Some exciting news: three Sparrows have been seen at the far northwest corner of Kensington Gardens, next to the bus park. Paul Turner found them this morning, and this is his photograph.

For readers who don't see why this very common bird should be news, I should explain that Sparrows have been almost completely absent from Central London north of the Thames since 2000, roughly over the area of Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster. Occasionally one strays in briefly, and indeed one was seen at Kensington Palace, not far away from today's sighting, a couyple of months ago. But this group is exceptional and a sign that they may be returning.

The Tawny Owl called twice from his nest tree, high up on the north side. Several experienced owl watchers walked round and round the tree with binoculars and couldn't see him in the new foliage, which is already dense. But we will find him soon.

At least the male Little Owl obligingly perched outside last year's nest hole. He is wonderfully well camouflaged against the bare wood of the old chestnut tree, though in fact his plumage evolved to match the sun-bleached landscape of southern Europe.

The female was on the next chestnut tree up the hill, but rushed into the hole as soon as I came round the tree.

The Great Crested Grebes' nest under the willow near the bridge, built earlier then abandoned, has been reoccupied for four days, though no eggs have been laid yet.

I had been thinking that there were no small fish to feed any young grebes that hatch, but it seems that the parents know better. At the other end of the Long Water, under the marble fountain, a Cormorant was fishing inside the submerged wall. In six dives it caught six fish, some of them substantial roach, others like this one small and barely a snack for a Cormorant, but just right for a baby grebe.

A Starling at the Lido café was after other kinds of food. They are particularly fond of chips, and a diner had stopped eating his, though he was still at the table. The bird repeatedly sidled up to the bowl, in spite of being shooed away each time.

A Grey Heron was sunbathing on the Vista in that curious posture that only herons adopt.

At the Serpentine island, a young Herring Gull was playing with yet another toy a bright green sponge cloth, the kind of thing you use for wiping tables.

The pair of Egyptian Geese that have lived on the Vista for years have had another brood. Here is the female looking after the two chicks.

This is the first pair of Egyptians to come to the park, more than eight years ago. Since then these hopelessly incompetent birds  have not managed to retain a single chick for more than two days, and I fear that these two are the survivors of a larger brood and are equally doomed.

We are getting worried about the Mute Swans on the island on the Long Water. The female has not been seen all day. This morning a dead swan was retrieved from the lake, but someone who saw it says that it was a young one still with some grey feathers. More news tomorrow, perhaps.