Birds, nature and wildlife at Rockley Park and Brownsea Island, near Poole, Dorset - 5th and 6th October 2025

I spent 4 nights at Rockley Holiday Park in early October and, while walking to my accommodation, I discovered a beautiful Peacock butterfly feeding on Mock Orange flowers

After I had unpacked, I walked to Rockley beach where a Little Egret was searching for food

There were lots of orange Pyracantha berries in the hedgerows

I then wandered up to the Ham Common Viewpoint where I could see many moored yachts and a distant Brownsea Island

Oystercatcher on the beach below the Ham Common Viewpoint

Another view of the moored yachts and distant Brownsea Island

The closest I am ever going to get to a White-tailed Eagle

The next morning I got the ferry from Poole Harbour over to Brownsea Island

A Peacock was displaying his very short tail feathers while standing in front of the church

A few of over seventy Spoonbills in Brownsea lagoon

Close view of an Avocet standing in front of the aptly named Avocet bird hide

Greenshank - also in front of the Avocet hide

I was lucky enough to be in the hide when a female Kingfisher flew over and perched on a pole

I then went into the woodland where a Red Squirrel was posing nicely on top of a tree trunk

Female Common Darter dragonfly resting in a patch of sunlight

Grey Wagtail on a fallen branch in the waterlily pond

Wren perching on a twig on the dark side of the woodland path

Greenfinch on a feeder on the light side of the woodland path

Female Pheasant blending in with the fallen autumn leaves

Back at the lagoon, a Black-tailed Godwit was standing in front of a small island

Female Shoveler duck on the left, Greenshank in the centre and Redshank on the right

Redshank with reflection

A went for a last look in the woodland before leaving the island and came across a Red Squirrel sitting on the ground

 I loved my day on Brownsea Island and was planning to return there for a second time later in the week

Wildlife and flowers in Battersea Park, London, towards the end of September 2025

Adult Great Crested Grebe feeding a fish to a juvenile at the back of the lake

There were still some lovely flowers in the Old English Garden

Grey Wagtail at the edge of the pond with its back to me before it flew away

Speckled Wood butterfly resting on a leaf

A few beautiful Water Lilies were in flower

Grey Heron standing at the edge of the pond

decided to sunbathe

Pretty orange flower

Grey Squirrel standing by a large plant container in a dark part of the garden

 

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!