Reed Warblers are always hard to see in the reeds. I heard one singing in the reed bed east of the Lido, and then some bird flew up into a tree and I snatched some hasty shots -- but in fact I seem to have got a female Blackcap. Well, one warbler is as good as another. It looked out ...
... and hung upside down from a twig.
The holly trees at Temple Gate had several families of Great Tits leaping about. A young one came out on a twig for a moment.
Both the male Chaffinches in the Flower Walk arrived to be fed. This is the younger one.
The male Pied Wagtail near the boat hire platform was running around intrepidly between the feet of passing humans.
The male Little Owl at the Serpentine Gallery was in the usual chestnut tree.
As I was taking this picture there was an alarm call of another Little Owl from the other chestnut, probably directed at a Magpie. I couldn't see the owl, but it's an indication that the pair may be nesting in this tree.
Ahmet Amerikali photographed a Cormorant catching a large carp in the Long Water under the marble fountain of the Italian Garden.
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A Grey Heron walked round the lower bowl of the fountain looking for a fish.
Three herons and Pigeon Eater were standing on the posts at the bridge. It's not surprising that the Coot nest here never succeeds.
Coots will make nests just about anywhere, and this pair have decided to build one in the water lilies in the Italian Garden fountains.
The Black Swan was back on the nest sitting on the infertile eggs. He has to realise sooner or later that this is futile, but it doesn't seem to have dawned on him yet. Meanwhile the Coots have taken advantage of his temporary absence to rebuild their nest in the corner.
The 'Polish' Mute swan 4FUJ with pale feet was preening on the shore nearby.
The pair with five cygnets were at Fisherman's Keep looking for someone to beg food from.
The Egyptian Geese by the small boathouses are now down to six goslings, They were resting on the horse ride.
An Egyptian guided her two down the busy path beside the Diana fountain. This wasn't as dangerous as it looked, because the goslings could jump through the railings at any sign of danger.
The Common Pochard on the Long Water is closely guarding her last duckling. If it survives it will be the first time to my knowledge that this species has bred successfully in the park. The little duck is already diving like a pro.
Red-Crested Pochards appear and disappear mysteriously in the park, evidently flying from and to other parks. It's unusual to have four at once.
A pink rose in the Rose Garden clearly showed the fivefold symmetry of all members of the Rosaceae family -- and this includes apples, which always have five pips.
Hi Ralph. There is a pochard with several ducklings in Little Venice right now.
ReplyDeleteJenna
The island at the water 'roundabout' where the Grand Union Canal joins the Regent's Canal has often had Tufted Ducks nesting on it. Maybe the Pochard nested here too.
DeleteThe Chaffinch looks like it has a monobrow. I would love to experience the time dilation of a Pied Wagtail!! It would feel like you're in a rocket travelling at tremendous g force. Your Carp looks more like a Roach to me. Mate, Coots are on another level for nest building! I reckon if a Crocodile was stationary with its mouth wide open, they would still get to work building on its tongue without any sense of danger.
ReplyDeleteSean
Best of luck to the little Pochard. I hope it will beat the odds.
ReplyDeleteThe Reed Warbler raises a tiny crest pretty much in the fashion of a Blue Tit.
I didn't know about the Rosaceae affiliation with the number 5. I'm sure it's random, but it certainly reads like thre premise of a mystery novel.
Tinúviel
I was careless with the alleged Reed Warbler and have had to change the text after publication. There was a Reed Warbler singing in the reeds, but the bird that flew up into a tree was a female Blackcap, and I should have noticed that when looking at the pictures. Both species have little crests that they can put up. Warblers are deceptive and I was deceived.
DeleteThe is a good word for the dispostion of the Rosaceae, 'pentamerous'. Look at any member of the family -- hawthorn, blackberry, the lot -- and you will see some evidence of fivefold symmetry in the flower or fruit.