Birds and wildlife in the woodland and on the lagoon on Brownsea Island - 10th October 2026

When I first arrived on Brownsea Island, I went to the woodland to try and see some Red Squirrels.

They obviously knew that the boat had just arrived and were in hiding!

Instead I saw a Speckled Wood butterfly

and what appears to be the only remaining Peacock on the island, which was standing in the churchyard

I then went to the Dorset Wildlife Trust area, where distant Spoonbills were flying above the lagoon

They landed and were standing in a row in shallow water - viewed from the Tern hide

I caught a glimpse of a female Stonechat on brambles near the lagoon

where a Chiffchaff was trying to hide

I then went to the Avocet hide, where a Redshank was being blown about in the wind

I was lucky in that a beautiful Grey Plover was wading around right in front of the hide

Three Spoonbills were wading in the shallow water

An Avocet was standing in front of the hide

It was lunch-time for a Redshank

Bar-tailed Godwit marching in front of the hide

Little and large - Grey Plover and Godwit!

Large Brittany ferry sailing across Poole Harbour behind the Brownsea Lagoon sea wall

The Godwits were disturbed by something and took to the air

so did a very large group of Avocets

I left the lagoon and went for a walk in the woodland where I came across a male Pheasant

a female Common Darter dragonfly

and - at last - a Red Squirrel

Back at the lagoon - there was a row of Redshanks near a little spit of land

and the Avocets took to the air again

Just before I left the island on the last ferry to Poole, I saw another Red Squirrel searching for food 

- unfortunately, in the wrong position for a good photograph

 

Afternoon stroll near the beach and on Ham Common at Rockley Park on 9th October 2026

I arrived at Rockley Park, near Poole, in the afternoon and went for a stroll down to the small beach as my accommodation was not ready.  

It was very windy and there were no birds around - only some youngsters learning how to sailboard

When I checked into my mobile home, I found that it was already occupied!

After posing for a photography, the Crane Fly flew out through the open door

The Wareham Channel with an island in the centre and the Arne Peninsular in the background.  This was the view from the doorway of my mobile home.  I was on the second row, so I could only see the water on either side of another mobile home from the lounge.

After a short downpour, I went back to the little beach.  The tide was going out and two Little Egrets were feeding in the low water.

A dog ran onto the beach and disturbed them!

The weather brightened up later in the afternoon so I went for a walk on Ham Common

This is the view with Brownsea Island in the distance

Lovely Rowan berries on a tree near the viewpoint on Ham Common - but still no birds!

Later on I went back to the little beach where the sun was setting in the distance

The path to the beach went through some pines at the end of Pine Grove

My home for the week.  For the first time there was an outside table - but I doubt if the weather will be good enough to use it!

 

Great White Pelicans and their four chicks in St. James's Park - 20th September 2026

As I entered the park, I came across a couple of patches of Autumn Crocus

Mauve

and white

Five adult Great White Pelicans and their four chicks were gathered together under a tree by the lake

Resting adult Pelican

Preening chick

Two of the chicks were sitting on the ground

Two chicks opened their large beaks while a smaller adult walked along the edge of the lake near them

One of the chicks stretched its wing while balancing on one leg

The adults decided it was time to leave the family and departed one-by-one

The five adults were joined on the water by one of the large chicks

The adults and chick swam in formation along the lake while following a much smaller Black Swan

Closer view of the chick with one of the adult Pelicans

Spot the odd one out!  A Great Crested Grebe was floating nearby

The adults Pelicans and chick carried on along the lake with me trying to keep up with them!

The group eventually reached land near the little house on Duck Island where the adults are normally fed - by this time they had been joined by the sixth adult pelican that lives in the park

The chick was striding about in front of the reeds

The adult Pelicans came onto land, one by one

The chick began making loud noises and was fed by one of the adults

which is not a pretty sight as the chick sticks its long beak right down the throat of the adult!

One of the other adults was watching this revolting event!

then there was an audience of two adults!

The chick wanted more - but the adult did not oblige and ended up running away and hiding in reeds

One of the other adults patiently waiting near the cottage garden

while another adult preened its feathers near the fence at the edge of the cottage allotment and garden

All six adult Great White Pelicans and the large chick on the other side of Duck Cottage garden

The wildlife officer did not turn up with any fish while I was by the Pelicans, so I left

A small white butterfly briefly visited white flowers in the flower bed near Horseguards Parade

Wonderful coloured leaves and flowers in the flowerbed

I just managed to grab a photo of a Jay that had landed behind a shrub in the flowerbed

before it flew up into a tree

I wandered back along the lake and found the four Pelican chicks standing together - still under a tree

The hungry chick had obviously decided that it wasn't going to get fed again and had left the adults

Then it was time for me to leave the park after an interesting pelican-watching afternoon