Young Grey Wagtail back on the rock

The young Grey Wagtail in the Dell -- I think the only one this year -- is often seen on this rock in the little stream.

A Starling shone in the sunlight as it perched on the top of the Buck Hill shelter.

Three good pictures from this side of the Long Water taken by Ahmet Amerikali: a Blackcap ...

... a Chiffchaff ...

... and a Song Thrush.

A Jay in the Flower Walk was impatient at being photographed when it wanted a peanut.

Jackdaws are more polite.

A fine shot by Mark Williams of a pair of Carrion Crows in St James's Park feeling hot. It wasn't all that warm but black feathers do absorb the heat.

The male Little Owl at the Round Pond looked down from his usual horse chestnut.

The female Peregrine was by herself on the tower.

A Coot brought a menu to the nest at the Dell restaurant, which contains large amounts of menus and cutlery.

It looks as if the second pair of Coots in the Italian Garden are down to two chicks, although the first pair still have all their seven.

Two pictures by Mark Williams of the incident in the Long Water two days ago when the Mute cygnet was grabbed by a pike. The parents look for the cygnet, which is under water.

It escapes, coming up bedraggled but unhurt.

Comments have suggested that it was quite a small pike. One of the big ones here would have had the cygnet for sure. Anyway, it seems to have completely recovered from its experience and when you look at the two now you can't tell which is which.

Three sets of two Greylag goslings on the south side of the Serpentine, where their parents have gathered for mutual security -- although they don't share childcare like Canada Geese. The goslings are now large enough to be out of danger from Herring Gulls.

For several years two three-quarters Bar-Headed x one-quarter Greylag Geese have been coming from their native St James's Park to moult on the Serpentine. They were both here today.

A Buff-Tailed Bumblebee browsed on catmint in the Italian Garden.

A male Black-Tailed Skimmer dragonfly sunned himself on the granite kerb at the edge of the Serpentine.

A female perched on a stem in the Rose Garden, looking particularly stylish.