A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming in the leaf yard.

There is a group of dead trees near the southwest corner of the enclosure that these birds like, and two pairs have been seen in previous years.

A pair of Greylag Geese were mating on the Serpentine.

Their attempts at breeding are often foiled, since the park staff are trying to keep their numbers down and, if they find a nest, prick their eggs to make them infertile. However, usually at least one couple manages to elude them and raise a brood.

The Egyptian Geese are under no such constraint, as they nest in holes in trees well out of harm's way. There are over 40 of them at the Round Pond, undeterred by the fence set up around it while the edge is being repaired. Here is a fine picture taken by Virginia Grey of two of them having a disagreement.

There are only half a dozen on the Serpentine, including some survivors with angel wing, and a pair on the Long Water who graze the new turf under the Henry Moore statue. Two of the Serpentine birds are often seen on the little pond at the top of the waterfall in the Dell, which they are sharing here with a pair of Mallards.

The two Little Grebes are now often in the netting on the east side of the Long Water about 50 yards from the Italian Garden, where a pair nested and bred several years ago. It's too far away for a good picture.

This one dived under the netting and there was a loud kerfuffle as it surfaced, perhaps deliberately, under a Moorhen, which took to the air squawking indignantly.

There were no small birds to be seen in the fenced-off area at the bottom of the Parade Ground. This was not surprising, as a Sparrowhawk was passing over. It was harassed by a Carrion Crow. Sadly, I couldn't get a shot of the fast-moving aerial dispute.

The male Tawny Owl was still inside his tree when I last passed by at 2.15. Probably he came out later. Two of the Jackdaws were strolling around under the tree.