes on the Serpentine were displaying during a territorial dispute with another pair.
There are also two pairs on the Long Water now.
A Coot in the Italian Garden prodded her mate into work building their nest, while she preened.
The dominant male Mute Swan from the island, 4FYG, looked large and dangerous on the shore.
He is the only one who can stand up to the killer swan. Those were on the Long Water, not far from their nesting island though they haven't occupied it yet.
A Buff-Tailed Bumblebee gathered pollen from myrobablan blossom at the Triangle.
Crocuses are coming out in the hillocks near Mount Gate which are the remnants of the 18th century prospect mount.
Great face off with the Crow vs Moorhen capture! I’m surprised a Moorhen had it in them to even challenge. The intensity of them both is spectacular and it’s like a spaghetti western showdown.
ReplyDeleteThe Grebes looking majestically fine displaying themselves, sometimes I wish I could be a GCG for a day.
Sean
A diet of raw fish swallowed whole might be a shade monotonous.
DeleteYet another example of Moorhens doing unexpected things. This time, squaring off with a crow and its powerful beak, no less.
ReplyDeleteA diet of raw fish may not be what's cracked up to be, but fancy being able to elegantly doze off most of the day without repercussions.
Tinúviel
And yet a life of idleness and dozing is not ideal. I was just thinking of Virgil's description of the Elysian Fields, where the blessed are quite busy with sports, singing and dancing,
DeleteThat is the most excited I have ever seen feral pigeons over food that wasn't humanly produced or gathered, if indeed so.
ReplyDeleteIn the bit about the killer swan, are "those" the killer swan and mate or family? Jim
Yes, indeed, and now the killer couple have the Long Water all to themselves.
Delete