Report of a Skylark

A Grey Wagtail, not seen here for weeks, flew on to a post on the Long Water. From here it went to the Serpentine, but I couldn't find it there. It's young, without a dark bib.

Pied Wagtails seem to call just for the sake of it, even when no other wagtails are anywhere near. The roofs of the two boathouses are a popular hunting ground, as insects lurk between the tiles or slates.

A Robin sang in the shrubbery in the Rose Garden.

The Little Owl had moved to a different branch of her usual horse chestnut tree.

While I was trying to find her, half a dozen Jackdaws arrived to ask politely for peanuts, along with an equal number of pushy Magpies.

I was also approached by Jackdaws in several other places. Since their return about eight years ago their numbers have increased strongly, though we shall never have as many as the hordes seen in Richmond Park, where they have almost ousted the Carrion Crows.

The Peregrines were together again on the barracks tower.

While I was looking at them I met Dave Jordan, one of the Hyde Park managers. He had some interesting news. First, he had seen a Skylark earlier (which I then looked for but didn't find). Second, more reed beds are to be planted around the edge of the Serpentine, which is good news.

He asked me if the Peregrines had bred and I told him no, as there was nowhere on the bare aluminium of the ridge for them to nest; but I had seen them mating there several times and I was sure that if they had a tray of gravel they would nest. He said he would see if he could persuade the Household Cavalry to put one up. I've already spoken to one of the officers but obviously he would have more influence. Let's hope something comes of it.

A young Grey Heron stared into a plane tree on the shore by the island. Maybe it had seen a rat under the tree.

A Lesser Black-Backed Gull with bright yellow feet cruised under the bridge. I wondered if it was the Pigeon Eater, but no ...

... he was in his usual place at the Dell restaurant. He seemed to have killed twice today. His son was finishing the scanty remains of one victim ...

... while the gull himself, feeling peckish again after a large breakfast and lunch, was returning to the other, only to see it carried away by a Herring Gull.

He soothed his hurt feelings by washing his face, like a cat.

Three Cormorants fished together around the old Coot nest at the bridge. It's an efficient technique as fish scared away by one bird may run into the reach of another.

The Black Swan and his white girlfriend grazed together beside the Round Pond.

The dominant Mute Swans took their family on a tour of inspection of the Long Water ...

... then returned to the Serpentine where the teenagers amused themselves by doing some flying practice.

A closer look at what Mario tells me are the male flower buds of the Chinese Water Fir at the Serpentine outflow. They are about the size of petits pois. For his remarks on the common name of the tree, see his comment below.