When owls have young and are not actively feeding them, they usually perch in another tree to avoid being pestered. This is the father of at least one Little owlet at the Serpentine Gallery in a lime tree 50 yards from the nest.
He looked around and preened briefly, waiting for the park to close so he could hunt on the ground undisturbed.
A young Magpie knew that a monkey nut contains a tasty treat but hadn't yet mastered the technique of shelling it. This is how they learn.
A Jay waited for a peanut, clinging to the trunk of a plane tree.
A handsome bronze Feral Pigeon perched on a post in the Rose Garden. I think pigeon fanciers call this colour Red.
A Great Tit fledgling in the Dell was still relying on its parents to feed it. I've had one young tit come to my hand directly, but only one so far.
The Grey Heron chicks in the nest at the east end of the island were looking over the edge of the nest, curious about the world outside.
Pigeon Eater has already taken at least one Coot chick from the nest directly below his favourite perch on the roof of the Dell restaurant. There are still two left, and have been for several days, but he seems to be leaving them alone for the time being. He had already eaten a pigeon today, as I found the remains on the path.
The Coots nesting by the bridge have more eggs, in a second attempt this year. You can see three here but there may be more.
The nest on the basket a few yards down the shore has been occupied for more than a fortnight now. It's by no means the worst site, and has a slender chance of success.
On the other side of the lake the Mute Swan 4GIQ was cruising with her single hybrid cygnet.
The Mandarin duckings were trying their luck with some people on a bench. They are both bold and aggressive.
The Pochard on the Long Water brought her duckling over to the Vista to apply for some sunflower hearts.
A Comma butterfly near Peter Pan was giving a good impression of a dead leaf. You can see the little white mark on the underwing that give the butterfly its name.
A Red Admiral butterfly landed on the kerb at the Triangle. It was reluctant to display its wings and this is the best shot I could get.
A Common Blue Damselfly clung to an iris leaf in the Rose Garden. This is a long way from the lake, and evidently they are depending on the Huntress fountain for water.
The clump of eryngium at the east end of the Lido is popular with Honeybees.
The young Magpie has more or less sussed the technique, It just needs more force to penetrate the nut (no pun intended). That's a pretty Feral Pigeon. It doesn't give me a dirty itchy feel sensation like other Ferals, as they just look like grease balls that need a good thorough scrub.
ReplyDeleteSean
Shows what I know. I always thought Mandarins were meek and polite. The more you know.
ReplyDeleteLook at the long-suffering face on the Little Owl father. The kid(s) must be quite the handful.
Tinúviel