Birds and bluebells seen during a walk along the cliffs at Berwick-upon-Tweed on 8th May 2026

I arrived in Berwick-upon-Tweed at lunchtime, before my holiday mobile home was ready, so I left my luggage with security and wandered along the path on the cliffs

Two Linnets were sitting on the fence at the edge of the holiday park

Crow helpfully pointing out which direction I should take

Male Chaffinch with food for his babies

Berwick lighthouse in the distance at the end of a long promenade

Patch of pretty Bluebells on the road down towards the lighthouse

Someone must like birds!

Pied Wagtail on a wall

House Sparrow amongst foliage

Herring Gull with nesting material on a roof

Two young Stonechats on each side of a shrub with brambles

The young Stonechats then sat together on the side of the shrub

until one flew away!

I think this may be mum Stonechat

and dad Stonechat!

 What a lovely start to my week long stay in Berwick-upon-Tweed

Wildlife, nature and butterflies seen during visit to Hastings Country Park on 22nd April 2026

Song thrush near the top of a tree while on my way to Warren Glen

There weren't many birds about, but I did see a few butterflies:

Comma butterfly with very ragged wings

Side view of the Comma

Small Copper butterfly

Holly Blue butterfly

I walked down the path from the top part of Warren Glen

but decided not to go down to the lower part as it was too steep for me as I have a bad knee

Instead, I walked along Barley Lane and then went down the path leading to the Dripping well

Lots of Wild Garlic lined the edge of the path

There were also lots of Bluebells

and a Speckled Wood butterfly on white blossom

Here, again, the path was too steep for me so I went back up to Barley Lane

I was hoping to see Yellowhammers in the country park, but this notice by a field had to do!

I just managed to capture a tiny Wren in the undergrowth along Barley Lane

View of the Coastguard cottage and radar station on my way back to the visitor centre

I hope the roaming horses did not eat all the Bluebells!

Part of the old sand quarry wall

Looking down towards the coast from Hastings Country Park

White Fan-tailed Pigeon entering its home on the roof of a house at the edge of the country park

There were several Fan-tailed Pigeons on the roof that were ready to go home

I had an enjoyable day in Hastings Country Park, but was disappointed with the lack of birds and I had not realised that the area was so steep

Birds and flowers in Battersea Park on hot sunny 8th April 2026

Lovely patch of Bluebells on the path at the beginning of my walk in the park

Egyptian parent and three goslings were startled by a sudden heavy flow of water from a nearby pipe

Close-up of gosling searching for snacks in the grass

Four military helicopters flew in formation over the park

Grey Heron pretending to be a statue in the Old English Garden

Beautiful white/yellow Irises

There were many fancy-shaped Tulips in the Old English Garden

The Grey Heron had moved round to the other side of the pond and posed in front of some flowers

Back at the lake, the Egyptian parents were standing with four of their six goslings

Oregon Grape at the edge of the footpath round the lake

Rather handsome Gadwall drake

and pretty female Gadwall

Common Pochard having a splashing time!

Coots doing what Coots love - fighting!!!

Recently I have seen none or just a few Mandarins - today one was swimming around on the lake

A Grey Heron flew overhead with what looks like a large fish in its beak

Two differently-coloured Mallard drakes swam across the lake

Back almost where I started, I was happy to see several Mandarin drakes - and just one female!

 I counted six male Mandarins altogether, but they refused to all be photographed together