Snobs' Crossing

The pair of Robins that used to come to be fed at the Queen's Gate crossing of the Flower Walk disappeared several months ago, but now there is a new one, which perched expectantly on a branch and flew down to pick up pine nuts from the grass.

This crossing is officially called Snobs'  Crossing, a name that almost no one uses. Perhaps this is because it was where the smart Norland-trained nannies used to meet while wheeling their employers' privileged babies in huge Silver Cross prams.

Ahmet Amerikali found a Chiffchaff here ...

... and a Coal Tit in a yew tree in the Dell.

A Starling at the Lido restaurant scraped the last morsels from a little tub of tartare suace.

A Jackdaw appeared in a dead tree near the Speke obelisk. They are very mobile and can crop up anywhere, but they all know me and expect to be given peanuts.

A Black-Headed Gull on a post at the Vista called to others on adjoing posts. Receiving no reply, it raised its voice.

There was a bit of a breeze, disarranging a young Grey Heron on the roof of the boat hire building.

Cirrocumulus clouds showed there was a strong wind at high altitude.

Another picture by Ahmet: a Cormorant fishing in one of the fountains in the Italian Garden.

I couldn't find the Great Crested Grebe with chicks again. Wherever they have gone they are well hidden, which is good for them but annoying for photographers.

The less advanced nests on the island ...

... under the Dell restaurant balcony ...

... and in the willow at the bridge were all in good order.

The Tufted Duck family relaxed at Peter Pan.

A Mute Swan having a peaceful wash on the Serpentine was attacked by another for no reason at all.

The lone cygnet, undisturbed for now, was preening by the Dell restaurant with its mother a short way off.

The Emperor dragonfly was still hunting across the waterfront at Peter Pan ...

... and there was a pair of Willow Emerald damselflies on a hanging bramble.

A Comma butterfly fed on a verbena flower in the Rose Garden.