tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post1558558271953967355..comments2024-03-19T09:23:36.864+00:00Comments on Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park birds: Ralph Hancockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-37058687263975034642014-04-08T00:51:32.337+01:002014-04-08T00:51:32.337+01:00Gadwall discrimination against Red Crested Pochard...Gadwall discrimination against Red Crested Pochard: avian xenophobia? Anti-feralism? <br /><br />Perhaps they fear its bright colours attract predators especially foxes, but then it could dive leaving them in the firing line? Or they associate its eyes or other colours with sharp-beaked grebes, coots or moorhens and also know it dives, hence it unsettles them?<br /><br />In Golders Hill Park in the late '70s, Red Crested Pochards were among the few survivors of a lovely pinioned collection devastated apparently by nightly fox raids and for many years to date, the only pinioned waterfowl they have left out in the Lily Pond have been diving ducks. Jim, n. London.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-69466823742689047652014-04-08T00:26:49.808+01:002014-04-08T00:26:49.808+01:00Thanks. They're on the north side of the Peter...Thanks. They're on the north side of the Peter Pan waterfront. I know about Agaricus xanthodermus, and they weren't that, because the two that I photographed upside down had been roughly knocked over and showed no sign of a yellow stain.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-11523362456247375572014-04-07T23:30:17.106+01:002014-04-07T23:30:17.106+01:00On second thought, having had a better look at the...On second thought, having had a better look at the photo, and in particular at the decurrent gills, I think they are Agrocybe cylindracea. Will confirm tomorrow. <br />MarioAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-57856703040460100092014-04-07T23:10:45.260+01:002014-04-07T23:10:45.260+01:00Your mushroms are not St George's, which as yo...Your mushroms are not St George's, which as you say have white gills and don't have a ring. They look to me like Agaricus xanthodermus, the Yellow stainer, which is similar to the Horse Mushroom, but turn a very bright yellow on bruising and have a very unpleasant urine-like smell, as well as causing stomach upsets to those who get them confused with the very edible horse mushrooms. I will have a look tomorrow, because I also know that on the roots of the black poplar in front of Peter Pan grows Agrocybe cylindracea, the Poplar Fieldcap.<br />MarioAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-48053914276780296812014-04-07T22:46:45.036+01:002014-04-07T22:46:45.036+01:00He seemed completely unconcerned about me being th...He seemed completely unconcerned about me being there, and then seemed to hear something else and flew off to the leaf yard.<br />MarkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-46190965926729631512014-04-07T22:00:39.055+01:002014-04-07T22:00:39.055+01:00Thanks, it's a good picture. Must be the male ...Thanks, it's a good picture. Must be the male -- the female wouldn't sit there staring at you like that.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-74856173827814733612014-04-07T21:28:26.048+01:002014-04-07T21:28:26.048+01:00Male (?) Little Owl was in the tree again at 19:30...Male (?) Little Owl was in the tree again at 19:30 after the rain.<br /><br />https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/74836378/DSC_8888.jpgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com