Disorderly swans

The missing male Mute Swan from the Long Water has been seen again on the Round Pond. Probably he had never left and had just been overlooked for a couple of days. Meanwhile the Black Swan and his mate 4GIQ were in possession of the Long Water and came over to the Vista.

Later the abandoned female 4DTT arrived, but where was her teenager?

The answer was surprising. It was on the Serpentine east of the Lido with the parents of the two teenagers from the east end, 4FYF and 4DVZ. Their own two teenagers were off somewhere else. I was able to read its ring, 4HTH, so there could be no mistake. The adults were treating it perfectly civilly.

The other news is that a Kingfisher has turned up on the Long Water again. I searched for it in vain, I always seem to have bad luck with Kingfishers. However, Ahmet Amerikali got a distant but pleasing shot of it in flight.

The Little Owl at the Serpentine Gallery was in her lime tree in the morning, in an awkward place for a picture. She had disappeared in the afternoon when I went back for a better shot.

On the ground below a Blackbird rummaged in dead leaves looking for a worm. It's a young male and hasn't yet developed the bright yellow eye ring it will have as an adult.

On a cold day the small birds were hungry, and customers at the bridge included the Coal Tit pair ...

... several Blue Tits ...

... and the bossy Robin who was trying to chase them away.

A Jay lay in wait behind the Albert Memorial ...

... and there was another in the Dell, where they are only seen occasionally.

A young Herring Gull on the edge of the Serpentine had found a bit of fried chicken, but there was a bone in it and the problem was how to get the meat off the bone. A Carrion Crow would hold it down with a foot and peck the meat off, but gulls' feet are small and weak and can't grip things.

Three young Herring Gulls squabbled over a bit of flatbread while a Black-Headed Gull hovered overhead looking for a chance to zoon down and grab it.

Pigeon Eater preened on the Dell restaurant roof.

A young Grey Heron was fishing from the reed bed by the Vista.

The Great Crested Grebe is still occupying the stolen Coots' nest at the bridge. I can't believe the pair are serious about nesting. The latest I've ever seen them start is at the beginning of September.

The two young ones from the nest on the north side of the island are growing up and beginning to fish for themselves.

The fox at the Vista rested at the back of the little clearing.