A pair of Mandarins, which have not been seen for some time, appeared on the edge of the Long Water opposite Peter Pan. As soon as they came out of the bushes they were attacked by a Black-Headed Gull for no visible reason. The gull kept flying and pecking at them so that they had to dive, and they eventually retreated into the undergrowth again.

The debris of broken reeds left by the works on the Long Water had attracted some Canada Geese which were apparently eating the fragments.

These didn't seem appetising, but who can predict the tastes of geese? Under the willow near the bridge, a Greylag was chewing a tree root, maybe trying to scrape algae off it.

On the Serpentine, two Shoveller drakes had abandoned their shovelling and come in to the edge to eat algae off the concrete.

Near the island, two young Mute Swans were washing. They had turned it into a game and were rushing around in all directions flapping wildly. It was pleasing to see these gloomy and savage birds having fun for a change.

This is one of the pair of Great Crested Grebes last photographed on Thursday at the east end of the Serpentine. Then it was completely in winter plumage. Now it is beginning to grow the neck ruff that is part of a grebe's summer finery.

The male Tawny Owl was on his usual station guarding the pair's nest.

The Scaup was reported on the Round Pond this morning at 10.30, by David Lindo. But when I went there two hours later it was nowhere to be seen, despite much checking all over the pond with binoculars. At this time there were a lot of large radio-controlled model yachts sailing around. The resident birds are used to these, but perhaps the Scaup was scared, and scarpered.

However, the visit was not in vain, because two Jackdaws came over to be given bits of digestive biscuit, and one of them posed elegantly on a railing.