Summer's lease extended

It was the turn of the male Little Owl at the Serpentine Gallery to perch at the front of the big plane tree, on a new branch where I almost missed him. Although I have heard them both calling in this tree, you never seem to see them near each other.

On a warm day with plenty of insects still around for the small birds, these weren't crowding out to be fed. But the Coal Tits in the Dell are always keen on pine nuts, which are a special favourite of theirs. By choice they live in stone pines, the umbrella-shaped trees familiar in the Italian landscape, and peck these seeds out of the cones. However, there are no stone pines in the park.

Pigeon Eater is well into his winter plumage, with dark streaks on his head. But he had also picked up some muck on his front from swimming in the foul lake. He is very careful of his appearance, and soon preened it off.

This is the Grey Heron I saw sunbathing by the island three days ago, today back in the same place taking in the sunshine.

Cormorants have spread to occupy most of the posts at the bridge.

It's getting hard to tell which Great Crested Grebe chicks are which as they range widely about the lake.This is definitely one from the nest on the Long Water ...

... with a sibling on the other side of the bridge.

These two near the Lido are evidently from the nest on the north side of the island ...

... and this is the single teenager from the nest at the Dell restaurant, taking a break from fishing to preen and have a massive shrug. 

The Black Swan was cruising among the Mute mob on the Long Water with a lordly air. It seems likely that he is aiming to be the boss of the Long Water, and perhaps the subdued behaviour of 4HDW is the result of losing a fight with him.

Two Canada Geese washed on the Serpentine, and one of them flapped its mighty wings.

When the mother of the Egyptian goslings preened, two of the little ones copied her -- but the one in the middle was asleep.

The baskets of water plants which you can see in the picture of the Cormorants above attract insects, and the insects attract dragonflies. There were a good many here, mostly Migrant Hawkers but there was also a male Lesser Emperor.

A male Common Darter rested on a leaf in the Dell. They haven't been at all common this year.

The gaudy display of flowers planted to cheer up the drab building of the Hyde Park bandstand lavatories includes a large and brilliant canna lily.