Birds, including juvenile Great White Pelican chicks, in St. James's Park - 19th July 2026

I visited St. James's Park again hoping to see the new Pelican chicks as I walked round the lake

I saw a pair of Mute Swans with three juvenile cygnets from the bridge across the lake

Then I encountered one of the adult Great White Pelicans walking along a path at the edge of the grass

Further round the lake, I came across some pretty mauve Agapanthus flowers

a White Agapanthus flower

Beautiful red Roses

and some very pretty pink and pale orange Roses

Great Crested Grebe getting ready to dive

Black Swan sailing along the lake

At last, a view of two of the Pelican chicks standing near an adult under a tree on the island 

Grey Heron standing in front of tall wildflowers on the other side of the lake

Grey Squirrel sitting on a log

Lonely Giant Sunflower at the edge of a patch of wildflowers

I wandered back to the area near Pelican island

One of the Pelican chicks was at the edge of the lake.  The other three chicks and five adults were hidden in the shrubbery on the island.  I will have to try again another time!

The Pelican that I had seen earlier when I first began my walk was now on the path in front of the island where the chicks and other adults were sheltering and was wondering what all the fuss was about!

When I got back to the area where I first started the walk, I saw the Mute Swan family on land

Group of Mallard ducklings and adults in the water by the bridge

 

Birds and flowers in St. James's Park, London - 4th July 2026

I set off for a walk round the lake in St. James's Park where I encountered large fluffy juvenile cygnets

resting with a parent Mute Swan on the muddy bank

Nene (Hawaiian goose) pulling up greenery from the lake

Lovely wildflowers planted at the edge of the lake

in front of the fountain and near tropical banana palms

Large group of cute fluffy little Mallard ducklings on their own in the centre of the lake

Barnacle goose marching along the edge of the lake right in front of me

Blonde Egyptian goose and partner

and juveniles

Two Bar-headed geese were very sensibly sitting in the shade

Blonde female Mallard

Not a good idea to go for a walk in the park on a hot Saturday afternoon!

Great White Pelican fishing in the lake

White hybrid goose

eating berry or seed of some sort

Cute baby Mallard duckling

Female Tufted ducks with a fairly neat line of fluffy little babies

Large patch of beautiful wildflowers

 

Yellowhammer and other wildlife spotted during a wander round Thornwick Bay holiday park during my last morning in Yorkshire - 12th June 2026

I had been hoping to see a Yellowhammer during my week in East Yorkshire, but it only happened on my last morning when I went to the back of the lake where I had previously seen the lovely Brown Hare

A walk along the path behind the hedge on the border of the holiday park produced a Common Whitethroat

a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly

a Painted Lady butterfly

a rather distant male Linnet

and a very quickly disappearing Skylark

On the side of the site near the sea, I came across a Meadow Pipit perching on a bramble

The field on the cliff in front of the holiday park was full of grass stems swaying in the wind

and beautiful yellow Meadow Buttercups

There were some lovely mauve Poppies by one of the entrances to Thornwick nature reserve

 I spent a great week on the East Yorkshire coast with all sorts of weather - sun, heat, wind, rain, thunder and lightning - and had a really great time.  I hope I will be able to go there again next year!