19th May - Cloudy, but mild, 17C, light breeze. light rain evening

I had a meeting in London today, having some time before this I managed a walk through Regent's park, where many, many years ago I used to watch regularly and was the co-official park bird recorder for a while, it was interesting to see how the park has changed.  Although much is unchanged, open play areas, manicured gardens etc, there is now several small reed beds and some areas left to grow more naturally for birds and other wildlife.

The small reed beds have a  population of Sedge Warblers singing and presumably breeding.  There was a lone Reed Warbler singing to, although it does not appear to have a mate (yet).  On the lake many Coots with young, Moorhen, Pochard, mallard, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Egyptian, Canada and Greylag Geese. There is a captive wildfowl collection in the park too, which means some species are not wild, but still good to see.

Regent's Park had a Heronry, so it was good to see that it was still occupied, it was noticeable just how tolerant and approachable the Herons were (not years ago).

A pair of Grey Wagtails were collecting food for young, and a Pied Wagtail may have been doing the same. A couple of Swifts were overhead.  The inevitable Ring-necked Parakeets were noisy around the park. At least two Song Thrush were singing, a disgruntled Mistle Thrush made its presence heard and a Goldcrest sang too.

In all I spotted 41 species during my short walk, also I met a local birder who told me that there was a pair of Whitethroat feeding young in the park, I did not see these, but clearly the increased diversity of habitats in the park is having a good effect on the wildlife.