A tricky task

The male Great Crested Grebe from the nest at the Dell restaurant was carrying the three chicks near the shore at Fisherman's Keep.

His mate arrived with a small fish. Anyone who has tried to feed a baby with a spoon will recognise the difficulty she was having in trying to get one of her chicks to swallow it.

The grebes at the island were staying together at their nest and fussing over the eggs. It's quite likely a sign that they are about to hatch, so this place needs watching.

The teenager was preening at the Triangle. Although it must have flown in with its parents, it always seems to be by itself.

There was a brisk west wind, and the Cormorants at the island were sitting down on their posts to avoid being buffeted.

The breeding success of the Grey Herons on the island has led to young birds being dotted all round the lake. These three on a fallen tree at the Vista all look similar, and are probably siblings from one of this year's earlier nests.

The heron at the Lido restaurant was prowling up and down the edge looking over the tops of the waterside plants, hoping that someone on the terrace would throw it a titbit. It must be getting some or it wouldn't keep doing it.

A male Pied Wagtail sprinted along the edge by the Dell restaurant.

The male Little Owl at the Serpentine Gallery was in an awkward place in a lime tree and I couldn't get a clear view.

A Jay in the Flower Walk was expecting prompt service.

Long-Tailed Tits hunted through the trees.

The butterflies in the Rose Garden were staying low to get out of the wind. A Painted Lady ...

... and a Red Admiral fed on purslane in the herbaceous border.

A Honeybee browsed on milkweed flowers.

Ahmet Amerikali was at Rainham Marshes and sent four interesting pictures. A Reed Warbler fed a chick.

This is a young male Bearded Tit which hasn't yet grown its droopy black moustache.

A Great Egret stalked through the mud. People are calling them Great White Egrets now, but there is nothing remarkable in an egret being white and I think this is the influence of the Great White Shark in Jaws.

A male Norfolk Hawker dragonfly, a species which is fairly common at Rainham but I've never seen in the park.