The Little Grebe pair and their four chicks, previously only visible at a distance on the Long Water, came right up to the bridge and could be filmed looking down from the parapet. I've left the noisy soundtrack of traffic and passers by unchanged so that you can hear the chicks squeaking.
Later they all crossed the lake to the weeping willow on the other side.
This fish was right at the limit of what a Great Crested Grebe chick that size could swallow, and its mother had to keep picking it up and presenting it before the chick got it down.
A Cormorant in the Italian Garden had no difficulty in swallowing a large carp. Thanks to Ahmet Amerikali for this picture.
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A Coot on the Long Water confronted a Black-Headed Gull which had occupied its nest. For a moment it looked as if the gull would win ...
... but the angry Coot soon sent it off.
Three Mute Swans flew up the Serpentine in close formation ...
... and a skein of Greylag Geese passed the big trees by the boathouses.
The Reed Warblers are still here, and Ahmet got a picture of one of them by the Diana fountain.
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The female Little Owl at the Serpentine Gallery was in the big plane tree.
... so the snack was dunked in the water to make it acceptably soggy.
Two Jackdaws turned up on the lawn nearby and set to work opening the peanuts I gave them.
One of the tatty Jays in the Flower Walk was also waiting for one ...
... and a Blue Tit came out for a pine nut.
Long-Tailed Tits were at work in an almost leafless horse chestnut tree hit by both drought and leaf miner moth.
A Great Tit waited among ripening holly berries near Temple Gate.
A Common Carder bee browsed on yet another kind of vervain in a planter in the Italian Garden, Tuberous Vervain, Verbena rigida. I had no idea there were so many species of this plant.
I’m planning to visit the park tomorrow and am hoping that the Little Grebe family will be visible. It’s good that the 4 chicks are doing well
ReplyDeleteIt looks as if they've abandoned the nest and started the usual Little Grebe circular tour of the lake mostly under the cover of marginal plants. Hope they're in a visible place when you come. I was very lucky today.
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