Great White Pelicans and their four chicks in St. James's Park - 20th September 2026

As I entered the park, I came across a couple of patches of Autumn Crocus

Mauve

and white

Five adult Great White Pelicans and their four chicks were gathered together under a tree by the lake

Resting adult Pelican

Preening chick

Two of the chicks were sitting on the ground

Two chicks opened their large beaks while a smaller adult walked along the edge of the lake near them

One of the chicks stretched its wing while balancing on one leg

The adults decided it was time to leave the family and departed one-by-one

The five adults were joined on the water by one of the large chicks

The adults and chick swam in formation along the lake while following a much smaller Black Swan

Closer view of the chick with one of the adult Pelicans

Spot the odd one out!  A Great Crested Grebe was floating nearby

The adults Pelicans and chick carried on along the lake with me trying to keep up with them!

The group eventually reached land near the little house on Duck Island where the adults are normally fed - by this time they had been joined by the sixth adult pelican that lives in the park

The chick was striding about in front of the reeds

The adult Pelicans came onto land, one by one

The chick began making loud noises and was fed by one of the adults

which is not a pretty sight as the chick sticks its long beak right down the throat of the adult!

One of the other adults was watching this revolting event!

then there was an audience of two adults!

The chick wanted more - but the adult did not oblige and ended up running away and hiding in reeds

One of the other adults patiently waiting near the cottage garden

while another adult preened its feathers near the fence at the edge of the cottage allotment and garden

All six adult Great White Pelicans and the large chick on the other side of Duck Cottage garden

The wildlife officer did not turn up with any fish while I was by the Pelicans, so I left

A small white butterfly briefly visited white flowers in the flower bed near Horseguards Parade

Wonderful coloured leaves and flowers in the flowerbed

I just managed to grab a photo of a Jay that had landed behind a shrub in the flowerbed

before it flew up into a tree

I wandered back along the lake and found the four Pelican chicks standing together - still under a tree

The hungry chick had obviously decided that it wasn't going to get fed again and had left the adults

Then it was time for me to leave the park after an interesting pelican-watching afternoon

 

Birds, flowers and other sights in Regent's Park, London - 15th September 2024

I hadn't visited Regent's Park for some time, so decided to go there on a sunny day.  Two Grey Herons were looking uncomfortable with one another on the side of the lake.

Suddenly the younger bird chased the older one away

There were some pretty Cyclamen amongst fallen leaves

A propeller plane with an RAF logo on the side flew over the park. I believe that it was an Avro Lancaster that was taking part in a Battle of Britain flight that day.

I have no idea who these people are or what they were doing on the other side of the lake.  I liked the fan-shaped headdresses worn by the ladies!

Two Cormorants were resting together on the large pebbles

One of the paths in the park runs along one side of London Zoo.  There is only one place where animals can be seen from the path - Camels in the children's section of the zoo.

I visited the Winter Garden, where I saw some Autumn Crocus

Pampas grass

Shrubs and trees

and this flower

I passed a Rowan tree with lots of red berries while I was walking to the Inner Circle

There were lots of beautiful roses in the inner circle part of the park

Then I went to the secret garden just off the road round the Inner Circle

Impressive vase with flowers at the end of the long entrance to the garden

I sat on a bench below these lovely purple Clematis flowers

I was joined by a nearby friend while I was sitting on the bench

The Robin came so close that I could have accidentally trodden on it if I had decided to stand up!

When I left the bench, the Robin flew onto the back of it

The lovely bench in front of the Clematis arbour

Large flowers in the secret garden

Then back to Regent's Park and more beautiful roses