Better news for the swans

Great Tits and Blue Tits gathered in the Cootamundra Wattle tree by the gate of the Rose Garden and streamed down to be fed.

The Coal Tits don't have a chance in a crowd this size, and prefer to wait in a bush.

A Song Thrush in a hawthorn by the Queen's Temple sang at sunset. You can also hear the non-stop yelling at the Iranian Embassy half a mile away which has been going on literally for years: no matter how justified the cause of the protesters this has now grown into a major public nuisance and is certainly eroding public support for them.

While I was filming this a Robin appeared, not one I could identify but it seemed to know me and came to my hand to collect some pine nuts.

The familiar Robin by the Buck Hill Shelter perched on a post.

A Carrion Crow waited on an urn in the Italian Garden.

So far there are no interesting visitors to the ruins of the Parade Ground, just the usual crows, pigeons and gulls and a flock of Starlings gathering in a tree to swoop down and look for worms.

However, there are now reports of fair numbers of Redwings in various parts of London, so with luck we should see some, and maybe a Fieldfare or two.

There was only one Grey Heron in the nest at the west end of the island. I went round to the side where you can see into the nest, and it was definitely alone.

There was a heron sitting in one of the upper nests in the middle of the island, and you could see a few grey feathers through the twigs. It's almost impossible to know what's going on in these nests, as if a sitting bird changes its position slightly it can completely disappear.

Every year sections of the reeds on the Serpentine are cut down. This is the right thing to do, as it encourages thicker growth. It's also convenient for herons, which can stand on the edge of the uncut section and wait for a fish unwise enough to stick its head out.

Black-Headed Gulls formed a neat row on the roof of one of the boathouses.

A Great Crested Grebe at the island seemed to be single ...

... and so did this one fishing under the bridge: it isn't one of the Long Water pair as both of these are in full breeding plumage. I think these four are the only ones in the park, but we should get more grebes as spring approaches.

There's good news for the Mute Swan couple on the Long Water: the pontoon people are coming back early next week to remove a couple of rows from the end of the raft so that the boss swan can get through to his new mate. The change will be quickly noticed, as there are always a few swans hanging around under the bridge.

The boss's mate was still lingering at the Vista, and the female 4FUF was farther up the lake. The two take no notice of each other.

The lone teenager was still with its parents by the Dell restaurant. Being an only child has really stunted its social development.

The Black Swan on the Serpentine was following 4GIQ as usual, but when he spotted me he abandoned her and came straight over for some sunflower hearts.

Later they were on the other side of the lake by the landing stage. The dominant Black-Headed Gull, on the right of the picture, was clearing some other gulls out of his territory.