There is a new Mute Swans' nest on the east side of the Long Water next to the bridge, and it already has one egg in it.

This is in addition to at least four eggs in the nest on the little island, and at least two in the reed bed near the Diana fountain. There is probably another nest out of sight on the island. So with luck we should have more cygnets than in the disappointing showing last year.

The Black Swan was also on the island, obsessively building yet another nest, a very uncomfortable looking one made of large sticks. His girlfriend was not with him; she usually isn't when he has an attack of nest building fever.

In the lower heron nest on the island, a bird was standing up and at intervals poking around in the nest. It didn't seem to be turning eggs. Possibly the eggs are hatching and we shall soon see some gawky young birds poking their heads up over the edge of the nest.

The Great Crested Grebes' nest near the bridge -- only feet away from the swans' nest pictured above -- has four eggs in it.

This very ordinary looking picture of a grebe is remarkable only for its location, the Round Pond, where a pair here were busily fishing. Great Crested Grebes usually avoid the Round Pond, although it has plenty of fish in it, because it is too open. Several years ago, a pair tried to make a nest on one of the old water outflow pipes (these were removed in the recent renovation) but gave up after a few days.

In a tree beside the pond, a Green Woodpecker was calling loudly.

The Grey Wagtail was gathering insects on the shore of the Lido.

There were at least ten House Martins over the Serpentine.

It will be worth watching the cornice of the Kuwaiti Embassy over the next few days, where they nest in the square holes with stucco roses in the middle, whose petals make a good base for the nests. You can tell whether a hole is occupied because of the muddy streaks on the white paint.

A Blackcap was singing in a tree on the north shore of the Serpentine near the bridge.

The Little Owl in the lime tree near the Henry Moore sculpture was guarding his nest hole.

There was no sign of the other Little Owls, but in the chestnut tree near the leaf yard there wre three Treecreepers. Here one of them catches an insect.