A frosty night had left the ground iron hard. These are difficult times for birds that eat worms, such as Blackbirds. This male in the Rose Garden was very shy and retreated before I could give it some raisins.
Looking at a Blue Tit in a tree with fruit I used to think that they were just hunting insects, but I've definitely seen them pecking at the fruit. This one was in a Japanese crabapple by the bridge.
There was a small flock in the Rose Garden eager for pine nuts ...
... and both the Coal Tits turned up.
The pair at the Dell were in the corkscrew hazel bush.
Two Robins in the Triangle shrubbery were too hungry to worry about territory, and came out together to be fed.
The male at Mount Gate ...
... and the female were waiting in their usual places.
A Jay in the box tree at Temple Gate arrived for a peanut.
The female Pied Wagtail was hunting up the edge of the Serpentine, and appeared several times.
The Long Water was partly frozen, giving Black-Headed and Common Gulls a place to loaf around. Two Shoveller drakes cruised by.
The dominant Black-Headed Gull looked over his territory from the Big Bird statue ...
... and the boss of the middle of the Serpentine was at his favourite post.
Pigeon Eater preened his immaculate plumage at the Dell restaurant.
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The bereaved Mute Swan was at the Vista with five of his young ones, They were very subdued, but one roused itself sufficently to shoo a couple of Canada Geese.
The sixth young swan was at Peter Pan, looking really depressed and droopy. I feared it was ill, but later I saw it cruising beside its father and it seemed all right.
The Black Swan was following 4GIQ and a Coot was following them both.
The two Bar-Headed x Greylag Goose hybrids were visiting from St James's Park.
Sir David Attenborough claimed that Pigeon Eaters glossy plumage is due to his rich protein diet in Pigeon meat on his 'Wild London' programme. Very interesting biological fact.
ReplyDeleteSean
Sad to see the sorrowing young swan - glad it perked up. Thanks for the reminder about the difficulties of birds finding food in the freezing winter.
ReplyDeleteAnd on the freezing land, We do what we can to help them, but it can never be much.
DeleteThey do look in mourning, father and kids alike. Underneath all that bulk and all that fury, they are sentimental creatures. About their own families, that is.
ReplyDeleteThank God you're there giving the small birds a fighting chance.
Tinúviel
Now that I think of it - do they have the mental concept of bereavement and mourning? I think they do. They clearly understand the concept "she's dead and won't be coming back".
DeleteTinúviel
Swans can literally die of misery when they lose their mates. They stop eating and pine away.
Delete