Birds and Pelicans - including an adult feeding a chick - in St. James's Park on 21st August 2026

The first bird I came across during my walk in St. James's Park was this lovely Bar-headed goose

I found five of the six adult Great White Pelicans gathered together on a small piece of land near the bridge.  They were resting at first, then they started to move about.

Across the bridge and further along the park, all four young Pelican chicks were standing together in foliage at the edge of the lake

The chicks eventually were completely hidden in the foliage so I wandered further along the lake where I saw a Black and a Mute Swan swimming along together

The Mute Swan was quickly seen off by another swan and the Black Swan continued alone

An adult Great Crested Grebe was accompanied by a stripey chick

Barnacle goose feeding near the lake

I was sitting on a bench when three Great White Pelicans swam by. I got up and followed them.

The adults were heading towards the chicks, which were waiting at the edge of the lake

One adult landed and the other two swam off towards the nesting island at the end of the lake

A hungry chick was following and squawking at the adult

Two chicks were following the adult

but only one got fed - by sticking its beak down the adult's throat in order to get some regurgitated fish!

After being fed, the chick was chasing the adult as it wanted more food

which it got!  Looks as though the adult is eating the chick in these photos!

Peace restored after lunch with all four chicks standing on a log with the adult nearby

Later, there was wing-flapping exercise - though all four chicks have pinioned wings and can't fly

They are most amazing creatures - and only a few months old

All four chicks standing at the edge of the lake, with the adult in the centre

It was time to go home after the feeding session and I saw a Goldeneye and Hooded Merganser - both female - before I left the park

 

Great Crested Grebes and chicks

I went to Battersea Park to try to find the Greater Crested Grebe and chick that I saw there recently - photos in one of my earlier posts.   To my joy, the first birds I saw when I reached the lake were the grebes. They were still far away in the centre of the lake but, causing me even greater joy, there were both parents and 2 chicks.

Great Crested Grebes with 2 chicks

I have to apologise for the quality of the pictures - the birds were really too far away to photograph properly and the light was bad.

Great Crested Grebes and chicks

The four grebes swam around together in the centre of the lake for a while, then they came a little nearer.  In the photo below, the chick looks bigger than the adult. 

Great Crested Grebe with chick

I love the chick's striped head and neck!

Great Crested Grebe chick with striped head

After a little while, the family swam off to the side of the lake and frolicked under the branches of a tree.

Great Crested Grebe drinking, plus Grebe chick

 

Great Crested Grebe and chick under a leafy branch

I then spent some time walking round the lake and, when I returned, one parent and chick were once again floating around in the centre of the lake.

Great Crested Grebe and chick

It was a cloudy day and late afternoon so there was not much light.  I am relatively new to photography and don't yet know how to use my camera properly, so have it on Auto and just point and shoot.  If anyone can give me any tips/advice or tell me where I can find an inexpensive photography course, I would be very grateful.  So apologies once again that the photos are not that great.

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!