Lapwings, Shelducks, Bewick and Whooper swans seen during visit to RSPB Minsmere nature reserve on a soggy overcast day - 7th February 2026

I went from London to Minsmere in Suffolk by coach on 7th February, which turned out to be a wet and dark day.  Sizewell C could be seen in the distance as I began my walk round the reserve.

The view across the lagoon from the East hide - it was misting with rain nearly all day!

There were lots of Lapwings and four Bewick swans in the distance

Synchronised dipping from the four Bewicks

Lots and lots of Lapwings on the spits of land in the lagoon

There were some horses on the land in front of a bird hide on the other side of the water

More birds on the zig-zag land in the lagoon - again mainly Lapwings, with a few Shelducks

Pair of Shelducks on the lagoon

Ringed Plover in the distance at the edge of a spit of land

Something had spooked the Lapwings and a large group of them took flight

Shelduck and a pair of Gadwalls on one of the little islands

Posing Shelduck

Eurasian Teal and Norther Shovelers on the lagoon in front of a viewpoint

Gadwall at the front and Teal at the back

A very distant Goosander

Round the other side of the lagoon I saw a Whooper swan from the Island Mere hide

A Mute swan was not pleased to the see the Whooper and came after it in an aggressive manner 

Blue Tit in the bushes near the Visitor Centre just before I had to go back to the coach

Two Blue Tits in the bushes before my journey back home

and a Great Tit too!

Minsmere is a great reserve - and especially would be on a nice day!!  It is  huge area and we only managed to walk round a small part of it during the few hours that we were there.

Wildlife and birds seen during a walk in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens - 30th January 2026

I began my walk at the Marble Arch end of Hyde Park where I came across this enormous Mimosa

A Blue Tit landed on the railings in front of me

There were some beautiful red berries in one of the enclosed garden areas

A male Blackbird stood on the grass for a short time

A Herring Gull was standing in the closed-off area that had recently been used for the Winter Wonderland fairground.  The ground is now being slowly repaired!

A Grey Squirrel came down from a tree and sat near some daffodils

A patch of grass in the Dell was completely covered with Snowdrops

A pair of Egyptian Geese were standing on top of a tall tree at the back of the Dell

Closer view of the pair of Egyptian Geese

Grey Squirrel resting on a tree in the Dell

Paperbush plant flowering near the Serpentine

Mute Swan standing at the edge of the Serpentine - I just missed it flapping its wings!

Canada goose at the back and what looks like a Canada/Greylag hybrid at the front

Pair of Gadwalls on the Serpentine

Mute Swan having a drink

Black-headed Gull standing on the landing stage on the Long Water in Kensington Gardens

Several Cormorants standing on a fallen chestnut branch in the Long Water

Robin and Grey Squirrel in the same tree

Azaleas in flower near the Flower Walk, Kensington Gardens

Brightly-coloured Cyclamen in a dark area along the Flower Walk

Black Swan following a Mute Swan on the Long Water

Black and Mute Swans preening together

Lovely Black Swan

showing off his long neck here!

Grey Squirrel on a bench near the edge of the Long Water

Aggressive Mute Swan breaking up a gathering of Mute Swans

Blonde Egyptian goose walking along the path at the edge of the Serpentine

 

Ducks and geese on the river Yare - and Santa! - in Thorpe St Andrews on 23rd December 2025

 The river Yare in Thorpe St Andrews on a rather overcast pre-Christmas afternoon

Plenty of Black-headed gulls, a Greylag goose and a selection of Mallards

Female Mallard following three different types of Mallard drake

Two of the feather variations in the Mallard drakes

Large Cayuga duck

Egyptian goose

A few females with Mallard drakes in normal and different feather combinations

Male Gadwall with a female Mallard

I was watching the male Gadwall when it suddenly flew up from the river

Handsome Gadwall drake

Melanistic Mallard drake

Mallard in the usual colouring at the top and one with different feather suit at the bottom

I was hoping that this was a white Dove, but think it might be a white Pigeon - not sure?

The Cayuga duck is almost as large as the Greylag and Egyptian geese

The Cayuga towered above the Mallards when it was standing up

Cygnet at the edge of the river

One boat was decorated with coloured lights - better seen in the dark!

Light-coloured female with a Mallard drake

Pair of Egyptian geese ready for a ride along the river

Mallard hybrid having a word with a pal

Selection of Mallards on the grass

A skein of geese flew overhead

Later in the week I discovered a very large Santa had visited one of the nearby houses!!!!!