It was a very cold morning, the first of a freezing spell that is expected to last a fortnight. Hungry Great and Blue Tits and a Robin thronged down to my hand. They will need all the food they can get to survive.

I didn't see the Coal Tit here, so here is a fine portrait of it taken yesterday by Neil.

The Nuthatches had moved down to yew tree near Peter Pan and came to my hand, but I couldn't get a picture under the dark tree.

The Robin in the corkscrew hazel in the Flower Walk was also hungry.

The very bold Wren had come along to the path nearby. It is amazingly unconcerned by the passing people.

The Mistle Thrushes near the Serpentine Gallery are also remarkably calm. I nearly trod on this one, standing still and looking just like a dead leaf, and it flew crossly into a tree and rattled at me.

In the Rose Garden, a male Chaffinch came down to drink at the fountain.

Several Pied Wagtails were trotting along the shore of the Serpentine.

This teenage Wood Pigeon was with a family group in the Diana fountain enclosure. It is just beginning to get its adult white collar.

The hardy Little Owl near the Henry Moore sculpture was out, but sat low to shelter from the biting east wind.

It was changeover time at the Grey Herons' nest on the island. One arrived on the nest ...

... and exchanged courtesies with its mate ...

... which flew away ...

... leaving the other to settle down comfortably on the eggs.

But the courtesies of a pair of Great Crested Grebes were interrupted by a young Mute Swan which cruised straight at them.

A young Herring Gull struggled to balance on an uncomfortable and unstable perch.

A Common Gull was almost fully into its summer plumage, with a white head.

This Common Gull is less than a year old, and just beginning to grow its adult pale grey feathers.