The Bearded Tits have returned to the reed bed in front of the Diana fountain, to the pleasure of the photographers who had turned up on a sunny Saturday.

The RSPB have set up their caravan in the park and were taking people to see these famous birds. Normally the celebrity for their annual visit is the male Tawny Owl, but no one knows where he is at the moment.

Elsewhere there was a flurry of nesting activity. Three Grey Herons' nests on the Serpentine island are occupied, but when I looked closer I saw that one of the occupants was an Egyptian Goose.

They have been in this nest before in recent days; it is the big old nest from last year. It will be interesting to see if there is an attempt to throw them out. Egyptian geese are aggressive but the heron's terrible beak would win the argument, I think.

A pair of Stock Doves were exploring nest holes in a tree at the bottom of Buck Hill.

Looking back to the bird I photographed in the rain on 10 February, and thought was a Stock Dove, but someone else thought was a Wood Pigeon, I think I was right. They do look similar seen from below when there is no clue as to their size, and you can't see the Wood Pigeon's white collar or the Stock Dove's distinctive dark eyes. From any other angle the difference is immediately obvious.

A common town pigeon, or Feral Rock Dove as one should say (but who does?), was trying his luck with a female, all puffed up to make himself look as large and attractive as possible. She was not interested, and flew away.

On the Long Water, a pair of Great Crested Grebes are building a nest in the bushes opposite Peter Pan, and if they persevere with it there should be quite a good view. While I was watching, a Coot tried to claim it and was promptly chased off. You can tell from the nest's slovenly construction that it was started by a Great Crested Grebe; a Coot's nest is a much more robust thing made properly out of twigs.

A pair of Mute Swans is also showing interest in nesting under the willow tree next to the Italian Garden, but it is too early to say whether they will settle there.