3rd DECEMBER 2006.
HYDE PARK / KENSINGTON GARDENS 2.
HYDE PARK / KENSINGTON GARDENS 2.
I made the journey up to HP/KG for one specific reason. I had been on a ‘Gull I.D.’ walk and talk at the London WWT yesterday and was determined to see the Yellow Legged Gull that has most of the London ‘birders’ talking about its’ markings. Having learned yesterday that the markings will soon start to disappear as the gull moves into his ‘summer’ dress, I wanted to see the marks for myself. The streaking about the head, to my untrained and inexperienced eyes did still look to be unusual and so I shall follow the continuing story about this gulls’ ancestry with interest. I looked in the most obvious place for him to start off with, which are the posts where he would normally be ‘loafing’.
THE SERPENTINE, DECEMBER 3rd 2006
Photo; Reg Norman
No luck, so I searched the whole of the Long Water and Serpentine. I found him, almost at the extreme end of the Serpentine, in company with two other large gulls feeding on what I took to be a largish fish. Once found he was unmistakeable, the streaking about his head was quite pronounced and extensive. I had about three or four minutes to watch him and then he flew off, back towards his usual haunt! At one point he had turned towards me and opened his mouth as if yawning. I didn’t realise just how big a gulls' gape was!
THE LONG WATER
Photo: Reg Norman
I had already walked the length of the waterway twice and was in no mood to do so again. I had enjoyed myself in the two hours that I was there and again promised myself an ‘all-day’ trip.
I had remembered to stay on the south side of the waterway, which was good, because it was a very bright day (after the terrible gales and storm of the night before) and the glare from the water would have been terrible on the north side.
Although I had been mainly watching the water for signs of the gull, I had still seen various other birds especially in the little waterside ‘gardens’ that were closed to the public. I especially enjoyed watching a Mistle Thrush in ‘The Dell’ jumping up from the ground to grab Yew berries from the bush. I have often seen the thrush but not for such a long time or as close.
I had remembered to stay on the south side of the waterway, which was good, because it was a very bright day (after the terrible gales and storm of the night before) and the glare from the water would have been terrible on the north side.
Although I had been mainly watching the water for signs of the gull, I had still seen various other birds especially in the little waterside ‘gardens’ that were closed to the public. I especially enjoyed watching a Mistle Thrush in ‘The Dell’ jumping up from the ground to grab Yew berries from the bush. I have often seen the thrush but not for such a long time or as close.
THE ITALIAN GARDEN
Photo: Reg Norman
BIRDS SEEN: Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Feral Pigeon, Black Headed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Coot, Moorhen, Long Tailed Tit, Mute Swan, Black Swan, Carrion Crow, Herring Gull, Great Black Backed Gull, Cormorant, Great Crested Grebe, Mallard, Common Gull, Heron, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Magpie, Ring Necked Parakeet, Shoveller, Wood Pigeon, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Wren, Yellow Legged Gull, Jay, Starling, Mistle Thrush.
HYBRID: Greylag Goose / Canada Goose.
HYBRID: Greylag Goose / Canada Goose.
