Birds, flowers and an exotic outfit in St. James's Park in mid-September 2025

All six Great White Pelicans were preening or resting in the sunshine on Pelican Rocks

Colourful Pumpkins were hanging on a plant in the vegetable garden in front of Duck Cottage

A young Grey Heron stretched out its long neck

A Moorhen with an unusual patchy red/yellow beak was resting among a plant in one of the flowerbeds

There were some large Dahlias in the flowerbed near Horseguards Parade

The fountain was in full spray mode

I encountered a white Ross's goose at the edge of the lake

Portrait of a Barnacle goose

The Barnacle goose then stood at the edge of the lake and began to preen the feathers on its back

A small Coot marched towards a large juvenile Cygnet that was sitting on the footpath

Very acrobatic Red-breasted goose at the edge of the lake

Grey Heron sunbathing at the water's edge

Male Common Darter dragonfly perching at the edge of a twig

Suitable attire for a walk in the park????

 I never know what to expect when I go for a walk in London's St. James's Park!!

Wildlife at Walthamstow Wetlands on 14th August 2025

I visited Walthamstow Wetlands on a sunny day in the middle of August and firstly went to the bridge  over the stream on the main road.  

There I saw of pair of mating Willow Emerald damselflies

also a female Banded Demoiselle damselfly

and a male Banded Demoiselle damselfly

and a Migrant Hawker dragonfly

Over the road in the other part of the Wetlands, I saw a beautiful Waterlily in a small pool

I walked along a path at the edge of one of the reservoirs where a young Grey Heron was hiding from me

It moved onto a shrub near a blackberry hedge at the edge of the stream

A tiny blue butterfly was resting on the edge of a leaf

View of one of the imposing tall electricity pylons on the site

Multi-spotted Ladybird on a patch of yellow flowers

Three juvenile Tufted ducklings swam in unison along the stream

A juvenile Grebe was lurking near some waterlily pads

A parent was skulking near reeds at the edge of the stream

I was lucky enough to get a view of a Kingfisher with a fish in its beak

A Little Egret was standing in nearby shallow water

A Terrapin came up for some air - I originally thought it was dead because it was motionless for some time but, when I went past the same spot a little later, it had gone

Pair of mating Common Blue damselflies attached to a twig

Large juvenile Great Crested Grebe swimming in one of the reservoirs

There was an adult Great Crested Grebe with two unevenly-sized chicks in the distance

 

Wildlife at Rainham Marshes - 13th September 2024

Male Common Darter on the Thames path at Rainham Marshes

Comma butterfly on pink Sedum/Stonecrop flowers near the car park

Tall Cardoon plants with large seed heads at the edge of the car park

Bee in the centre of a still-flowering Cardoon

Upside-down Comma butterfly

White butterfly on a Buddleia flower

and on a Sedum

Cat bird watcher at the marshes

Marsh frog resting in the stream

Lapwing in front of the Purfleet hide

Juvenile Little Grebe - a parent was fishing nearby

A juvenile male Kingfisher put on a performance in front of the MDZ bird hide.  Photographs were taken through the glass window, which is covered with camouflage netting with some camera lens-sized holes so that the birds don't get scared off.

Unidentified caterpillar on the path

A Migrant Hawker dragonfly was hanging from a shrub

Black-tailed Godwit with slightly windswept feathers at the Shooting Butts hide

Same Little Egret in two completely different poses

Peaceful view on a lovely day - with lots of electricity pylons in the distance

Bath time for a Shoveler duck

A  couple of Gadwalls on the move

Lapwing and Snipe

plus a few Black-headed gulls and a sleeping Black-tailed Godwit

It was great weather and I enjoyed a lovely walk along part of the Thames path outside the reserve and then a long walk all round the reserve itself.  I must go there more often!