The pair of Goldcrests in the yew tree near the bridge were bustling around, and the male was singing loudly.

One of them was seen carrying an insect. It's improbable that they have started nesting already. Possibly male Goldcrests, like tits and Robins, present females with food before they nest to show that they will be good providers when the females are sitting.

The Great Crested Grebes at the island are now nesting seriously. Their decision to nest is only partly due to the onset of spring. They also have to have a reasonable supply of small fish.

But it seems that there is one, better than usual at this time of year, because the Kingfisher is catching plenty in the Long Water. Today he was in the bramble patch again, masked by twigs and too far away for a good picture.

Another sign of spring -- a Buff-Tailed Bumblebee on a daffodil near the Vista.

And another -- two Feral Pigeons that clearly fancied each other.

The pair of Nuthatches were in the yew tree at the southwest corner of the leaf yard.

This is a male yew tree, bearing what are not exactly flowers, but clusters of stamens.

The Redwings were under the trees at the bottom of the Parade Ground.

So were a couple of Pied Wagtails, but they were having difficulty in the long grass, and soon flew away to a place where they could run around more easily.

Several Mute Swans have defied the dominant pair on the Long Water and settled down on the bank near the bridge. A pair nested here last year, but the eggs were taken -- we think by humans, though the site is not foxproof either.

There were seven Grey Herons near the Queen's Temple. No one was feeding them, so it's not clear why they gathered here.

A Common Gull soared gracefully over the island.

It still has the speckled head of its winter plumage, but this will soon be replaced by white feathers and the Common Gulls will be off to their breeding grounds in the north.

A Carrion Crow on the railings of the Diana fountain gave me an imperious look.

The female Little Owl near the Henry Moore sculpture was sitting low in her hole to keep out of the chilly wind.