Heronry report 8: A wander around regents park - with loads of photos
Wednesday, 20. February 2008, 23:50:02
I start today with and admission. I missed something. Apparently some eggs have hatched in the heronry (I wasn't aware any had been laid!) and according to the writer of regents park birds chicks have been heard. Thers no reason to doubt this as this guys obviously know his stuff and I believe surveys the park in the mornings when its quieter.
Anyway on with the report. The light was awful, as the fog never lifted so no photos of herons on the nest. However a foriegn school group turned up and the herons descended from their nests
Anyway on with the report. The light was awful, as the fog never lifted so no photos of herons on the nest. However a foriegn school group turned up and the herons descended from their nests
It was fun to watch them wait there for there moment then nip in and nick the found from under the gulls and geese's noses, or beaks I spose is more appropriate! Once they had the food they wern't about to give it up. This one put on a display to make sure:
They didn't even fear the law! lol:D
Due to the low light most of the inflight shots came out blurry, icluding one of a heron that had just nick a twig off a coot/grebe nest! But this one came out
It was only a metre or so away, and they guys look even bigger in flight!Over in the 'feeding area' some herons were about, this one posing nicely in the daffodils
But there was plenty of over things around too. This squirrel Ive seen running back on forth on saturday and yesterday, as well as today, gathering and then carrying leaves up a tree
This canada goose was also posing in the daffs
and this female tufted duck was having a nice rest and stretch
Back by the heronry this egyptian goose was harassing the other geese to get at the food and then showed no fear practical stepping over my feet to get a drink
The coots were up to there usual violent selfs. here is a photo of 3 simultaneous fights!
A pair of great crested grebes were hunting in front of the island. This one was having far more luck than its partner, catching atleast 2 fish to his none!
I also found the wildlife garden in Regents Park, which happened to be where the fox appeared from yesterday. There I saw a coal tit, which was only my 4th comfirmed sighting
And got closer to a jay than ever before
Further wanderings resulted in this shot of a blackbird in the crocuses
And two greater spotted woodpeckers, one of which is shown here
I also got some nice shots in the wildfowl collections. This red-crested pochard
This pink footed goose
This lesser white fronted goose
This pintail
This rosy bill
And in with them a couple of coots trying to drown each other!
I also saw a carrion crow pecking at a dead duck/coot or something on the island :s
Dont forget the total luner eclipse tonight!
WIDGETIZE
Another nice series - that shot of the heron and officers is great! Also nice to see the squirrel gathering stuff for its dray. The jay is beautiful. I see them here almost every day but they're so flighty that I almost never get any pictures.
By SittingFox, # 21. February 2008, 08:45:49
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