Walk round the lake and visit to the Old English Garden in Battersea Park - 3rd September 2026

I began my walk by the lake where I came across these two grey/white pigeons - I don't normally take photographs of pigeons, but I had not seen any in this colourway before

There were not many ducks on the lake, apart from the usual Mallards and Coots, but this female Common Pochard was amongst them

There were some lovely berries on this shrub at the edge of the lake

A Jay was perching on a tree branch - unfortunately in a dark area so I had to lighten the picture

Pampas Grass in the sunlight near the lake

I saw a Willow Emerald damselfly perching on a stem

and a Speckled Wood butterfly on a leaf

and also a Common Darter dragonfly resting on railings

There were still some beautiful pink Roses in the Rose Garden

and some purple Verbena

Huge Cardoon plant with lots of seed heads in the Old English Garden

Waterlilies in the pond in the Old English Garden

I sat on a bench under the Wisteria and relaxed for a while looking at the pond and fountain

There were still a few flowers on the Wisteria

There was a fringed curtain of green algae hanging all round the fountain bowl

Huge seed head in the Old English Garden

Lemon Hollyhock flower

Another pretty Waterlily

and another view of the pond and fountain with the Cardoon plant in the background

Beautiful dark pink Hollyhock flower

Back in the main part of the park, I came across flowering Yucca plants

and some lovely orange berries

Back at the lake, there were two female Mallards - one blonde and one in normal colouring

A dog had entered the lake and disturbed the water birds - the Mute Swan hissed loudly at it!

 

Wildlife and birds seen during a walk in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens - 30th January 2026

I began my walk at the Marble Arch end of Hyde Park where I came across this enormous Mimosa

A Blue Tit landed on the railings in front of me

There were some beautiful red berries in one of the enclosed garden areas

A male Blackbird stood on the grass for a short time

A Herring Gull was standing in the closed-off area that had recently been used for the Winter Wonderland fairground.  The ground is now being slowly repaired!

A Grey Squirrel came down from a tree and sat near some daffodils

A patch of grass in the Dell was completely covered with Snowdrops

A pair of Egyptian Geese were standing on top of a tall tree at the back of the Dell

Closer view of the pair of Egyptian Geese

Grey Squirrel resting on a tree in the Dell

Paperbush plant flowering near the Serpentine

Mute Swan standing at the edge of the Serpentine - I just missed it flapping its wings!

Canada goose at the back and what looks like a Canada/Greylag hybrid at the front

Pair of Gadwalls on the Serpentine

Mute Swan having a drink

Black-headed Gull standing on the landing stage on the Long Water in Kensington Gardens

Several Cormorants standing on a fallen chestnut branch in the Long Water

Robin and Grey Squirrel in the same tree

Azaleas in flower near the Flower Walk, Kensington Gardens

Brightly-coloured Cyclamen in a dark area along the Flower Walk

Black Swan following a Mute Swan on the Long Water

Black and Mute Swans preening together

Lovely Black Swan

showing off his long neck here!

Grey Squirrel on a bench near the edge of the Long Water

Aggressive Mute Swan breaking up a gathering of Mute Swans

Blonde Egyptian goose walking along the path at the edge of the Serpentine