Birds and plant walk in St. James's Park, London, at the end of October

At the end of October I went for a wildlife and nature walk in St. James's Park where I saw some lovely birds and plants - photos below are of some of the wildlife seen during my wander round the park.

Great Tit perching on a branch

Jay high up in a leafy tree

I think these are called Chinese Lanterns

Goldeneye drake - a member of the park's wildfowl collection

White Ross's goose - also belonging to the wildfowl collection

Couple of young Great Crested Grebes practising the grebe mating dance

Grey Heron posing near a tall blue flower

Aggressive Mute Swan and two calm Black Swans - plus a Shelduck and some Coots

Red-Crested Pochard drake

Spot the odd one out among the Coots!

Great White Pelican having a stretch

Three of the park's Pelicans heading off across the lake

Blue-billed duck - also a member of the wildfowl collection - it bill will turn bright blue in the breeding season

Frilly pink Nerine in sunshine

Fluffy Clematis seed pods

The third Black Swan

Bright red leaves in one of the flower beds

Large yellow daisy-like flowers

Purple flowers adding more colour to the flower bed

 

Third - and last - visit to Brownsea Island during my week long stay in Poole in October

While in the queue waiting for the Brownsea Island ferry, I watched these Sea Cadets bravely working on the rigging of their tall ship

First stop on the island was to see a Red Squirrel eating chestnuts on top of a sawn-off tree trunk

The tall ship with the Sea Cadets sailed round the edge of Brownsea Island lagoon while I was in a bird hide

Feisty Spoonbills were flying around and landing in the Tamarisk tree

The Brownsea Island ferry went past the Spoonbills in the lagoon

A few Spoonbills with lots of Oystercatchers in the distance

The boat that I travelled on during my Birds of Poole Harbour tour sailed past the Spoonbills

A few Curlews and a couple of Shelduck were standing around in the distance

The large group of Spoonbills flew to the far edge of the lagoon

The Lily Pond in the centre of the island

Interesting shapes on the carved wooden seats at either side of a swing in the woodland

Dredger working hard in the harbour

Pretty tree with some red leaves on the path at the southern end of the island

I watched a Pheasant ignoring the Brownsea Island tour bus

Then back to Red Squirrel watching!

Time to leave the island and I stared longingly at the holiday homes by the landing area

Great White Egret was fishing again near the landing stage

Goodbye Brownsea Island - I hope to visit again next year!

Visit to Chesil Beach and the Isle of Portland in Dorset

One day during my week long visit to Poole in Dorset, I went on the train to Weymouth and then by bus to the Isle of Portland.  Photos below of the wildlife and other things that I saw during the afternoon.

Pebbly Chesil Beach viewed from the Wild Chesil visitor centre

Wild Chesil Visitor Centre with Little Egret on the left

Male Stonechat on a rock at the edge of the car park

Ringed Plover on the muddy bed of the river at low tide

Turnstone at the edge of the river near the Wild Chesil Visitor Centre

Two Dunlin in the same area

Huge cruise ship outside Portland harbour

I foolishly climbed up a steep path and here is the view of Portland from the top of the cliff