This is the Robin at the other end of the rival dialogue I filmed yesterday, and again you can hear it being answered from the next bush.
One of the Coal Tits turned up on a rose twig.
The Little Owl seen by the Queen's Temple was the female again. Both are sitting out alternately in the same hole, a good sign.
The Jay was here too, but near the temple and not presenting a threat to the owl.
Another Jay was waiting at Peter Pan. They are organising their winter begging schedule, but I am more than happy to give them peanuts.
The same goes for Magpies, birds that we take for granted but attract oohs and ahs from American visitors. This one was on the east side of the Long Water, but they come out all over Kensington Gardens.
In Hyde Park another perched on a lamp post by the Diana fountain.
The Robin was on the fountain enclosure railings again. It's a new arrival and hasn't yet grasped the idea that people want to feed it ...
... unlike the old regular at Mount Gate, which was back again on the usual place on the railings.
Someone is constantly bringing apples to this place on the east side of the Long Water, cutting them in half and spiking them on the railings. The Rose-Ringed Parakeets love this feeding station, as long as the apples are red -- they are very fussy about this. I don't approve of feeding these invasive pests but they are undeniably pretty.
A Grey Heron flew up out of the top nest on the island and landed in a treetop, from which it kept an eye on the nest.
Another was occupying the nest at the east end. There are definitely thoughts of breeding. It's only a couple of weeks to the time they styarted last year.
The dominant Black-Headed Gull was patrolling his territory on the landing stage. This has nothing to do with breeding, which the gulls do elsewhere. It's about status.
The last remaining Cormorants are clearly finding it hard to catch any more fish. This one was in a pool in the Italian Garden, which they have already emptied of anything not too large or small to eat.
Most of the Great Crested Grebes have now left, including this year's young. I think they all go to the river, upstream from Chiswick. One remained by the Serpentine outflow.
A Moorhen wandered along the edge at the Vista.
Egyptian Geese are halfway between ducks and geese, and something they have from the duck side is brightly coloured plumage. The tiny vermiculations on the beige areas are particularly delicate.
I wonder what went through God's head when He thought: "let's create a bird that's not a goose and not a duck but rather both at the same time".
ReplyDeleteMagpies and Blue Tits are so lovely and exotic-looking it's only excessive familiarity that makes us not constantly admire them open-mouthed.
Does that mean that both Little Owls are sharing the hole?
Tinúviel
The Anatidae are one of the oldest bird families and there were ducks quacking around the feet of the dinosaurs. Vegavis iaai, a diving duck, lived 69 million years ago. So they have had plenty of time to come up with strange intermediate creatures.
DeleteYes, I think there really is a pair of owls in that hole. It may be hard to keep up observations as properly cold weather settles in, and it's remarkable that they have shown in that hole, and even once out on a branch, at this time of year.
There is, or used to be, a ruddy shelduck pair at St James’s Park, a cousin to Egyptian geese. I love their sad-sounding honk.
ReplyDeleteI saw it there once. It was part of the collection, not a wild bird.
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