The female Chaffinch in the Flower Walk is now a widow, as she lost her mate earlier in the year. She was never as bold as he was, but after looking around nervously came down to the flower bed for some pine nuts thrown on the ground.
The old male in the Rose Garden is still with us, and appeared in the hawthorn tree where the small birds tend to gather. His mate, seen yesterday, hadn't come with him.
A Blue Tit waited on a teasel stem ...
... and a Coal Tit paused in a rose bush just long enough for a hasty picture.
A Coal Tit in the Dell was slightly easier to photograph in the corkscrew hazel bush ...
... and a Blue Tit was quite happy to pose in the yew tree.
A Wren lurked in stems beside the Serpentine Road.
This Robin singing at the corner of the Rose Garden isn't a regular customer, but accepted some pine nuts on the ground.
This one in the Flower Walk knows the drill, and perched on my hand to take four.
The white Feral Pigeon at the Lido restaurant has got grubby from scavenging on greasy plates.
There has been a Grey Heron in the east nest on the island for several days. Last year the herons started nesting in the middle of December, and the long season may be getting under way again.
The dominant Black-Headed Gull at the landing stage, going into breeding plumage early ...
... is being followed by another with Bill Haines's blue ring 2303. This is another high-ranking gull usually seen on a sign next to the Dell restaurant.
One of the two young Great Crested Grebes from the east end of the island was with its father but no longer pestering him for food, and spends some time fishing by itself. So it seems to be managing the difficult transition to independence.
The single teenager from the east end of the lake is still the only one I've actually seen catching a fair-sized fish.
The dark Mallard drake with the white bib, seen approaching on the Long Water, is recognisable from a distance with his striking pattern. On the black and dark drakes the normal white neck ring always seems to change into a bib.
The dominant BHG looks like his got a rough rugged beard like face, with all his testosterone going on.
ReplyDeleteSean
I'm hoping she'll make it till spring; I suppose she'll have a new mate then. I'm not sure if chaffinches share resources.
ReplyDeleteGreat news about the two teen Grebes. They are in a fair way to make it to their independence.
Tinúviel
There is a younger male Chaffinch that used to hang around with them, possibly their son. Haven't seen him for a while. But there are quite a few Chaffinches dotted around Kensington Gardens, as you realise in spring when they are singing.
DeleteI think that every year some grebes make it through adolescence. But it's very hard to keep track of them, as they are more mobile than you'd think in spite of seeming barely airworthy. We've had several little bands that have come and gone in recent months. Numbers are well down compared to ten years ago, but much if not all of that is attributable to new wetland reserves along the Thames.
No news of the Mediterranean Gull? I went to search for it on sunday but despite checking every gull quite meticulously I failed to find it.
ReplyDeleteTheodore
Neither did I, yesterday and today. I think it's gone.
Delete