Flora and fauna, including White Storks and other captive birds, at Barnes Wetland Centre on 23th September 2025

I started my visit to the Barnes Wetland Centre by heading to the southern part of the reserve

On the way I passed some lovely fluffy Cardoon seed heads

A male Common Darter dragonfly was perching on a leaf

I saw a male Wigeon from one of the bird hides on the south side

and a pair of Gadwalls

I then went to the other side of the wetlands where I saw a pair of American Wood ducks - part of the wildfowl collection

A free-flying Grey Heron was trying to eat a frog

The following photos are of some of the other exotic birds kept at Barnes:

Group of Chiloe Wigeon

White-faced Whistling ducks - don't know the name of the other ducks

Three Cape Teal

Beautiful White Storks

After leaving the wildfowl collection, I saw a dainty Willow Emerald damselfly resting on a leaf

A Magpie joined me for lunch on a nearby bench

Then, on the way out of that side of the wetlands, I saw a Cape Barren goose

On the way back to the south side of the wetlands, I passed some lovely Autumn berries

First time I have photographed green Rose-ringed Parakeets from above

I was on the top floor of the Peacock hide

Snipe standing at the edge of the lagoon

The light was fading by now - Three Northern Shovelers in the water and two Snipe in the background

Two more Northern Shovelers swimming across the lagoon

An orderly row of juvenile Cygnets - even without their parents there to guide them!

The highlight of the day was a Bittern in the far away reeds

Unfortunately my bridge camera could not do it justice!

 

Birds and European Paper Wasps at Rainham Marshes nature reserve - 20th September 2025

Grey Heron wandering along in front of the Purfleet Hide

View of distant Lapwings and Black-tailed Godwits in the lagoon

There's a Snipe hiding in there somewhere!

Chiffchaff hiding amongst the berries

Close view of a Peacock butterfly resting on a wooden handrail

Great Spotted Woodpecker perching in distant trees

There are lots of electricity pylons located in the nature reserve

and the top of one of them was covered with Starlings

Male Eurasian Teal trying to keep a low profile

Female Eurasian Teal cruising across the water in front of the Ken Barrett hide

View of the new window shutters attached to the outside of the Shooting Butts hide after some mindless vandalism closed it for months and months

Kestrel perching above a new shutter on the hide

Kestrel hovering

European Paper Wasps were making a nest inside one of the wooden handrails

Little Egret wading in front of the Purfleet hide

Female Northern Shoveler standing on mud

A couple of Lapwings standing in the lagoon on an overcast afternoon

 

Birds, flowers and an exotic outfit in St. James's Park in mid-September 2025

All six Great White Pelicans were preening or resting in the sunshine on Pelican Rocks

Colourful Pumpkins were hanging on a plant in the vegetable garden in front of Duck Cottage

A young Grey Heron stretched out its long neck

A Moorhen with an unusual patchy red/yellow beak was resting among a plant in one of the flowerbeds

There were some large Dahlias in the flowerbed near Horseguards Parade

The fountain was in full spray mode

I encountered a white Ross's goose at the edge of the lake

Portrait of a Barnacle goose

The Barnacle goose then stood at the edge of the lake and began to preen the feathers on its back

A small Coot marched towards a large juvenile Cygnet that was sitting on the footpath

Very acrobatic Red-breasted goose at the edge of the lake

Grey Heron sunbathing at the water's edge

Male Common Darter dragonfly perching at the edge of a twig

Suitable attire for a walk in the park????

 I never know what to expect when I go for a walk in London's St. James's Park!!