The second pair of Nuthatches at the southwest corner of the leaf yard are nesting in the large dead chestnut tree that you can see if you stand in front of the notice. They were going in and out of a large hole in the trunk, and here is one of them carrying a feather.

Presumably the nest is in a smaller hole at the back of this large one. The other Nuthatch nest, in the beech tree just across the path, is also active and the male was singing from the top of the tree.

One of the many singing Blackcaps came briefly into view in the Flower Walk.

The park has a small resident population of Blackcaps much increased in the summer by migrants from northern Europe, as is also the case with Blackbirds and other thrushes.

As usual, the Great Crested Grebes occupying the wire basket by the bridge were keeping another pair away, with a good deal of circling and diving and territorial calls. They were not too busy to do a bit of fishing in their well stocked basket.

This one has caught a large perch, which had to be turned round carefully before it could be swallowed, on account of the spines on its dorsal fin.

One of the Little Owls in the chestnut tree near the leaf yard came and looked out of its hole several times., but the warm sunshine didn't tempt it out on to a branch.

Crisp packets are always a popular furnishing material for Coots. They are used entirely for ornament, and have no part in the structure of the nest, which is made entirely of twigs and lined with soft leaves.

This is the nest in the boat in the small boat house.

The workmen who are building the floating reed beds are also remaking the reed bed to the east of the Lido, which was first made in 2010 but almost all the reeds have died. They are laying readymade mats of reeds and other water plants, the same as those they are using on the rafts, but here they are sinking them by putting small stones on top.

Let's hope this planting is more successful than the last one.