Watching London's Birdies

Cute, fluffy special things are happening on Hampstead Heath this weekend. Our man in camouflage at the RSPB tells us of the birth of cygnet-shaped nonuplets. Which is apparently very rare. If you want to take a peek at the brood, you should head to Pond 15, where ornithologists are keeping a careful eye on them (but will probably share their binoculars with you if you ask nicely). From cooing to cawing. There's been an increase in the number of crows behaving badly. Reports from Waltham Forest suggest that there are some nasty little buggers up there, which are responsible for mobbing and killing a heron for one. We've actually seen vicious crows mobbing pigeons outside Londonist Towers, knocking them from the sky and then devouring them. Not cute. Not fluffy. All very Hitchcock. Further proof if it is needed that all life is to be found in London.(Crows by Ronski)