The missing cygnet returns

Swifts whirled in the wind over a tree by the Round Pond.

The male Little Owl looked down from a branch. Both owls are staying very close to last year's nest tree in spite of its occupation by squirrels and Stock Doves. They may be going to reclaim it. I haven't seen a squirrel there for some time, and they could oust the Stock Doves if they exerted themselves.

A Stock Dove wandered through the grass on the Parade Ground looking for tasty leaves. Dandelions are a favourite with many birds.

Young Blue Tits clamoured to be fed in a nearby tree. At this age they are grey rather than blue.

The Long-Tailed Tits in the Rose Garden were hard at work. The growing nestlings are getting noisy.

The Robins at Mount Gate came out for pine nuts, which they carried off to their nest. The young should be out in the bushes soon.

The Song Thrush by Peter Pan was in his favourite holly tree, singing an occasional phrase.

A male Magpie had taken a peanut and his mate fluttered and called for him to give it to her. He didn't, so she flew down and got one for herself.

The two young Grey Herons preened together in an elder bush under their nest on the island.

Coots have made a nest on the chain under the bridge. This is done by draping algae over the chain till the bundle is large enough for twigs to be added to stabilise it, but it's still delicately balanced. I hope it survives the wash of the power boats racing around the lake in the hands of the uncaring new staff.

Glad to say that I was wrong yesterday about the Mute Swans on the Long Water having lost a cygnet. All seven could be seen today by the gravel strip. The seventh must have been simply out of sight yesterday, perhaps lurking under the bowl of the marble fountain.

A swan hurtled up the Vista at zero feet. Why gain altitude when you don't need to?

A swan on the Serpentine preened next to the blond male Egyptian.

The two youngest goslings were just along the shore.

The Egyptian pair at the Henry Moore were resting under the sculpture and there was no sign of the goslings I saw yesterday. Maybe these belonged to the other pair which the residents were fighting with.

There were three Canada x Greylag hybrids at the Triangle, all similar-looking and probably siblings.

Three foxes were trotting around in the Dell.

A Buff-Tailed Bumblebee thickly dusted with white pollen climbed into a foxglove flower.