The male of the Mute Swan pair on the Long Water has been injured, it seems by a dog belonging to one of the usual idiots who think the law doesn't apply to them. He was holding his leg stiffly and sometimes waving it around, and was clearly in pain, but I don't think the leg was broken. I called Malcolm the Wildlife Officer, but it takes him a while to get over from Richmond so I don't have news of the swan's condition.

The Black Swan and his girlfriend were near the Diana fountain, pushing the other swans around in their usual way. But aggressive as they are, they never cause injury.

Another swan passed a couple of Great Crested Grebes who were enjoying an affectionate display.

On the Serpentine near the bridge, an eddy of wind was driving a red balloon in circles. The Coots were awed by this phenomenon and got out of its way.

Coots can be bolder with balloons, as we saw back in 2012 when one tried to add a silver balloon to its nest as an ornament.

The Pochards are back on the Long Water, at least two dozen of them. They come and go mysteriously, flying by night so you never see them on the move.

Two Cormorants were fishing in the wire baskets near the bridge, catching a lot of small fish.

The pigeon-eating Lesser Black-Backed Gull was also hunting. He lunged at this one, but it escaped by a fraction of an inch.

A Black-Headed Gull on the Long Water was playing with an empty nut packet in an attractive shade of violet.

This female Pied Wagtail was sprinting around on the road at the north edge of the Serpentine, effortlessly dodging passing cyclists, skateboarders and runners. I think it must be the one that has been behaving so fearlessly at the Lido restaurant. These little birds are so fast that human movement is no threat to them.

A foraging flock of Long-Tailed Tits was working its way through the trees next to the Bayswater Road.