A Great Black-Backed Gull, probably the same one as was seen on 1 July, was standing on the posts opposite the Peter Pan statue. Compare the size of this enormous bird with that of the Cormorant in front of it. This is the biggest gull in the world, with a wingspan of up to 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m).

A short distance away there was a group of five teenage Mandarin Ducks. These were certainly not hatched on the Long Water, and were probably from the Regents' Canal, the favourite local breeding place of these birds. They are probably descended from captive Mandarins on Regent's Park Lake, but have now become completely native.

The Willow Warbler was singing on the west side of the Lido, in a shrubbery near the edge of the Diana fountain. I got a momentary glimpse of this elusive bird, but some people frightened it off before I could photograph it.

I also tried to get a picture of the Goldcrest family in the Dell, also without success. But how liberating it is to have a digital camera, so that you can waste 50 shots and quietly delete your failures without the humiliation of other people seeing them.

The large carp in the Dell were clearly visible.

A party of Grey Herons had given up trying to catch them, and were on the grass nearby enjoying a brief sunny interval.