Blue Tits getting bolder

Blue Tits are generally much shyer than Great Tits, and reluctant to come to your hand to take seeds. But word seems to be getting round that it's safe, and there are now three in the Flower Walk that will do this. Today one came out on the north side of the leaf yard, a place not much visited by humans.

A Robin sang cheerfully in the Flower Walk. The Robins here are quieter than the ones in the Rose Garden, as they don't have so much noise to contend with. Even when the Wasteland isn't roaring away the Rose Garden is right next to the heavy traffic at Hyde Park Corner.

The small birds in the Rose Garden are also harder to see, as they lurk in the many bushes. Today a Wren was just about visible.

A Dunnock perched in a rose bush.

As usual, the Little Owl at the Round Pond was lurking at the back of the hole. I went past again towards sunset hoping he might feel like coming out, but he was in the same place.

The Grey Herons' nest on the island is still occupied, though it's still too early to tell if the pair are serious about nesting. One bird was standing in the nest ...

... while the other was in the next tree collecting twigs.

A Cormorant under the edge of the Italian Garden dived for a fish but came up with only a beakful of leaves.

The Little Grebe was still in the fountain. It did one of those grebe wriggles.

You often see Moorhens climbing on the irises, but not usually a Coot.

The new pair of Mute Swans were preening together.

The male went under the spray of the fountain and had a mighty splash.

This Canada Goose was one of several waterfowl slurping something off the surface of the Serpentine. I couldn't see what it was. The water is quite clear now, with no floating algae. Possibly it was tiny transparent water creatures such as Daphnia water fleas.

A pair of Gadwalls feeding peacefully at the edge were chased away repeatedly by a Coot in a bad mood.

Six Buff-Tailed Bumblebees were visible in the Rose Garden, all on the two mahonia bushes. The flowers here are beginning to wither, but the hellebore will be out soon and they are happy to feed on that.