There's a second species of parakeet in London, the monk parakeet. There's a very small population on the Isle of Dogs, which can sometimes be seen in Mudchute Park. They're more common on the continent.
At one time the local council was trying to exterminate the London population, but lots of residents refused to let the pest controllers into their gardens, so the parakeets survived long enough that eventually the council's budget got cut and they gave up.
Here's a picture of the fabled Monk Parakeet taken last week. Not at Mudchute, but Torrox, Spain. I think nowadays the Costa del Sol is probably the easiest place to go (outside of zoos and pet shops) to pretty much guarantee a sighting.
We have a reliable visitor around 21:40 each evening. Here s/he is eating some hedgehog pellets, plus there's a water bowl under a nearby bush. Great excuse to let the garden over grow a bit as well!
Saw this inbetween Chislehurst and Petts wood the other day
And then on our bird feeder, a great spotted woodpecker!
Was the red doe around High Ems way, mate?
Hey mate, not entirely sure where that is, but this was by the Hawkwood estate (there's a house near there called Hawk Wing), if you walk down the gravel path beyond Cooper's school towards Petts Wood, there's a water pool there that dogs play in.
Saw this inbetween Chislehurst and Petts wood the other day
And then on our bird feeder, a great spotted woodpecker!
Was the red doe around High Ems way, mate?
Hey mate, not entirely sure where that is, but this was by the Hawkwood estate (there's a house near there called Hawk Wing), if you walk down the gravel path beyond Cooper's school towards Petts Wood, there's a water pool there that dogs play in.
Absolutely beautiful part of the world.
Yeah I know where you mean mate. Lucky seeing them around there as its pretty locked in by urbanised areas. Wondering if it's a result of burgeoning deer numbers?
This guy landed just as we were walking around a local park. Not unusual to see red tail hawks around here, unusual to get this close, although it didn’t seem to bothered.
I watched this family of Egyptian Geese grow every day from tiny bundles of feathers to fully grown on the steps and beach outside Tate Modern. The 2 parents kept all 5 chicks alive.
I watched this family of Egyptian Geese grow every day from tiny bundles of feathers to fully grown on the steps and beach outside Tate Modern. The 2 parents kept all 5 chicks alive.
My favourite birds!
Currently in Chislehurst we have a pair with 9 chicks that someone had to shepherd across the road as the parents had them on the golf course and then walked them to the pond.
The best bit is I have been feeding the parents since they were little chicks, and now I'm helping them with their own ones!
Unbelievably they are now a couple of months old and all 9 are still with us, best I've ever seen is 4, so your 5 there is incredibly impressive.
I watched this family of Egyptian Geese grow every day from tiny bundles of feathers to fully grown on the steps and beach outside Tate Modern. The 2 parents kept all 5 chicks alive.
My favourite birds!
Currently in Chislehurst we have a pair with 9 chicks that someone had to shepherd across the road as the parents had them on the golf course and then walked them to the pond.
The best bit is I have been feeding the parents since they were little chicks, and now I'm helping them with their own ones!
Unbelievably they are now a couple of months old and all 9 are still with us, best I've ever seen is 4, so your 5 there is incredibly impressive.
In Regents Park it says that you should not feed the birds. Apparently it’s because the bread etc that people usually feed the ducks can give them diabetes. Now I don’t really know whether that is true but it does seem to me logical.
I watched this family of Egyptian Geese grow every day from tiny bundles of feathers to fully grown on the steps and beach outside Tate Modern. The 2 parents kept all 5 chicks alive.
My favourite birds!
Currently in Chislehurst we have a pair with 9 chicks that someone had to shepherd across the road as the parents had them on the golf course and then walked them to the pond.
The best bit is I have been feeding the parents since they were little chicks, and now I'm helping them with their own ones!
Unbelievably they are now a couple of months old and all 9 are still with us, best I've ever seen is 4, so your 5 there is incredibly impressive.
In Regents Park it says that you should not feed the birds. Apparently it’s because the bread etc that people usually feed the ducks can give them diabetes. Now I don’t really know whether that is true but it does seem to me logical.
Bread isn't good for most birds. I do think that parks should have more positive messages though.
Instead of "don't feed the birds" suggest what people should be feeding them with.
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And then on our bird feeder, a great spotted woodpecker!
If I remember correctly there's one or two moth fans in here... This is a leopard moth I believe.
Seen in Woburn so not quite inner city though!
Absolutely beautiful part of the world.
Philodromus waving at the players today.
Yes, I've no idea why I typed crane, I think I must have been influenced by one of the construction sites I walked past, and all their cranes!
Currently in Chislehurst we have a pair with 9 chicks that someone had to shepherd across the road as the parents had them on the golf course and then walked them to the pond.
The best bit is I have been feeding the parents since they were little chicks, and now I'm helping them with their own ones!
Unbelievably they are now a couple of months old and all 9 are still with us, best I've ever seen is 4, so your 5 there is incredibly impressive.
Instead of "don't feed the birds" suggest what people should be feeding them with.