Black Swan's lonely nest

The Black Swan, who has been following several Mute females without acknowledgement, was making a lonely nest on one of the nesting baskets. There's an unattached female Black Swan in St James's Park, but matchmaking for swans is not straightforward, and if she was kidnapped and brought here she would probably fly back at once.

He went off after a new female, 4GIQ.

The dominant swan on the Long Water, who has been looking for a new mate after losing his, may have gone off his latest choice. He was cruising down the lake alone ...

... leaving her behind in a reed bed. But we shall see.

There are now three Red Crested Pochard drakes at the Lido. They are usually quite shy, but this one came close.

A third Coot nest in the Italian Garden fontains is now occupied. This is an old one from last year where two broods were raised, and it's probably the same pair on it.

The other Coot was nearby having a furious wash.

A Moorhen evicted a Black-headed Gull from a post at Peter Pan. Gulls usually leave immediately when they see the determined bird advancing up the chain.

The dominant gull at the landing stage was looking out on his territory from the head of the Big Bird statue. He is a tough customer and might well stand up to a Moorhen.

Herring Gull pairs wave things at each other to suggest nesting (though they wouldn't nest in the park). Any object will do: a leaf, a stick, a feather.

Cormorants preened in the sunshine on the fallen poplar at Peter Pan.

A Grey Heron was fishing from the nesting basket at the Triangle.

A young one peeped round the corner of a boathouse.

There was a good turnout of tits in the Rose Garden.

A Blue Tit ...

... a Coal Tit ...

... and a Chaffinch waited in a rose bush.

The Robin by the Buck Hill shelter is good at posing in an attractive sunlit spot while waiting. It's always rewarded with several pine nuts afterwards.