Mainly Mandarins in Battersea Park on 5th October 2024

I went for another walk in Battersea Park at the beginning of October.  At first the Mandarin ducks were hiding near the edge of the island in the centre of the lake.

They then came over to the edge of the lake

This one was showing off!

A group of drakes were trying to attract the attention of the females

Further round the lake, a dog had chased a grey squirrel and it ended up on a high branch in the tree

A Grey Heron was standing in shallow water near the edge of the lake

Back to where I started my walk and the Mandarin drakes were still showing off their fancy feathers

Pair of Mandarins at the edge of the footpath

Pair of Mute Swans - in fact, these are the only swans that live in Battersea Park

Pair of Mandarins on the water

A collection of Mandarin drakes trying to impress a female while being watched by a pair of Mallards

 

Birding at Two Tree Island, Leigh-on-Sea - 4th October 2024

I arrived in Leigh-on-Sea by bus as the train did not go further than Pitsea due to an incident there.  I had to walk down lots of steps from the top of the town down to the station and Thames estuary.

There was a Cricket resting on one of the steps

Two Little Egrets flew away when I approached them on Two Tree Island

A few Ringed Plovers were resting on a tiny island in the lagoon

There were lots of Black-tailed Godwits and some Avocets in the lagoon

The ruins of Hadleigh castle viewed from the bird hide on Two Tree Island

I came across a Firebug on the path along the edge of the island

A Little Egret was wading in the low water in Benfleet Creek

The tide was out in Old Leigh in the late afternoon

A Pied Wagtail was hopping around at the edge of the harbour

Sunset viewed from Old Leigh

 

Birds by the lake and flowers in the Old English Garden - Battersea Park - 28th September 2024

There were plenty of Mandarin drakes wearing their fancy breeding feathers

Several drakes surrounded a female

A Robin didn't mind having its photograph taken while it perched on railings

I went to the Herb Garden for the first time and found these strange dangling flowers

I also saw a multi-coloured Nasturtium flower

I then went to the Old English Garden and found a bee in the centre of this white flower

Lots of Marguerites in the sunshine

Beautiful yellow flowers

Green Rose-ringed Parakeet was stripping fluffy pieces from the Cardoon seed heads

Lovely red berries on top of a pergola

A pair of Egyptian geese were standing at the edge of the lake

I came across both Mute Swans during my walk round the lake

Holly berries - ready for Christmas!

A Sweetgum tree was covered with russet coloured leaves and large seed pods

A Magpie was mooching around in the sunshine

A Grey Heron landed in the middle of pigeons that were feeding on the ground

Tufted drake with a piece of soggy bread

Grey Heron standing on a low branch overhanging the lake