The first young Blue Tits are out of their nests, and flitting around in the bushes being fed by their parents.

Most of the Great Crested Grebes have left. I think that the stock of suitable sized fish in the lake is now too low to encourage them to breed. They do this not at any particular time of year, but when they are very well fed, which is a useful indicator because it means that they will be able to find enough food for up to five ravenous chicks. However, the pair at the Serpentine island who lost their nest to a Grey Heron have now rebuilt it, about a yard farther out from the original site. It might be in deep enough water to be safe, but I doubt it. And there is a herons' nest in a tree only 30 ft away.

I am still not sure whether there is another grebes' nest in the rushes by the Serpentine outflow, but I think so, as one bird of the pair was hanging around outside the netting, probably indicating that its mate was on the nest.

There were still a few Swifts, flying high over the lake but audible. It is remarkable how far their screaming calls carry.

The House Martins at the embassies are constantly visiting their nest sites. This picture shows how the nest is fitted in behind the plaster rose in the bottom of the cornice. It is an ideal place, saving a lot of building work; no wonder the birds come back to this place year after year.

All the Mute Swans' cygnets and the eight young Egyptian geese were present and in good order.

Here is another of Andrew's superb pictures. You might think that this is a Lesser Black-Backed Gull, but he tells me that it is a Yellow-Legged Gull, its grey back looking darker than usual because its wings are raised as it takes off from the water. These birds are the same colour as Herring Gulls but distinguishable by their bright yellow legs.