Sleeping Swans and other park life…

We seem to have entered a cold spell. The air is sharp, though for a few moments today the sun tried to break through. It didn't last.

The whooper swans appear to be a winter fixture in the park. Yesterday they were quite lively.

Today, they were quite sleepy :zzz:

The squirrels, on the other hand, were as lively as can be, busy putting on weight for winter. This first one caught me by surprise. I heard a noise coming from the bottom of a rubbish bin, peered in, and this little thing jumped out.

And this one was defending its nuts against all comers!

While yet another of the clan decided that a seat at the high table was the order of the day.

And that would have been that… except as I was leaving the park I was startled by a mass of pigeons taking to the wing. Usually the cause is obvious… someone scattering seed for them; but not this time. This time I looked up, and high above the London skyline two peregrines were circling. I'm using a 200mm lens for my London shots (It's reasonably portable and about an ideal length for most of the park inhabitants), so this is a massively aggressive crop. Better than nothing though.

To close though, I'll use the most familiar of all the familiar faces: Bold, curled up in a corner of the garden.

Nature Blog Network
Camera note: all shots taken with the EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM, except the fox which was photographed with the EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens.

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This Post Has 14 Comments

  1. Ukwildlife

    23 Nov 2010

    In all the times I visited Regents Park I never saw a peregrine!

    Great photos

  2. Words

    23 Nov 2010

    Yes, but you've seen owls there if I recall correctly! 🙂

  3. Cynthia23

    24 Nov 2010

    Hahahah … so many giggles from the squirrel photos! Wonderful to visit here, Words!

  4. serola

    24 Nov 2010

    Squirrel and pigeon is the best :up:

  5. Words

    24 Nov 2010

    Erwin, thanks!

  6. Words

    24 Nov 2010

    Cynthia, yes I'm surrounded by squirrels at the moment. They are such good (and silly) subjects. 😆

  7. Words

    24 Nov 2010

    Sami, yes I liked that one. I took quite a few in that sequence.

  8. gdare

    25 Nov 2010

    Do the squirrels in London go to winter sleep? It would be about a time now, right?

  9. Localart

    25 Nov 2010

    great photos

  10. SittingFox

    25 Nov 2010

    Oh wow! I'd have loved to have seen a peregrine on my stroll around St James' Park yesterday.

    Those squirrels :insane: I wonder if anyone has ever tried to estimate the London population!

  11. Words

    25 Nov 2010

    Darko, I'll have to let you know whether they hibernate. They may go quiet, but I wouldn't be surprised if they emerge regularly (given the amount of available food). I should find out over the next few weeks.

  12. Words

    25 Nov 2010

    Jack, thanks!

  13. Words

    25 Nov 2010

    Adele, the peregrines were a treat. I think there's a roost at Tate Modern (and possibly elsewhere) so keep your eyes peeled! Yes, it would be interesting to know just how many squirrels London has, but I'd hate to be the one to count them :confused:

  14. Wulpen

    19 Oct 2012

    Lovely :up:

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