A Blackcap sang at Mount Gate in front of a cherry tree with pink blossom.
A Dunnock appeared for a moment behind the railings.
A pair of Long-Tailed Tits flitted around in the Flower Walk. I think they get that bend in their tail from sitting in the nest. It straightens out after a few minutes' flying.
One of the Blue Tits in the Dell is now coming to my hand to take pine nuts.
Ahmet Amerikali found the Cetti's Warbler at the Vista again. Probably the reason why they are more visible here than anywhere else is that they have to approach the edge of the bushes before crossing the gap. The first time I got a reasonable picture of one, way back in 2015, was here too.
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A male Blackbird foraging on the lawn under the Henry Moore sculpture sang a couple of short phrases.
Both the Grey Wagtails were hunting from the posts at the bridge. This is the male.
One of the young Grey Herons from the second nest had come down on to a small tree on the shore. They have been ranging around quite a lot, and I'm sure it could get back to the nest ...
... where the other two were still in place.
A dramatic picture by Ahmet: a Great Crested Grebe under the Italian Garden with a perch that it only just managed to swallow.
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A second Coot nest has hatched out, with five chicks visible, a short way south of the Peter Pan waterfront.
The five Egyptian goslings at the Lido annoyed their mother by fidgeting around when she wanted a rest.
The female Mute Swan nesting east of the Lido, 4FUF, was taking a turn off the nest. She looked at four of the six older Egyptian goslings. The other two were just along the shore. I couldn't see any eggs in the swan's nest, but they are good at covering them up when they leave.
Two Canada x Greylag Goose hybrids cruised under the bridge. Despite their different appearance they're quite likely to be siblings. These hybrids come out very variable.
The Canadas nesting on the Long Water were in place and all was peaceful. The gander may dislike the Coots nesting here but he won't be able to get rid of them.
Joan Chatterley found a good number of Mandarins on the lake in Battersea Park. They seem to come and go at random. Sometimes there aren't any.
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There's a place in the Flower Walk where Speckled Wood butterflies appear every year. Today I saw six.
A very small bee rested on a polyanthus leaf in the Rose Garden. It looks like one of the many species of Andrena mining bees.
Lovely shot of the Blackcap. I seem to be hearing their remarkable song more frequently this year than the previous few, but it may be my memory playing tricks.
ReplyDeleteI think there really are a lot this year. At least half a dozen males were singing in Kensington Gardens.
DeleteThe duckling aren't in any danger from her, I hope.
ReplyDeleteSeeing a Blackbird dart into a run and then stop, sing, and dart again will never not be funny. They have such a funny way or charging straight ahead, head lowered. Like tiny hornless bulls.
Congratulations on the picture of the Cetti: an oldie, but a goldie.
Tinúviel
I don't think they're in any danger, but if the swan starts prodding them she will find herself being savaged by a furious Egytptian mother.
DeleteThe 2015 picture of the Cetti is here. It was furiously shouting at something, a Magpie I thin..