tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post2710736652732751317..comments2024-03-29T01:41:15.713+00:00Comments on Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park birds: Ralph Hancockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-72273246929991737012018-01-23T11:45:05.739+00:002018-01-23T11:45:05.739+00:00that is a very handsome picture of a waxwing. i wi...that is a very handsome picture of a waxwing. i wish we got more of them in the park. this year seems very waxwing lite judging by the LOndon Bird Wiki.Thanks to Tom for sharing the pic. Mark W2Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-44007288494735117092018-01-23T09:18:54.965+00:002018-01-23T09:18:54.965+00:00Half of them would immediately begin to decorate t...Half of them would immediately begin to decorate the boat while the other half would begin to roundkick each other. I don't think even Wagner would be able to set that to music.Tinúvielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04794275230697959519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-35028905356582812642018-01-23T00:47:28.093+00:002018-01-23T00:47:28.093+00:00Only, coots would never agree.Only, coots would never agree.Ulrikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06022985141813875238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-76841962731219526532018-01-23T00:12:53.816+00:002018-01-23T00:12:53.816+00:00It would be fun to have a Lohengrin swan boat draw...It would be fun to have a Lohengrin swan boat drawn by a line of harnessed Coots.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-6490794898329441912018-01-22T23:15:46.531+00:002018-01-22T23:15:46.531+00:00Thanks! I've never been to Windsor, but next t...Thanks! I've never been to Windsor, but next time we visit the UK we'll make extra sure to go there and see the swans.<br /><br />Stupid thought of the day: my brain is so mushy this time of day that I initially read Ulrike's comment as "using the waterFOWL in the other direction to save energy" and my brain was off picturing swans riding backwards on top of mallards and coots desperately paddling away ...Tinúvielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04794275230697959519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-29356821347445794062018-01-22T22:46:21.123+00:002018-01-22T22:46:21.123+00:00To see this sort of density of swans, go to Windso...To see this sort of density of swans, go to Windsor! I was there recently; the number of Mute Swans near the bridge was quite something. One could observe what strong swimmers they are, going against a very strong tide (and using the waterflow in the other direction to save energy)Ulrikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06022985141813875238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-16620384785654591572018-01-22T19:30:53.200+00:002018-01-22T19:30:53.200+00:00I did manage to identify 'our' swan the la...I did manage to identify 'our' swan the last time I was in St James's Park, so it's not impossible. But as you say, it's a pity she's quietened down.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-74483577010234892182018-01-22T19:29:33.790+00:002018-01-22T19:29:33.790+00:00The figure of 'up to 20 per cent' is for c...The figure of 'up to 20 per cent' is for countries bordering the Baltic, so there may be more farther north. It's from Birkhead M. and Perrins C. 1986, <i>The Mute Swan</i>, Croom Helm, London.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-85464888016332099582018-01-22T19:23:07.877+00:002018-01-22T19:23:07.877+00:00The 'Polish' gene is recessive and on the ...The 'Polish' gene is recessive and on the Z chromosome, so it's a standard sex-linked inheritance and you can get mixed broods. For the same reason, males are rare as they have to inherit two 'Polish' Zs.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-17288961760242678322018-01-22T19:15:34.058+00:002018-01-22T19:15:34.058+00:00There’s a pair of Mute Swans who live in Barnes Po...There’s a pair of Mute Swans who live in Barnes Ponds in London who have had a mixed brood of ‘Polish’ and ‘normal’ cygnets for at least the two years.<br /><br />Thank you for the additional information about ‘our’ Black Swan. I’ll see if I can identify her next time I’m<br />in St James’s ParkIan Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07805150608243315063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-5826456223271110162018-01-22T19:05:39.676+00:002018-01-22T19:05:39.676+00:00Wow, I would love to see so many swans together in...Wow, I would love to see so many swans together in one place! Thank you for the comment on how to tell 'Polish' swans from other birds; I was quite at a loss about that.<br /><br />It makes me sad that our Black Swan appears to have outgrown its hilariously rambunctious tomboy years and has now settled to be a fine proper swan lady like all other lady swans. We will miss her.<br /><br />So many lovely pictures from all places! Thank you so very much to all.Tinúvielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04794275230697959519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-47214320360230786712018-01-22T18:20:19.222+00:002018-01-22T18:20:19.222+00:00Actually, only about 2 percent of the swans in my ...Actually, only about 2 percent of the swans in my photo are 'Polish swans'.<br />Several individuals are well-travelled birds, one of them, for example, made a journey of over 700 kilometres and visited the German island of Rugen.Justyna C.noreply@blogger.com