More cygnets

The Mute Swans nesting on the gravel bank in the Long Water were moving around, and clearly something was happening. A closer look showed that at least two cygnets had hatched.

Later their mother took them to the back of the gravel, and you could see that there were five.

Their father chased off a pair of Canada Geese.

Now there is going to be trouble with the dominant pair, who were at Peter Pan with their remaining four cygnets touting for food.

However, the gravel bank offers some protection, as any attacking swan has to cross it to engage the swans on the other side. And the two males seem evenly matched, as we saw from their faceoff yesterday.

Ahmet Amerikali found the neglectful Mandarin mother with her ducklings for a change. I'm sure she let them wander off again after this picture was taken.

There may be a new Grey Heron chick at the west end of the Serpentine island. I heard a faint clacking sound like a newly hatched chick begging. If there is one it won't be visible, as any nest is completely hidden by leaves.

This is one of the teenage herons from the earlier nest, standing in a basket at the edge of the island.

An adult heron was in the water lilies in the Italian Garden, ready to grab a fish unwary enough to come out from under a leaf.

This video shows how little the Grey Wagtail in the Dell has to do to ctach the swarming midges.

The Reed Warbler showed briefly in the reeds under the Italian Garden.

The number of Greenfinches in the park is rising, especially around the Long Water. One male perched in a dead tree on the east side ...

... and here are two more singing.

The Blackcap family near the Henry Moore sculpture could be seen in the bushes. This is a young one.

Two Wrens were lurking in the shade: one behind the Albert Memorial ...

... and the other in the Dell.

The Tawny Owl was inside his tree in the morning but came out in the afternoon.

A patch of white clover in the grass near the Serpentine Gallery attracted several Buff-Tailed Bumblebees.