Redshanks at Rainham Marshes

Yesterday I went with a couple of friends to Rainham Marshes, an RSPB nature reserve in Essex. It was cold and very windy.

At the far end of the reserve, there is a large hide with big windows. I managed to warm up while in there - more from the excitement from what I saw through the windows rather than from being away from the wind.  Redshanks!  I love Redshanks.

The first one I saw was standing on the bank among the reeds at the far side of the water.

Redshank standing among the reeds

A couple of them were chirping away and flying around in front of us. One landed on a post that was not far away from the window. It must have known that I wanted to see it because it was looking the other way and presented me with it's back view.

Redshank looking at the reeds

 Then it decided to be very well behaved and turned round, so that I could see it's lovely face.

Redshank on a post

Below is my abysmal attempt at photographing a Redshank in flight!  Well, at least it is in the photograph, which is a first for me.

Redshank in flight

Nine cygnets in Battersea

Yesterday, in London's Battersea Park, I thought there was not much wildlife on show.  How wrong I was. Firstly I saw a Great Crested Grebe with a chick - barely visible and floating in the middle of the lake - long distance photographs are in another of my blog posts.

A little later on and further round the lake, I saw the amazing sight of a Mute swan with nine cygnets.

Female Mute swan with her nine cygnets

Forming an orderly line at times, they followed mum across the lake.

Mute swan with line of 9 cygnets and being ignored by a Mallard

They swam across to the edge of the lake, where a number of Mallards were waiting to greet them, or not! In reality, there were humans on the bank with unsuitable food for young cygnets. There they were joined by daddy Mute swan, who had appeared out of nowhere.

Male and female Mute swans with their cygnets

9 very cute cygnets

Mum and dad at last decided that eating bread and being bothered by people hounding them in boats was not such a good idea and quickly paddled off with a group of accompanying Egyptian Geese.

Mute swans and their nine cygnets following a group of Egyptian geese

 They sailed round the shrubs and trees on the other side of the lake.

Mum Mute swan and cygnets follow dad Mute swan round the lake

  And off into the distance!

Mute swans and their cygnets disappear across the lake

Great Crested Grebe and chick

Today I went to Battersea Park and, at first, I thought there was nothing of interest around as the lake seemed strangely devoid of wildlife.  In the distance I spotted what I believed to be a Great Crested Grebe that seemed to be floating in the middle of the lake with something else.  I couldn't tell what the "something else" was until I downloaded my photographs onto the computer.  It was a chick!  Apologies for the standard of the photos - but they were a long way away.

Great Crested Grebe and chick

I was so happy to see that it was a young Great Crested Grebe as that was what I was hoping to see.

Chick with striped head and Great Crested Grebe

If I had known for sure that it was mum and youngster I would have stayed longer, hoping that they would float nearer to me.

Great Crested Grebe and youngster

 I am so excited - it is the first time I have seen a Great Crested Grebe chick for myself!

White geese on the Thames

The Thames path is a great place for a walk and where there is always an abundance of wildlife.

I started my walk in Oxford and, after a while, came across a large group of white geese swimming up and down the river.  When I first saw them they were sitting on a grassy bank that was opposite a pub near Iffley.  The next time I saw them, they were standing around a Lock that was further down the river.

Gaggle of white geese near Iffley Lock on the river Thames

White geese

 Below is a beautiful white goose in posing mode - what a handsome bird I am!

Posing White Goose

I am getting more and more interested in nature and going out with a camera is certainly good exercise.  I just wish I could find more time to put photographs onto my blog.

Geese in white, heron in green

I have just enjoyed a walk in the sunshine round a lake.

I came across a couple of Greylag Geese that looked as though they were sitting in the snow - the ground was covered with white daisies.

Greylag Geese in a field of snowy daisies

 Nearby, a heron was standing in the green water, which was full of algae.

Heron standing in water full of green algae

White goose hiding in the daffodils

On one of my Spring walks I came across a couple of white geese foraging around in the daffodils.  Only one of them was obliging enough to pose nicely for some photographs.

White goose behind the daffodils

White goose watching me through the daffodils

White goose hiding in the daffodils

Peacock display in front of cage

I was wandering around the grounds of Pendley Manor on Friday afternoon and was thrilled to see a brightly coloured peacock in full display mode.  I was on the other side of an old set of tennis courts at the time and could see that he was in front of a small shed and something covered with netting.

Displaying peacock

He pranced round for a while, showing off his amazing set of beautiful feathers.

Peacock displaying in front of cage covered with netting

He danced round and round and below is a side view of him.  He had fantastic soft cloud-like feathers at the top of his back.

Side-view of displaying peacock

 It was an amazing display, but I was a bit disappointed with the location as the cage covered in netting did not look very attractive and even had a "Danger Keep Out" sign attached to it.

Full peacock display

I tried to get nearer and slowly approached him across the old tennis courts.  He did not like it and put his feathers away!

Peacock folding up his beautiful feathers

Then he walked off and I had a look inside the cage.  Just behind his display area there was a peahen sitting at the top of a tree branch and looking out at me.

Peahen inside a cage covered with netting

In fact, there were 4 peahens inside the cage, including 1 white one.

White peahen inside a netting-covered cage

No doubt they were being kept in there for their own good!

Swan and 6 cygnets swim in lake at St. James's Park

On one of the islands in St. James's Park there was a Mute Swan sitting on a large nest.  I thought that she was sitting on eggs.

Mute swan sitting on her nest

 In fact, as 3 cygnets suddenly popped up from under her body, I realised that she was patiently keeping her babies warm.

3 cygnets suddenly appear from under mum's body

 It was time for a swim, dinner and a drink.

Mute Swan with 6 small cygnets

 I was watching from the pathway round the lake, which was looking very pretty with greenery and spring flowers.

Mute Swan mother and babies on the lake

 Mum swan has a long piece of vegetation in her beak.

Mute swan pen eating vegetation with her cygnets

 While they were on the water, a Mallard family with lots of ducklings swam quickly past.  Only one duckling is in this photograph.

Mute swan pen, cygnets, female Mallard and a duckling

 The swan and cygnets swam around for a while.  In this photograph, one of the cygnets is failing to keep up.

Mute swan with 5 cygnets by her body and 1 lagging behind

 It is very colourful in the park at the moment and the sun was momentarily shining.

Mute swan, cygnets, Mallard and other ducks

 Then it was time to head back home.

Mute Swan Pen and her cygnets

The mute swan has a neighbour - a black swan is sitting on a nest on the other side of the tree stump to her nest.  She was no doubt noting what she has to look forward to - assuming that she is sitting on eggs and that they hatch successfully.

Mute swan and cygnets going home past their neighbour black swan's nest

Swan and new cygnets on Long Water

A couple of days ago I was in Kensington Gardens and looking for the swan's nest that is near the Italian Garden at the end of the Long Water.  It can no longer be seen from the Italian Garden as the thick leaves round the nest hide it from view, so the swan was very wise to choose that area away from lots of prying eyes.  However, it can be seen from the opposite side of the water, looking between the trees and reeds.  The cygnets hatched a few days before my walk and some of them can just be seen in front of the mother swan.

Mute Swan with cygnets on nest

I wandered off and had a sandwich while sitting on a bench near the bridge that divides the Long Water from the Serpentine.  Then I decided to go and have another peek at the swan's nest.  This time mum was taking the cygnets for a swim.

Mute swan pen and cygnets

They swam around for a while.

Mute swan and her six cygnets seen through the reeds

Then it was time to go back to the nest.

Mute swan leading her cygnets back to the nest

 Now then, form an orderly line!

Cygnets climbing back up into the nest

Now the mother swan can settle down again while waiting for her cygnets to get back into the warm under her wing.

Cygnets getting ready to get back under mum's wing

I shall have to try to go back there again soon in order to check on the progress of the cygnets.

Show-off and shy peacocks at Pendley Manor

I went with friends on Friday to Pendley Manor in Tring, where we were having dinner and an over-night stay.  The first thing I saw when we approached the hotel at lunchtime was this magnificent peacock standing on a tall stone urn and showing off his feathers, which were dangling almost all the way down to the ground.

Peacock showing off his magnificent long feathers

What a handsome bird - and the colour of his head and neck is amazing.

Brightly coloured peacock standing on the top of a stone urn and pillar

After lunch I wandered round the grounds and came across an incredibly shy white peacock.  I don't know why he had to hide under the table.

White peacock hiding under the outdoor table

He was just playing hard to get.  Fortunately, later on I had a chance to see a lot more of him.  I hope to post more photos later.

One lonely Mandarin chick with mum and dad

A mum Mandarin duck was standing watching her one remaining chick at the edge of the Long Water in Kensington Gardens.

Dad was snoozing on the top of a nearby post.

Sleepy Mandarin drake

The duckling decided to look for something to eat.

Mandarin duckling looking for food

A Magpie flew to the edge of the water.  It was looking very interested in the duckling.

Magpie on the edge of the bank

Mum Mandarin flew up at it and chased it around, so it flew off.  Thank goodness!  Then dad Mandarin woke up.

Beautiful Mandarin drake

The Mandarin duck decided that it was time to make a move.

Mandarin duck in water while duckling is still on dry land

The female started to swim away.  The baby eventually got into the water, but I don't have a photo.

Female Mandarin duck

The male followed behind.  He is so gorgeous!

Mandarin drake with reflection in the water