A rival Black-Headed Gull

The dominant Black-Headed Gull on the landing stage usually has an easy time defending his territory, as the other gulls and even some larger birds are frightened of him. But today he was looking restless and was calling.

The reason soon became apparent, as another Black-Headed Gull was flying around and landed aggressively beside him. They strutted around side by side in a head-down threatening pose for a while until the intruder gave up and flew away.

The Black Swan was also in an aggressive mood, and was cruising around the killer Mute Swan's six teenagers by the Triangle. This is a risky thing to do, as if the killer spots it he will dash over in a fury, but the Black Swan enjoys living on the edge.

The damage caused by the swans to the flimsy plastic frame over the new reed bed has reached the stage where a Moorhen can get in and out of a gap in the netting. It will do no harm, but Coots can get in too and they will delight in  tearing up the plants.

I doubt there will be any attempt to repair it. That is not the way the park management works. When some large and expensive floating beds of water plants were installed by the Dell restaurant, they did nothing while swans smashed down the barriers and destroyed everything. The barriers could easily have been strengthened with a hundred pounds' worth of wooden battens strapped to the top edge with cable ties, but that never occurred to them.

There is usually a Grey Heron under the collapsed willow at the bridge, an excellent fishing spot as fish lurk in the shadows under the half-submerged branches. The willow remains alive in spite of its trunk being broken, so it isn't falling to bits like the other fallen trees in the Long Water.

The Long Water is home to Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveller, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard and Red-Breasted Pochard. All are common enough, but the Common Pochard is in serious decline nationally so it's cheering to see that they are increasing here, with a winter population now over 80.

The female Pied Wagtail was dashing up and down the edge of the lake by the Lido restaurant terrace. Occasionally she finds a tiny larva, not much to sustain her, so that in winter she has to hunt coninuously. Sometimes there are midges, even in the depth of winter, which provide a bit more nutrition.

For many years there has been a Robin in an olive tree near the west gate of the Lido swimming area. It can't possibly be the same one, so there must be a family dynasty here. It's very defensive about its tree, scolding and chasing other birds and singing.

A Robin perched on a rubbish sack in the Dell. This isn't one I know, but it came down to pick up pine nuts thrown on the ground.

The Robin near the Henry Moore sculpture is a regular customer and now perches confidently on my hand.

The pair of Magpies at the Lido are always waiting in a tree.

Another besdie the Long Water perched in a hazel bush laden with catkins.

One of the Jays preferred a winged elm. These small trees which grow all down the east side of the Long Water are liked by many birds, as the long unobstructed branches provide an easy landing and takeoff and a good view.

There was a Wren on another.

The usual Blue Tits ...

... and Coal Tits turned up in the Rose Garden ...

... and so did the Coal Tit pair in the Dell, today in the big yew tree which provides shelter and cover for many small birds.

This brown Feral Pigeon shows what happens when the basic Rock Dove pattern is disrupted by a lack of black eumelanin pigment. The ginger phaeomelanin is present in normal quantities. These color mutations only affect feathers: as you can see, its bill and the pupils of its eyes are as dark as normal -- as indeed they are in white pigeons where all the feather pigment has failed. Albino birds with no colour anywhere do exist, but they are rare and don't live long as the lack of black in their eyes gives them poor vision.