Digging for ants

One of the pair of Green Woodpeckers on Buck Hill was digging up an ants' nest.

Ahmet Amerikali found a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

The Little Owl at the Serpentine Gallery was in her usual tree facing the wrong way, but addressing her in courteous tones made her look round.

A Jackdaw by the Italian Garden sidled up delicately hinting that it would like a peanut. They are the politest of corvids.

Jays just stare at you till you comply. This was one of four chasing me along the Flower Walk, and perched in the corkscrew hazel bush.

One of the Coal Tit pair at the southwest corner of the bridge is getting quite bold about coming to my hand.

They are completely unfazed by the attempts of the Robin to bully them out of the tree.

The Robin at the Lido restaurant is also getting more familiar. It came out from under a bush and accepted some pine nuts dropped on the ground.

Pigeon Eater and one of the Herring Gull pair on the Dell restuarant roof were being surprisingly civil to each other.

The dominant Black-Headed Gull had the landing stage to himself without the intrusion of the the Herring Gull, but no doubt it will be back. The place is an ideal perch, separated by a fence from from humans and dogs.

The Czech gull that dominates the other end of the Serpentine came ashore with a morsel snatched from the Dell restaurant.

The number of Cormorants is going down earlier than usual this year, as they have efficiently hoovered up most of the medium-sized fish in the lake. This is their favourite branch at the west end of the island, chosen because it's open and easy for these clumsy birds to land on.

The young Great Crested Grebe at the north end of the Long Water is still keeping to itself by the reed beds.

This young Mute Swan at the Triangle is a newcomer to the Serpentine, though it may have been on the Round Pond after it flew in. It has a metal ring, not one of Bill Haines's as he always puts on a plastic ring as well. It's a British ring and I've reported the number, so maybe we'll be able to find out where it's from.

The teenager from the Long Water went under the bridge, following its father who was going on to the Serpentine to beat up some of the other swans.

Mute Swans are not absolutely mute, and the other two teenagers preening sociably together by the boathouse managed a few muffled grunts and squeaks.

Despite the chilly day and sharp northeast wind, a tough Buff-Tailed Bumblebee was still at work on baby sage flowers in the Rose Garden.

A Japanese maple at the southeast corner of the bridge had a fine display of red leaves.