House Martins are now definitely making nests in the cornice of the Kuwaiti embassy. This picture shows the downward-facing stucco roses on whose petals they build. It is very hard to see the actual nests even with binoculars; you just see birds flying in and out of the holes. Also, the embassy security men take a poor view of people staring at their building through glasses, let alone taking photographs of it. I was able to take this one because they were distracted by roadworks going on in the street.

There were fewer Swifts, and I think the Swallows have all moved on. They never stay long in the park.

The Mute Swans have taken their seven cygnets out for a small expedition. Here their mother watches them with anxious pride. Later she took them back to the nest and settled down with them all completely hidden under her enormous wings.

A visit to the Tawny Owls' nest tree revealed just one owlet, with the rest completely invisible in the leaves.

The Egyptian Geese have managed to keep all their brood of eight alive. It helps that there are fewer Herring and Lesser Black-Backed Gulls than there were a week ago. But it is also noticeable that some of these birds are much more attentive parents than others, and keep their young close to them.