A Winters Day - 22 Jan 17

One of my favourite things to do when visiting London is a walk through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. The bird life here is really special, so after having an amazing day on Saturday with magnificent views of London from the Shard, followed by an excellent meal at Marcus White's Steakhouse in Middlesex Street, Dawn I decided that after a late breakfast in the Hotel Plaza, we would set off to Hyde Park Corner via Waterloo Underground.

Our walk started off at the Rose Gardens in the south-east corner of the park at midday and then it was diagonal route along the Serpentine and Long Water up to the Italian Gardens in Kensington Gardens. The plan was, that once we had finished our walk we would jump on the tube train at Lancaster Gate. However that part of the plan didn't quite work out, as the Tube Station was closed. So our walk was extended a bit as we headed east, back into Hyde Park and up as far as Marble Arch.

The weather was freezing, as it has been for a few days now, but the sun was out and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Perfect conditions for taking a few images along our 2 hour walk..

I also had a quest on this walk and that was to find a Little Owl and a Kingfisher. The latter I missed out on but I did catch a fleeting glimpse of a Little Owl sticking his head out of a hole in a Lime Tree by the Henry Moore Sculpture. Unfortunately he never reappeared again for a photo or for Dawn to see, which was a real shame.

Here are a few images from the Parks and also a link to the top birding Blog in London run by Ralph Hancock, who can be seen below feeding the birds in his hand. Here is his excellent Blog Here

Ralph feeding the birds. A Blue Tit on his finger tips and a Great Tit above his hand.

One of many Ringed-necked Parakeets to be found, not just in Hyde Park and Kensington, but almost the whole of London.

They do strike a lovely pose.

That is quite a formidable beak.

Here in the Rose Garden it was squabbles, arguments and squawking.

A Jay with what looks like a Black Cherry!

One of a pair of Egyptian Geese in the gardens of the Queen Caroline Memorial

The weir at the east end of the Serpentine flowing into the Queen Caroline Memorial gardens.

A Black-headed Gull almost in summer plumage

Here we have a 1st-winter Black-headed Gull feeding in amongst the feral pigeons

Quite a friendly gull, especially for a youngster. Note the straw-coloured legs which will turn red in the Summer.

A friendly looking face. This Grey Squirrel is an opportunist as............

..........as this young lady found out!

Spring is nearly here. Well in London it is as these Snowdrops burst into bloom.

Here along the banks of the Serpentine, the water birds manage to find open water.

Being so close its a wonderful opportunity to see the Swans, Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, Tufted Ducks, Coots and Moorhens. Plus the gulls......

Here we have a Common Gull, a 1st-winter.

And here an adult seems to be looking at his reflection.

An awkward stance if you ask me, but he managed to stay upright despite the crossed feet.

Here another adult Common Gull comes into land...

Brakes on and a slide......

Another in flight.......

I don't know why but this Herring Gull just looks odd. It looks quite small, perhaps a female.

Two Greylag Geese take the air.........

And decide that the grass on the park is more appealing than the frozen Serpentine.

A beautiful iridescent Starling. Those colours are amazing in the sunlight. 

And he was enjoying the Winter Sun, singing his heart out in a tree overhanging the Serpentine

My first Little Grebe of the year. He was up for a few seconds and then disappeared under the water.

Two drake Pochard were just off the island close to the boathouse. It was very dark in this area, so I've just lightened the image slightly. The duck in front is a female Tufted Duck.

Dawn attempts to win over an Egyptian Goose.

Must be friendliest Grey Wagtail I've ever come across. Apparently its the only one in the Park.

A short video of it feeding along the bank.

Another bird that strikes a good pose, Cormorant. Most were very hungry......

......and this one was just feet away from me, feeding on small fry that were inside submerged metal cages. I guess the fish thought they were safe, but that beak managed to find plenty to eat.

A Grey Heron enjoying the sun alongside Long Water.

...........whilst 5 others were "forced" to hunt in the long grass opposite the Henry Moore Sculpture.

Here is another........

.......one in flight......

.....and a juvenile.

It was hard going on the icy surface......

.....and tentative steps were in order.

Another Cormorant which to my astonishment.....

..........flew in and landed in one of the Fountain Pools in the Italian Garden.

The Moorhens were not impressed as it dived around inches from where they perched.

Another Moorhen took refuge under the fountain........

.....before deciding to risk a dip.

Birds Recorded were: 1 Little Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, Egyptian Geese, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Little Owl, Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Jay, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, Chaffinch and Goldfinch. 39 species

Also dozens of Grey Squirrels