In a rather nice pose (against a bare tree) on a statue at Kew.
You know about gulls, right? :D I like this photo. Didn’t think it would come out so nice.
Today wasn’t a hard choice. Wednesday, Mar 26 2008
This is a bird you’ll easily recognise.
Actually called the Indian Blue Peafowl, it’s… well… indian. And there are… three, four? that we saw at Kew… but then we only saw one peahen. There must be an awful lot of competition.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Peafowl
Alba chose. Tuesday, Mar 25 2008
Golden Pheasant and Kew 11:22 pm
Although I’m quite sure she didn’t know what she chose.This is the seemingly shy yet unsubtly stunning Golden Pheasant. It’s chinese. And it’s at Kew. In fact, there are several at Kew. They even have an RSPB page!
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/g/goldenpheasant/
Not much I can say about them, aside from the fact that they are brighter in real life, and my reaction upon seeing one was “HOLY SHIT.”
Easter sunday ! Sunday, Mar 23 2008
Egyptian Geese and Kew 3:00 am
Have an egglayer!
They’re even weirder in real life.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/e/egyptiangoose/index.asp
I didn’t see many – just these – and whilst they look weird, and you can definitely see why they’re called egyptian geese, they’re also rather… cute, really.
Big black birds. Saturday, Mar 22 2008
It is said that, whilst a crow can be mistaken for a raven, you always know a raven when you see it. But here, sat on… yep… a bit above the door of the Temperate House at Kew, this is definitely a crow.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/c/carrioncrow/index.asp
Since the only ravens in London are at the Tower, and have clipped wings, this has to be the infamous carrion crow. And they are definite posers – it’s something about the way they stand, their favoured perches are things that rise out of the surrounding landscape (benches, desks, etc), and the fact that they are sheer black large lumps.
It is easter! Friday, Mar 21 2008
Well, easter friday. So today you shall have that ever brave and ever stupid creature of creation, the Robin.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/r/robin/index.asp
What can you say about the robin that hasn’t been said?
Except that there seem to be a few taken up residence in the Temperate House. Or one. I can’t tell.
Hi duck arse. Tuesday, Mar 18 2008
Chelmsford and Tufted Duck 3:00 am
I was in conniptions of joy when I noticed two ducks on the lake – a stunning black and white and a browny – weren’t just being very unnoticeable, they were diving. Then I was in conniptions of anger as they wouldn’t stop.
I don’t have many photos of them, and the male will certainly have to wait, but this is a female Tufted Duck.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/t/tuftedduck/index.asp
What that doesn’t tell you is that the male is visually stunning. He is a very distinctive bird, and the one on the lake is quite shy; the female will come closer to humans (and other waterfowl). She’s rather nice, she is.
This is his gorgeousness.
They’re both very quiet, though, and easily startled. And if you’ve never tried to catch a diving duck coming back up… well… you have never been so frustrated. ><
It’s also not the most common of birds, either.
Yay! Friday, Mar 14 2008
Chelmsford and Moorhens 3:15 pm
I’ve realised that was the fiftieth post. Fifty days – I didn’t realise I could keep this up for so long. O.O Of course, posting one a day will inevitably run out, as it is difficult to maintain in terms of photographs and your interest (which I may have lost god knows how long ago), but lets see how long I can keep it up, huh?
Onwards and upwards!
More moorhens; this is a pair in the park near the market. One of several pairs in the park, at that. But I went in on a morning and figured that, because it was darn bright for a february morning and I had my camera on me, why not?
Behind them is the river… *thinks* Chelmer. The river Chelmer. The Can is on the other side of town, and runs through the Bunny Walks. In front is a random piece of dried grass. Oh, and the green stuff is normal grass. ;)
To finish… Thursday, Mar 13 2008
Canada Geese and Goose Park 3:00 am
… A Lot of Goose.
These were all photos taken on the first of March in the year of our Lord 2008. GEESE…..
A close up, managed with half zoom and half leaning-over-the-rail-praying-I-didn’t-fall-in-because-the-camera-is-£160-damnit.
Did I mention the torpedoness? Wednesday, Mar 12 2008
Coots and Goose Park 3:00 am
It makes it very annoying for photos.
Coots. Feh.
This bird was possibily breaking the ten mile an hour swimming speed of the lake. *mutter*
