The Little Owl on Buck Hill was in the same place on the tall lime tree.
It's a slightly awkward spot to photograph, and you have to go round the tree to find a clear place with the best available light. The owl is high enough not to be worried by this and observes you with mild interest. After a few days he will get bored and stop looking.
A flock of Long-Tailed Tits whizzed through the trees below.
One of the Coal Tits in the Rose Garden stayed still just long enough for a picture.
The male Chaffinch was also here, waiting on a twig for some pine nuts to be thrown on the ground.
A Wood Pigeon stared down from a tree.
The usual Robin at Mount Gate was busy singing at the back of the bushes, but its mate came out.
The Robin at the southwest corner of the bridge is always keen to be fed.
The Song Thrush on the edge of the Diana fountain was enjoying an evening song in a tricky place to photograph.
A Jay looked expectant near the Italian Garden.
On the other side of the Garden a Carrion Crow called from the top of a horse chestnut tree. This is a pink-flowered horse chestnut, smaller and less vigorous than the white-flowered kind and with contorted twigs.
The female Pied Wagtail often seen on the edge of the Serpentine preened on a plastic buoy at the Lido.
Grey Heron pairs usually display to each other, but this one at one of the middle nests on the island wasn't wasting time in courtesies. He just flew in and jumped on his mate. She didn't seem to mind.
The nest at the east end had only one heron in it, but we know that there's a pair here and they are building. So two nests are going ahead.
Two pairs of Coots had a running fight on the Serpentine, causing agitation and chasing in the others around them.
The Moorhen in the Dell was on its favourite rock, undisturbed by Mallards. But it's alone and has been for some time after losing its mate to a fox. Other Moorhens have visited briefly and there have been mild flirtations, but none has taken.
Four Cormorants shone in the sunlight as they preened on the fallen poplar at the Peter Pan waterfront. The one on the left is young, with a white front.
The Black Swan followed 4GIQ across the Serpentine. She wasn't interested and soon went off by herself. I found him on the other side and consoled him with some sunflower seeds.
This female Tufted Duck has a broken leg that has set badly and she can't dive well. But she is staying alive and rushes about indomitably among the Mute Swans and Black-Headed Gulls.
The Wood Pigeon looks well puffed up. I wonder if it takes a lot of energy for them to puff themselves up like that.. I know it's just pushing out the feathers slightly to trap the air insulation, but would it require a constant concentration and physical doing or they can do so with minimal effort involved.
ReplyDeleteCoots look funny when they fight as they are so buoyant, when they attack with the beak they bob up and down, looking a bit like the toy drinking bird.
I always feel for Black Swan when he gets rejected. It is such a shame he cannot be with his own kind. He's time is running out.
Sean
Also, look how cute begging the Jay is trying to get a peanut out of you. It has even ruffled up its throat to look more pleasing. Amazing
ReplyDeleteSean
As long as she's in the water she should be fine, right? It's only if she comes ashore that her leg may be a problem.
ReplyDeleteI assume the Little Owl doesn't know you already. But soon it will. Let's make a wager: I say it'll take less than a fortnight.
Tinúviel
She really does need both legs to dive efficiently. Jenna said that she could only stay submerged for a few seconds. This is a serious handicap and I doubt the poor bird will survive for long.
DeleteI've only seen that owl since yesterday, and I think I must be the first human the owl has seen taking an interest in him. So I have novelty value.