Not much of a stink

The Grey Herons in the nest at the west end of the island were together again. They seem to be the same pair as the ones here last year. They look very fond of each other but no nest in this place has ever succeeded, so it would be unwise to get hopes up.

The heron in the east nest was standing up and not doing anything, so it seems that signs of nesting were premature. We're still a week away from the first definite date of nesting observed last year.

However, it's impossible to see what's happening in the nest at the middle of the island, as the nest is quite high and has tall sides so any heron sitting down in it is invisible. The pair here surprised us last year, and they have already been seen mating twice this year.

There was a heron in the highest nest but it was just standing there with no sign of activity.

The one on the swan nesting raft by the Diana reed bed is always there now -- a good secluded fishing spot until a pair of Mute Swans decides to take it over.

A tight little group of Black-Headed Gulls preened on the fallen black poplar at the Vista.

Common Gulls are the least common of the four species regularly visiting the park, so we don't see many young ones. This first-winter gull was photographed at the Round Pond by Ian Young. They grow to full adulthood in three years, one year less than their larger relatives.

You could tell that Pigeon Eater was away from his usual place as there was a Feral Pigeon insolently perched in his favourite spot on the Dell restaurant roof.

The male Peregrine was on the Knightsbrige Barracks tower again, as usual by himself.

Another loner: the solitary Moorhen in the Dell has a perfectly good quiet place to live, untroubled by Herring Gulls or Coots, but it must be a dull life with nothing to do but eat and preen.

The female Pied Wagtail often seen on the edge of the Serpentine does have a mate, but he is only with her occasionally. Maybe he's from the Round Pond, where Pied Wagtails are a much more common sight -- and apparently they nest on Kensington Palace.

The Song Thrush on the edge of the Diana fountain enclosure has started singing at sunset every evening, a welcome sound as I go home. While it's not unusual to hear Song Thrushes singing in winter, the usually only strike up on sunny days, and today was grey and dismal.

A Wren appeared for a moment on a cleared space in the scrub at the east end of the Lido.

A Robin was waiting in the Flower Walk.

I know we've had too many pictures of Coal Tits recently, but how can you resist photographing these tiny creatures?  They came out at the southwest corner of the bridge ...

... in the corkscrew hazel at the Dell, where both of the pair appeared ...

... and in the Rose Garden ...

... where there were also several Blue Tits darting around the flower beds.

There are still enough berries on the holly tree at the bridge to keep a young Wood Pigeon busy.

A few days ago I put up a picture of a Stinking Iris, and wondered how much it stank. Today I met Andrea the gardener in the Dell, and she was clearing up some invasive plants including one of these. We examined it. The roots and tubers have no particular smell, but the sap that exudes from cut stems has a vaguely unpleasant odour like rotten meat. It's not strong. However, Andrea had seen that bees often visit the flowers, and it must be these that give the plant its name. The smell would attract pollinating insects. We'll have to wait till spring to pursue the matter further.