More sunshine, and more opportunities to watch the hub of avian activity known as Regent's Park. As a side note the management of the park (along with the other Royal Parks in London) is about to be handed over to the mayor. We can only hope that they don't become political footballs in the future.
But to the birds… I'll start today with the Egyptian (or Nile) geese. These bespectacled birds are among the less numerous in the park, which is generally dominated by the Canada geese and Greylags. They are quite charming though.
The swans were about as well. It seems to be just the mute swans at the moment (the whoopers seemingly having left the park, or moved to another area within it). There are several mutes on the water, with some hulking juveniles as well. This is one of the adults.
The herons are still busy with their nests, and are quite protective of them. I witnessed a small spat between two herons, with the interloper being noisily driven off.
These last three pictures are of the smaller water fowl, but I liked the shots and as it's my blog I'm posting them! First a coot, running on water.
Next a great crested grebe…
And finally, for prettiness, a red-crested pochard. They really are a joy to see.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM.
cakkleberrylane
20 Jan 2011Just beautiful! The coot running on the water is so funny! Such a wondeful variety of birds!
wellisteffi
20 Jan 2011Great pictures and a known
Face I have seen.
So there is not only in our Egyptian Geese,
but also with you. 😀
RobinL
20 Jan 2011Words, wonderful shots. The Egyptians seem so our of place somehow. We have some of them at the local zoo, and they seem the same way. Probably because they look so odd!
SittingFox
20 Jan 2011I was admiring the red-headed pochards in St James' yesterday 🙂
That swan looks menacing. But I like Egyptian geese. We had a pair on the lake at the UEA for some reason!
Words
20 Jan 2011Steffi, the Egyptian geese are the most interesting of the geese in the park, for behaviour and for their look. They tend to be in much smaller groups, often just a pair together.
Words
20 Jan 2011Adele, the pochards are among the most striking of the various ducks. I'm wary of the swans but I probably needn't be seeing just how comfortable they are with tourists! Still, a long lens gives some protection… or distance.
Words
20 Jan 2011Robin, they are very strange looking birds, but quite pretty in an ugly sort of way :left:
Words
20 Jan 2011Lois, the coots really do seem to run on the surface. Great footwork on their part. They seem to prefer it to flying.
Mickeyjoe-Irl
20 Jan 2011I'm quite surprised to learn that there are Herons nesting in the middle of London.
Words
20 Jan 2011Mick, there certainly are. Loads of them!!! It's utterly disconcerting the first time you see them 🙂
wellisteffi
21 Jan 2011For us, it is also a pair,Words.
Have you seen my fox and Wolf pictures from the zoo?
There was a red fox as on your image.
http://my.opera.com/wellisteffi/blog/2011/01/20/wormser-zoo
gdare
21 Jan 2011A spring came earlier to England? :left: It is snowing here….
Words
22 Jan 2011Darko, I'm not sure whether we will get a second burst of winter. February is usually cold, but you can never tell. I hope you are coping with the snow better than we did!
Words
22 Jan 2011Steffi, it's interesting to see the way different species of geese behave.Nice photos on your blog :up: