More January sogginess

Rain increased from a light drizzle to a steady downpour, but plenty of small birds came out from the shelter of the bushes to be fed: Great Tits ...

... Blue Tits ...

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

... and the familiar male Robin ...

... and his mate at Mount Gate.

The rain encouraged Song Thrushes to sing, cheered by the prospect of abundant worms. This one by the leaf yard couldn't be filmed because of the loud roar of the diesel engine that runs the leaf compactor ...

... but the one at the Diana memorial fountain was quite audible, though you can hear the noise of the protest outside the Iranian embassy, which has been going on 24 hours a day since the troubles began.

A Magpie was out when the rain was at its heaviest, but came over to take a peanut from the railings.

Rose-Ringed Parakeets, so well camouflaged when the leaves are on the trees, are absurdly conspicuous in winter.

It was business as usual for the Pied Wagtail, which perched on the handrail of the Lido jetty.

The dominant Black-Headed Gull by the Diana fountain trotted up and down the landing stage.

The middle gull, Blue 2331, had a comparatively dry moment to preen on his usual post.

A Grey Heron stood on the parapet of the bridge, ignoring passers by.

The usual one was fishing from the nesting basket by the Lido restaurant.

Another Great Crested Grebe has returned to the Serpentine, which hadn't had any since the icy spell. I looked carefully to check that it isn't one of the three from the Long Water. She was calling, so maybe there was another out of sight.

The three Red-Crested Pochard drakes were diving together inside the Lido swimming area.

The dominant Mute Swan on the Long Water was back with his second candidate for a mate (or at least that looked like her).

The Black Swan followed 4GIQ across the lake, hooting at her. But when they came back she was following him. While not very enthusiastic, she seems to find his strange approach interesting.