Egyptian Geese: fledglings in formation.

More amusing in large ("L").

"British Military Fitness" classes take place on Clapham Common every day; it seems that the fledglings have noticed, and have learned how to form (fairly) well-dressed and orderly lines. Excellent: good show! "As you were".... They had their necks hunkered down on account of the rain.

Argh, but there are only 8 fledglings in this smart line up; the other one was by itself on the island in the middle of the pond. It was not with the others because its legs are both bound in line! ARGH.
I noticed this morning and phoned the RSPCA (they said they'd send someone "right away"), and they hadn't helped it by the time I returned in the early afternoon. My mother and I went to check on it as the light faded (armed with an old towel and scissors so that we could mount our own rescue operation) and it was still in need of help, but we didn't stand a chance of catching it because it was only on the shore very briefly before taking to the water and eventually settling down, alone, on the island.

This is the third of the gos/fledglings that has become entangled, and the fourth bird on the pond. One of the fishermen at the pond today blamed "the children": "they come at the weekend, and don't respect the rules". Classy!

I thought I was going to blip a picture of it all entangled (awful), but snapped this picture this evening in the rain and failing light, and think it seems more positive: they look like a squad posing for a picture before an important mission.