First swans to nest?

The eight Egyptian goslings have survived another day. They emerged from the shelter of their mother and she led them to the grass to feed.

A pair of Mute Swans seemed to be settling down in the reeds east of the Lido. This site has been successful before, and was used by the boss swan two years ago before he took possession of the Long Water. The male swan at the back had only a metal ring, and I couldn't see what the female had.

This one by the island is a 'Polish' swan. That doesn't mean that it comes from Poland, simply that this strain of Mute Swan with pale legs was first observed in Poland. The most remarkable thing about them is that they have white cygnets rather than the usual grey ones.

Mallard drakes chased each other at the island.

The trio of the Gadwall drake and two Mallards, not seen for some time, were at the Lido.

The female Grey Heron flew into the nest at the west end of the island to join her mate. The pair seem to be quite enthusiastic about nesting, but we've seen plenty of false starts before.

The dominant Black-Headed Gull at the landing stage was swimming around yelling at rivals, and occasionally chasing them off.

The female Pied Wagtail, hunting near the Dell restaurant, saw her mate flying past and streaked after him, twittering.

Great Tits, Blue Tits, one of the Coal Tit pair and the usual Chaffinch were waiting in the cercis bush in the Rose Garden, looking like exotic fruit on the bare twigs.

The Coal Tits ...

...and Blue Tits also appeared in the rose bushes ...

... and there were Blue Tits in the cedar on the north edge. There are almost as many Blue Tits as Great Tits in the Rose Garden area, in contrast to the rest of the park where they are in a small minority.

The Long-Tailed Tit pair at the northwest corner of the bridge were low in the bushes, looking for feathers on the ground to add to their nest.

The Robin at the southwest corner ...

... and the one by the Buck Hill shelter came out to be fed.

A Wren was making a loud fuss in the undergrowth near Peter Pan.

A Carrion Crow waited on the stonework of the Italian Garden ...

... and a Jackdaw perched on a nearby bench commemorating three dogs, Topsy, Scarlett and Chloe.

Until two years ago a contribution of £10,000 would get you a bench with your chosen words carved prominently on the back which would last for decades. Now the same amount will only get you a mingy little brass plate screwed to a bench, barely legible, which will be removed in ten years if you don't pay up again. It's always about money here.

Still eight Egyptian goslings

A Great Spotted Woodpecker called from a treetop in the Rose Garden. It's a male, as you can see by the red patch on the back of its head.

Although it was slightly warmer than yesterday the small birds here were still ravenously hungry, and I was accosted by a mob of Great Tits in the dogwood tree before I even got through the gate.

A Blue Tit ...

... and a Coal Tit waited in a rose bush with new red leaves.

Long-Tailed Tits worked over a winged elm near the Italian Garden ...

... where there was also an expectant Jay.

Another Jay appeared at Mount Gate ...

... where the unpaired Robin was singing quietly in the dogwood bush.

This is the Robin that lives in the yew hedge in the Flower Walk.

Pigeon Eater is spending a lot of the time with his mate now.

The male Grey Heron on the nest at the west end of the island felt like mating, and was prodding the female encouragingly.

He even climbed on her, but she wasn't in the mood and he gave up.

There was a row of herons on the posts below ...

... and another one contemplated a squirrel by the bridge.

Surprisingly the Egyptian Geese on the south side of the Serpentine still have their original eight goslings. They are quite obedient and stay with their mother -- adventurous ones soon get eaten. She was pattering her feet to bring up worms. I've never seen a goose doing this. Did she learn it by watching a Herring Gull?

This is the Egyptian pair that for years has lived by the Albert Memorial, whose fine gilded railings by Francis Skidmore you can see in the background. They are a long way from water, and it's a puzzle how they manage here.

The Black Swan was with 4GIQ, who now seems quite content to stay with him. This is hard luck on her Mute mate, who gets chased off if he tries to reclaim her.

The Mallard pair are still in possession of the nesting basket at the Triangle. The female was perfectly camouflaged against the withy fence.

Cold and hungry

On a chilly day the small birds were very hungry and chased me around the Rose Garden. A Blue Tit waited in a cedar on the north edge ...

... and another ...

... and a Coal Tit perched in the blossom in a dogwood tree.

A Song Thrush sang in the woodland behind the Cavalry Memorial.

The Robin at the southwest corner of the bridge emerged from the brambles to collect some pine nuts. It has a mate who is very shy and only glimpsed occasionally.

A small flock of Starlings moved over the grass by the Italian Garden looking for larvae.

A Carrion Crow ate a rat on the pavement.

A gentler scene in the crocuses on the east lawn of the Albert Memorial.

The familiar female Pied Wagtail was with her mate hunting along the edge of the Serpentine.

Pigeon Eater, on the right here, was with his mate at the Dell restaurant.

The Grey Heron chicks looked out of the top of their nest on the island.

The pair were back in the west nest, but their occupation is an on-off affair and it seems unlikely that they will nest seriously soon.

A heron stood at the edge the brambles under the bridge, a place that gives chances of both a fish and a rat.

A pair of Great Crested Grebes displayed at the west end of the island. They were probably not near a nest site here, but it was a place to keep out of the icy wind.

There are two other pairs, one of which was near the Lido ...

... and the other on the Long Water near the bridge.

The Black Swan pushed through some Coots at the Triangle.

The Mallard pair were still in the nearby nesting basket, so far unchallenged by any larger birds.

Green Woodpeckers everywhere

Green Woodpeckers are now heard all over the park. One preened in a tree near the Rose Garden.

The other bird that is appearing in large numbers now is the Coal Tit. I saw six and heard several others. This is one I haven't seen before in a veronica bush at the west end of the Flower Walk ...

... and here is one of the familiar pair at Temple Gate.

A Blue Tit perched in new rose leaves in the Rose Garden ...

... and the male Chaffinch was waiting in the hawthorn which is one of the gathering places for small birds.

A Wood Pigeon drank from a puddle.

The Robin pair at Mount Gate were together in a bush.

A Jay looked for insects in the wood chips under an old chestnut near the Serpentine Gallery.

The usual female Pied Wagtail was at the Lido restaurant ...

... with her mate a few yards along the shore.

A Grey Heron parent in the nest on the island found it hard to maintain the nest with two large chicks bouncing and clacking in it.

A heron perched on the water level that was pointlessly installed when the Olympics were held in the park. The level of the Serpentine never varies by more than a couple of inches.

There are now two pairs of Great Crested Grebes by the island, so a good deal of territorial posturing has been going on. The two available nest sites are too close together for peace.

The little old female Mute Swan 4GIB has been bitten by a dog. Luckily the splendid volunteers were on hand to rescue her and she is now recovering at the Swan Sanctaury.

There are eight new Egyptian goslings on the south shore of the Serpentine, a sadly dangerous place but their mother is doing her best to protect them.

A pair made the most of a small swamp by the leaf yard.

The swan nesting basket at the Triangle had a pair of Mallards in it. It has been visited by just about every species on the lake -- except swans, which show no interest whatever.

A fox came out of the brambles near the Vista, and was tempted to stay in sight by giving it some peanuts.