Magpies everywhere

Magpies were everywhere today: a family at the Round Pond ...

... in a willow beside the Serpentine ...

... in the red-leafed cherry tree by the bridge ...

... and on an urn in the Italian Garden.

A pair of Carrion Crows waited on the next urn.

There is now a permanent group of Jackdaws near the boat hire platform. All expect peanuts, which I am getting through at a tremendous rate and buying in 25 lb sacks.

One of the Robins at Mount Gate came out from under a bush.

Blue Tits are as happy upside down as right way up.

The Little Owl at the Round looked round a twig.

Pigeon Eater was pretending to ignore a group of Feral Pigeons, hoping that one of them would be careless and stray into grabbing range.

The Czech Black-Headed Gull, on its usual sign, was haloed by the big wheel of the Winter Wasteland, which is now slowly and noisily being set up.

A Grey Heron fished beside the boathouse. Small fish lurk under the sunken leaves, and there's also a chance of a larger one emerging from the foundations of the building, which rests on concrete beams with gaps underneath.

One of the young Great Crested Grebes was with its father under the edge of the Italian Garden, where the water jets create conditions that attract fish.

By copying its parent it was learning the vital skill of fishing.

A Common Pochard drake at the Lido preened his wings and the finely vermiculated feathers on his back.

The Black Swan on the Round Pond saw someone with a bag that might contain food, and hurried over.