The return of cold weather brought hungry birds out of the bushes. In one 200-yard section of the Flower Walk I was accosted by six Blackbirds, five Robins, two Great Tits and two Wrens. The last of these are uncertain about being fed, but I think that in the Flower Walk, where people constantly feed birds, they will get the idea. Here one of them stretches its wings for a moment to absorb the weak winter sunlight.

In the leaf yard, one of the Coal Tits was prospecting for bugs on a twig. The bush, misled by the mild spell, has a well developed leaf bud. Somehow they manage to survive these false starts.

Most of the Coal Tits will come to my hand to be fed, but this one, though obviously interested, is still to frightened to come down. I am working on it, and it will now take pine nuts off the railings.

Starlings are all too easy to feed; in in fact you have to discourage them or they will be all over you for ever. Here they are in the Dell, raiding a feeder that was put out for the smaller birds.

The feeder is not properly designed to keep larger birds out. Some care has to be taken with the choice of these things, and good ones don't look like picturesque little houses.

Starlings are in decline nationally, and really we ought to welcome them in the park, especially as their plumage is so beautiful. But they are a nuisance when you are trying to feed small birds, dive-bombing your hand and often drawing blood with their sharp beaks. Anyway, they get quite enough food here without anyone helping them, as they are observant, intelligent, not easily scared and, above all, incredibly fast.

The Bearded Tits are still in their reed bed, and I had them to myself this morning when I was photographing them.

After a quick walk round the lake I got on the Tube and went to South Ealing to admire the famous Waxwings just across the road from the station. But it would be cheating to put pictures of them on this blog about the park, and besides there are excellent pictures on the London Bird Club Wiki site.