The Kensington Gardens Redwings

The visiting Redwings are gone from the Parade Ground as the laying of new turf nears completion, but there are still some in Kensington Gardens.

Unprotected by a fence and out in the open they are hard to approach, but if you stand still they will forget about you and come down from the trees. They were doing quite well with small worms.

The Goldcrest near Peter Pan was singing and leaping around in the bushes.

There are several Long-Tailed Tits' nests, all so far invisible in the bushes but you can hear the birds and see them flying in and out. This one was in a bramble patch near the Italian Garden.

The Blue Tit with a yellow face came out behind the Albert Memorial. Earlier, Neil wondered whether its face was stained by yellow pollen, but the colour seems to be permanent.

This is one of a pair of Coal Tits here, both of which will come to your hand.

The reliable paperbush in the Flower Walk, whose flowers are remarkably long lasting as well as fragrant, provided a background for another Blue Tit ...

... a Robin ...

... and a male Chaffinch.

This female Chaffinch was at the top of the steps leading down to the bridge.

I couldn't find the Little Grebe despite going round the Italian Garden for a quarter of an hour. I think that the breakdown of the fountains must have reduced its food supply. Or possibly it was feeling the call of spring and flew off to look for a mate.  This picture taken yesterday may be a farewell shot of this amiable bird, which has been here for three months.

A Cormorant in breeding plumage fishing under the marble fountain had a particularly striking colour scheme.

Pairs of Greylag and Canada Geese confronted each other near the boathouses, and there was a brief fight. Afterwards they honked a bit before settling down.

A bold fox has dug an earth in plain view in the shrubbery below the Triangle car park. This is where a black fox was seen a couple of years ago, and it may be the same one.

Some pictures from outside the park. Ahmet Amerikali found the Firecrest in Southwark Park again yesterday. The London Bird Club Wiki is reporting more Firecrests than usual in various parts of London, but not this one.

Joan Chatterley was at Walthamstow Wetlands, where a Kingfisher is showing well ...

... and so is a Goldeneye drake in his very smart breeding plumage.