When the wind is in the east, 'tis neither good for man nor beast

There was a strong east wind. A pair of Lesser Black-Backed Gulls on the boat hire platform sat down to avoid being blown about.

A pair of Herring Gulls were made of stronger stuff and exchanged affectionate calls until they were interrupted by a third.

The Mute Swan 4FUL nesting at the end of the Lido restaurant terrace stood up to preen her ruffled feathers. She has seven eggs.

The Black Swan, 4GIQ on her nest and the nesting Coot were pitched about by the waves. Birds don't seem to get seasick.

The Canada Goose family were partly sheltered by the bridge.

The willow at the bridge, already partly collapsed, had lost another large chunk, more because it was old and decaying than from the wind.

The Coot nesting on the other side of the bridge had taken advantage of the mess to add leaves to its nest. These are poplar and other leaves, torn off as the willow branch fell past.

A Coot egg was oddly poised on a post. Evidently the bird had been taken short and perched on the nearest available object.

There was just one Egyptian Goose on the Huntress fountain. This may be a sign that the female of the pair is nesting in a tree. I don't think this couple have ever bred before.

The Grey Heron nesting at the east end of the island got up and turned round to find a more comfortable position.

The Little Owl at the Serpentine Gallery was dozing on a branch, hard to see among the leaves.

A male Blackcap jumped about on a high branch beside the Long Water.

There weren't many customers for pine nuts as there is an abundance of insects, but the male Robin at Mount Gate emerged from the bushes when called ...

... and a single Great Tit waited on a twig.

A squirrel ran up the enormous ash tree by the Dell, reminding me of Ratatosk in Norse myth, the squirrel who runs up and down the ash tree Yggdrasil passing scurrilous rumours between an eagle and a serpent and spreading conflict and chaos in the world. 

A Brimstone butterfly did a fine impersonation of the leaf next to it.

A Holly Blue perched on a holly leaf. I think this is the first time I've managed to photograph one on the tree it's named after.

A Buff-Tailed Bumblebee browsed on a green alkanet flower. More are appearing after a slow start with the bee world dominated by an enormous number of Hairy-Footed Flower Bees.