The smallest Mandarin duckling on the Round Pond had strayed off yet again, and was peeping pathetically.
I herded it back to its mother, passing two dangerous Herring Gulls on the way.
The Mallard family were boldly milling about among the geese.
A Gadwall drake at the Vista was in eclipse, looking frayed and patchy and most unlike his usual tweed-suited smartness.
The four teenage Coots at Peter Pan are still returning to the nest where they were hatched.
Pigeon Eater had struck again in his usual place by the Dell restaurant. The fence put up to stop people feeding birds gives him an undisturbed dining area.
A young Grey Heron standing on the platform at the boathouse caught two very small fish. It's remarkable how far it can reach down without losing its balance.
The male Little Owl at the Serpentine Gallery looked down from the top of the chestnut tree.
Lower in the tree young Great Tits chased their parents.
There are fewer families of Blue Tits, but several young ones were flitting through the trees near the Buck Hill shelter ...
... as well as young Long-Tailed Tits ...
... a young Wren ...
... and an adult Robin.
The undergrowth was full of Meadow Brown butterflies.
A Comma butterfly landed in the hypericum bush at Mount Gate.
The lavender in the Rose Garden was crowded with Honeybees ...
... and a good number of Buff-Tailed Bumblebees, but I couldn't find anything unusual.
The Mount Etna Broom tree by the fountain is erupting with yellow blossom.
I love broom flowers. They are so hardy and keep going even when the rest of flowers have died down.
ReplyDeleteYou take much better care of the little Mandarins than their mother does. Were it not for you the poor thing would be gone.
Tinúviel
Probably that duckling strays the whole time and so far has somehow always managed to get back. But it is running terrible risks. Being the runt, it's still very small and a snack for any gull.
DeleteIt’s always fascinating watching Herons fish. I like it when they catch them with a stabbing strike and penetrate through their prey.
ReplyDeleteSean
I doubt the fish like it though.
Delete