The Moorhen finds a new mate

Good news: the widowed Moorhen in the Dell has found a new mate, and there is again a pair in the little stream.

Grey Herons are usually afraid of humans and won't let you come within 50 yards of them. But the ones on the Serpentine have really become too familiar as a result of being fed. They come right in to the edge of the lake and even wander among the weekend crowds. This can have bad consequences: one was run over by a bicycle a couple of years ago.

The two young herons are still keeping a proper distance, and like to stand on the posts at the island.

Even the Great Crested Grebes, which usually completely ignore creatures on the land, are mildly interested in the milling human throng onshore.

One stretched its wings in the shadow of the island.

The male Mute Swan from the nest east of the Lido guarded the eggs while his mate was away feeding. There are now four eggs in the nest, according to someone who saw her covering them before going away.

The Mallard drakes are maddened by spring hormones. If a female can't be found they will chase males.

Three Herring Gulls hung out together on the lake. They take four years to grow up completely, and the one on the right is coming up to three years old and still has traces of tweedy juvenile plumage.

Despite the crowds, the Tawny Owl was alone when I visited the tree in the morning and afternoon. Here he is enjoying the afternoon sunshine.

Neil found a couple of Stock Doves looking into the hole when he was away yesterday. These have occupied the nearby hole formerly used by the Little Owl pair that arrived in 2012.

He also got another excellent picture of the Robin in the Flower Walk feeding his mate with a pine nut.

Today the Robin was in the same flower bed and came out to be fed, but there was no sign of her. She may already be nesting.

The Chaffinches behind the Albert Memorial are also expecting pine nuts.

A Pied Wagtail flew over the Serpentine several times, disturbed by people and dogs on the edge, but did come down during a quieter moment.

A pair of Wood Pigeons preened each other in the Dell.

A Wren sang in an Italian Alder tree on Buck Hill. Alders are popular with seed-eating birds because of their long-lasting black fruits, but these trees also seem to attract insect eaters.

A Grey Squirrel ate a budding spike of horse chestnut blossom.

There seems to be an unusually large number of Hairy-Footed Flower Bees. Here is a male on a wallflower in the Flower Walk ...

... and more were browsing on a new growth of pulmonaria in the Rose Garden.