Mandarin ducklings

Julia found a family of Long-Tailed Tits by the Albert Memorial, and got some fine shots ...

and a lovely video of the fledglings lined up on a twig and one being fed.

A Reed Warbler arrived at the east end of the Lido holding a bit of grass for a nest ...

... and dived into the reeds.

Both the Little Owls at the Round Pond were out in their lime tree, but partly hidden by leaves.

The Coots and all their eight chicks have returned to their original nest in the Italian Garden fountain. Now that the chicks have grown it's a tight squeeze, especially when they all start preening.

The nest at the bridge is hatching out. A parent arrived with a larva and passed it to the one on the nest ...

... who gave it to a chick. I couldn't see how many there were, but the nest had plenty of eggs.

The Coot at the Lido whose nest was stolen by a Grey Heron was back in place -- but the heron can come back any time, and the Coot would be well advised to nest somewhere else. However, Coots don't think like that.

The Mute Swan family on the Long Water were in the same place as yesterday, right next to the Coots' nest.  There really does seem to be some soprt of symbiotic relationship here.

A female Mandarin by the Serpentine island was sheltering ducklings.

There were three of them.

The solitary Red-Crested Pochard drake was here too.

Three Gadwall drakes chased a female around the Long Water.

Dogwood blossom beside the Long Water attracted a Buff-Tailed Bumblebee ...

... a Honeybee ...

... and a Red Admiral butterfly.