Birds, flowers and other sights in Regent's Park, London - 15th September 2024

I hadn't visited Regent's Park for some time, so decided to go there on a sunny day.  Two Grey Herons were looking uncomfortable with one another on the side of the lake.

Suddenly the younger bird chased the older one away

There were some pretty Cyclamen amongst fallen leaves

A propeller plane with an RAF logo on the side flew over the park. I believe that it was an Avro Lancaster that was taking part in a Battle of Britain flight that day.

I have no idea who these people are or what they were doing on the other side of the lake.  I liked the fan-shaped headdresses worn by the ladies!

Two Cormorants were resting together on the large pebbles

One of the paths in the park runs along one side of London Zoo.  There is only one place where animals can be seen from the path - Camels in the children's section of the zoo.

I visited the Winter Garden, where I saw some Autumn Crocus

Pampas grass

Shrubs and trees

and this flower

I passed a Rowan tree with lots of red berries while I was walking to the Inner Circle

There were lots of beautiful roses in the inner circle part of the park

Then I went to the secret garden just off the road round the Inner Circle

Impressive vase with flowers at the end of the long entrance to the garden

I sat on a bench below these lovely purple Clematis flowers

I was joined by a nearby friend while I was sitting on the bench

The Robin came so close that I could have accidentally trodden on it if I had decided to stand up!

When I left the bench, the Robin flew onto the back of it

The lovely bench in front of the Clematis arbour

Large flowers in the secret garden

Then back to Regent's Park and more beautiful roses

 

Baby on board - Great Crested Grebes in Regent's Park

Last week the sun came out and I took myself off, with camera, for a wildlife-seeking walk round the lake in Regent's Park.  In the middle of the widest part of the long narrow lake in the park, and some distance away, I saw a Great Crested Grebe floating around.  It was only when I downloaded my photographs onto the computer that I saw that there was a striped little baby chick on board.  In the picture below, it's head can just be seen on the back of the bird.

The Great Crested Grebe is sleeping and the chick's head can hardly be seen on it's back.

The partner Great Crested Grebe then swam over and joined the baby boat.  A small tasty (to Grebes) morsel can be seen in it's beak.  It was feeding time for the chick.  Of course, until I looked at the photos later on, I was completely unaware that this was going on!

There is more food in the beak of the bird on the left, but now there is no sign of the chick as it is on the other side of the partner bird.

The grocery delivery bird took a drink, or washed it's beak - not sure which!

Here it is giving more food to the now invisible chick.

I took several photos of both Great Crested Grebes, but this is one of a parent bird on its own.

More feeding took place, with the striped head now being clearly seen on the back of the baby boat.

All food having been delivered for the time being, the grocery parent went swimming off along the lake.

I walked round the end of the lake to the opposite side where I was slightly nearer to the Great Crested Grebe, though I was still completely unaware of the additional passenger.  The chick's striped head can be seen below it's parent's beak.  The adult has now gone back into relaxed sleepy mode now that the baby has been fed.

I must say that I was absolutely thrilled when I looked at the photographs properly and discovered the chick.  I would have taken even more photographs had it known it was riding on the back of the adult bird.