Saturday, 31 January 2026

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

 

Friday, 2 January 2026

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!!!!!