The Little Owl by the Queen's Temple ignored the chill and came out on a branch. Assuming that he's the son of the pair at the Serpentine Gallery he has inherited toughness from his father, who used to perch under a sheltering branch when it was raining.
A hawthorn tree at Temple Gate was packed with hungry Great Tits.
There was an unfamiliar Robin near the place where people feed the Rose-Ringed Parakeets. It probably comes there to pick up anything it can eat from the spillages -- which have collected a legion of rats.
The Grey Wagtail was hunting along the edge of the Serpentine. Seconds after I finished filming it, there was a furious tweet as one of the Pied Wagtail pair turned up to chase it away. They regard this shore as their property.
A Jay waited in a plane tree behind the Albert Memorial.
There was another in the red-leafed cherry tree at the bridge, whose leaves remain dark red even when withered.
A Magpie posed in another cherry with conventional yellow leaves ...
... and there was one on the ornate stonework of the Italian Garden.
It was raining when I passed Pigeon Eater.
%20in%20rain%202025%202a.jpg)
A Grey Heron stood in a treetop on the island ...
... and the usual one at the Lido was waiting for a fish to emerge from under the edge of the ramp.
A Cormorant was reflected in the Long Water under the Italian Garden.
A pair of Coots preened each other at the Vista.
The Black Swan was still follwing the Mute female 4GIQ around. I don't think she minds his attention but she isn't enthusiastic about him.
This teenager near the Dell restaurant seems to have flown in. It's not one of the killer swan's six, which are much more evenly grey ...
... and it's not the single youngster from the nest in the reed bed, which was a short way up the shore.
I didn't get to the Robin at Mount Gate until well after sunset, but there was just enough light in the sky for a grainy picture.
I'm still amazed that you're able to tell when there is an unfamiliar Robin, rather than one of the usual customers popping from somewhere else. Years of familiarity and seeing them day after day will do that, I would guess.
ReplyDeleteI see the lonely teen is still on its own. It doesn't look like it needs the company of other swans.
The writing's on the wall for the black swan, unfortunately.
Tinúviel
I knew that Robin was unfamiliar because the only other one that might have been there is a regular customer and comes to my hand.
DeleteThe single teenage swan has never had company, just its parents. It doesn't know what swan social life is like, which will be a shocking discovery for it.
The Black Swan does know what other swans are like, in all their asperity. It also knows what life is like on the Round Pond, very dull, and Barnes Pond which I know little about. But wherever it goes it will never fit in. Every Black Swan that arrives -- this is our third, not counting the short-staying four teenagers -- has had this problem. There are some places in England with actual communities of Black Swans, but so far only a few and not growing noticeably.
Great to see the LIttle Owl come out for a picture!
ReplyDeleteAt a very dull time of year a visit from an owl is all the more appreciated.
Delete