tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post5066545384902536739..comments2024-03-29T01:41:15.713+00:00Comments on Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park birds: Ralph Hancockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-1305244344623753162016-10-29T03:03:47.303+01:002016-10-29T03:03:47.303+01:00Thanks for these useful observations, which I will...Thanks for these useful observations, which I will bear in mind while watching how things develop. The original pigeon-killing gull often leaves his kill for a while, maybe waiting for the latest crop-full of meat to go down. Then it returns, and woe betide any bird stealing a quick snack.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-58375640008402679502016-10-29T02:57:43.305+01:002016-10-29T02:57:43.305+01:00Unsure about this, because the duck is evenly colo...Unsure about this, because the duck is evenly coloured apart from the flight feathers, and this would not be the case if it were stained by the waterRalph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-37099107417038940222016-10-28T22:16:20.194+01:002016-10-28T22:16:20.194+01:00Ralph, you mentioned yesterday that any informatio...Ralph, you mentioned yesterday that any information about gulls’ pigeon hunting is welcome. On Thursday last week I was passing the Round Pond in the early afternoon and saw a Lesser Black Backed catch a pigeon, stab it several times over a minute or so till it showed no more signs of life and then fly off on to the pond. I hung around for about ten minutes expecting it to return to feed but it returned only once (on foot!) to within a cricket square’s length and then left again. There were two other noteworthy points: The ease with which it caught the victim – just one quick sortie into the group and it had one – supports your theory that the pigeons here, unlike the ones at the Dell, have not yet learned to be wary of the gull, and, although a couple of other gulls approached as it was despatching the pigeon, they too left and didn’t return to feed. My first impression was that it had killed for the sake of it, but would it be more likely that it felt insecure in that open area and maybe aware of my interest? And now, having seen your post yesterday, it strikes me that the other two interested gulls fit the description of the Dell gull’s mate and offspring. Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10529596094957534682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-59085167902518109332016-10-28T20:27:04.596+01:002016-10-28T20:27:04.596+01:00Perhaps this explanation (tannins in the water) ac...Perhaps <a href="http://gaylordnelsonaudubon.org/askaudubon/answer-archive/" rel="nofollow">this</a> explanation (tannins in the water) accounts for the tinge of yellow in the Mute Swan's plumage. Do you think this is the case for the swan or the Mallard?<br />Justyna C.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com