Ring necked parakeet about as exciting as it got here.wife and daughter saw a tatty fox which made everything scatter and a couple of male ruddy ducks present.part of the collection or have they missed a couple...
Six or seven Ring-Necked Parakeets on Wednesday evening behind the cafe.
Lots of captive waterfowl including Smew [displaying four feet from the path], Bar-Headed and Egyptian Geese, Red Crested Pochard, White Headed Duck [I think], Great White Pelicans and Hooded Merganser. I know they're captive but still interesting to be able to observe birds such as Smew at close quarters!
Other birds included Pochard, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Coot, Moorhen, Great Tit, Crow, Jackdaw, Feral Pigeon, Black Headed Gull, Mallard, Collared Dove, Starling, Blackbird and House Sparrow - not bad for central London.
Saint James' Park seemed stuffed with birds yesterday. I was trying to get to Victoria Coach Station but the crowds were huge for the marathon; I had heavy bags and it was raining, plus I had no bins.
Pochard and Tufted Duck were around on the lake, and there were some large gulls, probably Lesser Black Backs? But I wasn't really interested, trying to get through the crowds and rain, which I did.
We spent four days in Greenwich. I heard a Blackcap singing from a garden down here, and I read the local paper and was amused to see a story about Goldfinches where the story claimed that it was rare to see Goldfinches in the city limits - someone had photographed them. But I saw plenty!
Greenwich Park had some good stuff. I heard a probably Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and tried to locate it (the trees were just right) but I couldn't pick it up and as I tried doing so what looked like an escaped domestic parrot/Ring necked Parakeet flew overhead - perhaps this calling was what I initially thought was a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Plus plenty of usual tits and finches, and squirrels posing for pics
Just to resurrect an old thread! Work meeting in offices opposite St James saw an unexpected year tick in the form of four Ring Necked Parakeets... I know they've colonised the outskirts but didn't realise they were in the city. Eider Duck and Red Crested Pochard swimming with Black Swans on the captive front.
just in case other wigganers are wondering the leyther meant fot say,aw reet(slight pause as if interested in reply)as tha sin owt.Most wigganers take extra pies with em when travelling outside the parish boundry.
Ah, the image of Woosey in London in full 'Grease' oufit, hair slicked back, singing all the songs...summer lovin', Grease lightnin', erm and some others, asking all the cockeneys and pearly Kings and Queens where he can find a good pie shop (mash..eels...) and the local birders 'if thas sen eht abeht'...
This is where Canada Geese were first introduced to in the late 17th century for King Charles II wildfowl collection - a now look what's happened The country will be full of 'plastics' before you know it - and that includes the odd Barnacle Goose
Christmas shopping in London !. Hope you're going to tonights Led Zeppelin gig at the O2. I saw them twice at Kebworth in '79. Awesome
__________________
Updated birding videos on You Tube https://www.youtube.com/c/PeteHinesbirding