tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post4823319844666029795..comments2024-03-27T19:59:10.159+00:00Comments on Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park birds: Ralph Hancockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-54230453366692223572016-08-04T19:44:43.339+01:002016-08-04T19:44:43.339+01:00Right, I'll meet you at the south end of the S...Right, I'll meet you at the south end of the Serpentine bridge at 11.30 am.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-90891874174630771782016-08-04T13:54:49.219+01:002016-08-04T13:54:49.219+01:00Thank you, yes please, that would be great. Unless...Thank you, yes please, that would be great. Unless southern trains ruin my day, I will be there in good time.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17194853226620219372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-85271681318118266022016-08-03T23:43:20.257+01:002016-08-03T23:43:20.257+01:00Below are up-to-date directions. But if you are vi...Below are up-to-date directions. But if you are visiting the park on Friday, I can meet you at the south end of the Serpentine bridge at 11.30 am and try to find the owls for you. No guarantees, of course. Just give the word and I'll be there.<br /><br />Little Owls 1<br />The pair are in a tree near the leaf yard, which is the railed enclosure that has the Peter Pan statue on the east side. The tree is an old, very broken sweet chestnut 50 yards from the middle of the south side of the yard, and it has brambles around its base. View it from the west side. On the left of the trunk, the second thick branch from the bottom has two horizontal slits in it next to the trunk. The upper one is the entrance to the owls' hole.<br /><br />(Update: I think the owlets have now been kicked out, and may be anywhere.)<br /><br />Little Owls 2<br />From the Albert Memorial, walk north towards the statue of Physical Energy. When the path intersects the bicycle track, turn left and walk along the track for 50 yards, to the next path that crosses it. Right on the near left corner of the crossing is a big oak tree. Look left for a nearby plane tree. Between these two trees is another oak tree, and the owls' hole is in this. Stand under the plane tree and look at this oak. The hole is in a big branch sticking out the right hand side a little above horizontally -- a large round hole in a large round bulge in the branch.<br /><br />(Update: the owlets are most likely to be found in oak and horse chestnut trees up to 200 yards southwest of here, to the east of the path that leads to Queen's Gate.)<br /><br />Little Owls 3<br />You will need binoculars. Go to the southeast corner of the square enclosure around the sculpture -- that is, the corner on the path nearest to the bridge. Look up the hill to the old brick buildings on the left of the Magazine. One of them has a chimney. The Little Owls' tree is directly in front of that, and the hole is in the left fork of this Y-shaped tree. It's maybe 60 yards up the hill from the path. Don't step off the path when looking: any movement towards the owl makes it dive into its hole.<br /><br />(Update: any of the family may be found in any of this group of tall lime trees, though they are hard to see in the thick leaves.)<br />Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-81989343014612949352016-08-03T21:53:42.226+01:002016-08-03T21:53:42.226+01:00Hi Ralph, I read your blog every day when I get ho...Hi Ralph, I read your blog every day when I get home from work, I love all the drama that goes on! The photo of the common darter is great - plus, the way the light reflects, it looks like it has two white eyes and a big smiley mouth! I love the juvenile starling with its 'half and half' plumage. I am visiting the park on Friday and would love to see the owls - last year I was very lucky to find the female in the chestnut tree by the leaf yard, but I haven't tried looking for the others. I know it's not guaranteed, but please could you post a link to you location descriptions again, so I can try. I know you get asked a lot, but I can't for the life of me find them in your archive, thank you very much. NicolaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17194853226620219372noreply@blogger.com