You are looking at the HTML representation of the XML format.
HTML is good for debugging, but is unsuitable for application use.
Specify the format parameter to change the output format.
To see the non HTML representation of the XML format, set format=xml.
See the complete documentation, or API help for more information. 
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<api>
  <query-continue>
    <recentchanges rccontinue="20160520051525|2414" />
  </query-continue>
  <query>
    <recentchanges>
      <rc type="edit" ns="2" title="User:MMcLean54" pageid="814" revid="5308" old_revid="3209" rcid="2424" timestamp="2017-07-23T08:40:32Z" />
      <rc type="edit" ns="3" title="User talk:MMcLean54" pageid="943" revid="5307" old_revid="3338" rcid="2423" timestamp="2017-07-23T08:40:25Z" />
      <rc type="edit" ns="0" title="Secret Worlds" pageid="815" revid="5306" old_revid="5297" rcid="2422" timestamp="2016-10-23T04:51:29Z" />
      <rc type="edit" ns="0" title="Great Bridge SW" pageid="2043" revid="5305" old_revid="5018" rcid="2421" timestamp="2016-05-21T03:28:45Z" />
      <rc type="edit" ns="0" title="Venomous Pond SW" pageid="2055" revid="5304" old_revid="5116" rcid="2420" timestamp="2016-05-21T03:24:39Z" />
      <rc type="edit" ns="0" title="Putrid Alcove SW" pageid="2056" revid="5303" old_revid="5302" rcid="2419" timestamp="2016-05-21T03:20:50Z" />
      <rc type="edit" ns="0" title="Putrid Alcove SW" pageid="2056" revid="5302" old_revid="5118" rcid="2418" timestamp="2016-05-21T03:18:59Z" />
      <rc type="edit" ns="0" title="Sacred Path SW" pageid="2072" revid="5301" old_revid="5222" rcid="2417" timestamp="2016-05-20T23:18:25Z" />
      <rc type="edit" ns="0" title="Transit Tunnel South SW" pageid="2064" revid="5300" old_revid="5158" rcid="2416" timestamp="2016-05-20T22:38:03Z" />
      <rc type="edit" ns="0" title="Sanctuary Entrance SW" pageid="1214" revid="5299" old_revid="5291" rcid="2415" timestamp="2016-05-20T22:08:02Z" />
    </recentchanges>
  </query>
</api>