A very happy Christmas to all readers.

On a sunny day the park was crowded, so there was not much to see. But a pair of Cormorants at the island were having a rare moment of affection.

One of the young Herring Gulls was trying to walk along the line of buoys at the edge of the Lido swimming area. Every time it stepped on one, the buoy revolved, and it had to jump on to the next one. After it had fallen into the water twice it gave up this frustrating pursuit.

The odd little Greylag Goose with white-flecked feathers was playing with a dead leaf.

A Blackbird near the Rima relief had found a large pile of fallen leaves swept up by the gardeners, and was rummaging briskly in them looking for insects.

Nearby, two Ring-Necked Parakeets were trying unsuccessfully to get into a feeder.

A first-year Grey Heron, still mostly in pale grey plumage, was waiting patiently on the small rock next to the Italian Garden for a fish to swim by.

And a Great Crested Grebe was doing what a grebe does best: resting.

The day wouldn't have been complete without seeing the male Tawny Owl peacefully dozing in his usual place on the nest tree.