There are two chicks in the upper Grey Heron nest on the Serpentine island. They are very hard to see from the near side because you are looking up steeply, but can be seen from the other side. Unfortunately that has to be done from across the lake, a distance of 200 yards, so this isn't much of a video. However, you can see that they are already quite well grown, and are exercising their wings.
In comparison this younger chick in the east nest is still a little ball of fluff.
The heron in the west nest was standing on its own ...
... but its mate was close by on a wire basket.
This pair is recognisable, as both have very pink bills. It's normal for herons' bills to get pinker in the breeding season, but these two are the brightest in the park. This also makes it certain that this is the same pair that nested unsuccessfully in the same place last year.
One of last year's young herons is now constantly in the Dell. The little stream is a good fishing place, as it's inaccessible to Cormorants which can't take off in a confined space, and has therefore not been cleaned out by these ravenous birds.
A young Herring Gull tried to keep its balance on the line of buoys at the edge of the Lido swimming area, which revolve under the weight of a large gull. It was more successful than most, which soon fall off.
The Coots that nest every year against a post at Peter Pan have started building again. A Black-Headed Gull scratched itself indifferently.
Two pairs of Egyptian Geese had a noisy confrontation on the boat hire platform ...
... and the shore next to it.
More Gadwalls have arrived in the Italian Garden ...
... ignored by the previous drake, who prefers to stay with his Mallard friend in a different pond.
It was less cold than yesterday. The female Little Owl at the Round Pond stayed in her hole, but felt able to perch a bit higher.
The male Chaffinch spotted me on the edge of the pond, and flew over to demand pine nuts.
One of the Robins at Mount Gate was also insistent.
Both the Coal Tits appeared here. This one confidently collects pine nuts from my hand ...
... but the other is shy and stays at a distance, so it's hard to feed.
The Blue Tits in the Rose Garden are now all coming to be fed ...
... and one of the Robins stood on my hand and took seven pine nuts.
Its mate also turned up and they managed to get quite close to each other without conflict.
Is the Little Owl perching on something when she’s sitting inside the dead tree or clinging onto with her talons, if so that must be very uncomfortable. What’s going on there…?
ReplyDeleteI think there's a slope behind the bottom of the hole. The farther forward she comes, the more of her you can see.
DeleteI like to think she has a completely furnished apartment down there. I imagine her taking her tea, the very image of Queen Victoria.
DeleteI should imagine the buoy is a thing that rolls, and therein lies the appeal?
I am always shocked by how fast little Herons grow.
Tinúviel
Yes, Beatrix Potter would have made much of her.
DeleteI think Herring Gulls, like some of the other very intelligent birds such as Jays and Jackdaws, love showing off their agility.
I think those young herons are about 5 weeks old. Amazing how a diet of solid protein builds them up.