The first butterfly of spring was a male Brimstone at the leaf yard ...
... and a dandelion flower had come out behind the railings at the Triangle.
The Fieldfare was still on the Parade Ground, in a tree.
It flew down to join three Redwings ...
... looking for worms.
The Little Owls at the Round Pond were having trouble with a pair of squirrels that have invaded their hole, as happened last year. They can leave by an upper hole if their usual exit is blocked, but it wasn't till mid-afternoon that the female appeared in a horse chestnut tree.
A Long-Tailed Tit at the leaf yard was pulling little bits of lichen off a tree.
When I went past later on the way to find the owl, the same bird or its mate was in the same place. It had just got a clump of moss and was about to fly off with it.
A Starling at the Round Pond shone in the sunlight.
The usual small birds were waiting in the Rose Garden, including this Blue Tit in a tree.
A Robin at the southwest corner of the bridge is also a regular customer.
The three Grey Heron chicks could be seen in the nest at the east end of the island ...
... and so could the two older ones in the upper nest.
Pigeon Eater was on the Dell restaurant roof gazing down majestically on his territory.
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A pair of Great Crested Grebes were looking their best at Fisherman's Keep.
Coots mated on the nest in the planter in the Italian Garden fountain. The female was at first reluctant to respond to the male's squeaks, but relented.
The Egyptian Geese at the Round Pond have managed to keep all their nine goslings so far. It's a slightly safer place than the main lake, as there are fewer Herring Gulls.
The Black Swan flew to the Round Pond in the morning but returned to the Serpentine early in the afternoon, where it was hanging around with a pair of Mute Swans. I do wish we could find a friend for this restless and lonely bird.
Short of getting the Swan Sanctuary involved, I'm out of ideas.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful Redwing. What a handsome and brave bird (not as handsome as Pigeon Killer, but surely braver pound-for-pound).
I didn't know the Little Owls had two entrances to their nest, but it's a very smart decision.
Tinúviel
Assuming that the Black Swan is male -- which I am fairly sure it as, as it's very large for a Black Swan -- there ios an unattached female in St James's Park, but arranging a meeting involves kidnapping one of them, which it wouldn't like and would probably fly back at once.
DeleteThe Little Owls' tree is hollow from top to bottom and can be entered from its broken top or along the main remaining branch which is also hollow, as well as the owls' usual hole in the side. Owls are excellent climbers and can reach any of these holes from inside.
A splendid photo of the gorgeous GCGs you got. I’m starting to recognise a little bit better at identity the sex’s of them, but these two look a bit similar with their crown shape. You can see slight difference in the beak size and length and general body size, along with their black forecrown width and how normally the males eyes are closer to it. I saw a female at Rainham Marshes where her forecrown starts really narrow from the bill and then widens outwards up the head, where the males was just solid all the way up. They seem to vary a lot in individuals. What stunning looking birds though, when they have that beautiful orange plumage ruff out, with the neck extended upright, cor! Best looking bird in Europe for me.
ReplyDeleteSean
I’m tempted to say male left and female right. Due to wider and thicker crown on the left, but eye if further away, and the left side birds beak looks slimmer and longer. Also the white feathers on the chest give it away as well I think! with more on the female.
DeleteThe main thing is the width of the V of the top crest. Wide for males, narrower for females. Of course there's a lot of individual variation, and even overlap.
DeleteLovely to see the first Brimstone. My wife saw one briefly in our front garden after I'd gone inside.
ReplyDeleteI did see a rapidly flying Peacock at Osterley garden centre a couple of days back but nothing in Richmond Park yesterday.
Glorious weather, lifting everyone's spirits after on of the gloomiest starts to the year.
We have a couple of days more sunshine before the usual Atlantic depressions return. Much needed, and it's splendid to see spring unstoppably unfolding in spite of what the weather throws at us.
DeleteOn the other hand, we're having real British-type weather right now!
DeleteTinúviel
But when scorching summer comes, it'll be a case of forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit.
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