Birds, including juvenile Great White Pelican chicks, in St. James's Park - 19th July 2026

I visited St. James's Park again hoping to see the new Pelican chicks as I walked round the lake

I saw a pair of Mute Swans with three juvenile cygnets from the bridge across the lake

Then I encountered one of the adult Great White Pelicans walking along a path at the edge of the grass

Further round the lake, I came across some pretty mauve Agapanthus flowers

a White Agapanthus flower

Beautiful red Roses

and some very pretty pink and pale orange Roses

Great Crested Grebe getting ready to dive

Black Swan sailing along the lake

At last, a view of two of the Pelican chicks standing near an adult under a tree on the island 

Grey Heron standing in front of tall wildflowers on the other side of the lake

Grey Squirrel sitting on a log

Lonely Giant Sunflower at the edge of a patch of wildflowers

I wandered back to the area near Pelican island

One of the Pelican chicks was at the edge of the lake.  The other three chicks and five adults were hidden in the shrubbery on the island.  I will have to try again another time!

The Pelican that I had seen earlier when I first began my walk was now on the path in front of the island where the chicks and other adults were sheltering and was wondering what all the fuss was about!

When I got back to the area where I first started the walk, I saw the Mute Swan family on land

Group of Mallard ducklings and adults in the water by the bridge

 

Third and final visit to the Otter Estuary nature reserve on my last day in Devon - 19th March 2026

There was a group of Redshank feeding at the edge of the water in the Otter Estuary nature reserve

First time I had been to the nature reserve when part of it was still covered with water

Little Egret searching for food amongst the reeds

Four Oystercatchers on the mud as the tide went out

Shelduck hiding in the reeds behind a Grey Heron

Pied Wagtail standing on a pebbly island in the river Otter

Shelduck feeding in the mud at low tide

Rookery at the edge of the river

Peacock butterfly sunning itself on the path at the edge of the river Otter

There was a large hole in the path along the edge of the river Otter

Two male Eurasian Teal feeding on the river Otter

One final photograph of a lovely Little Egret in the Otter Estuary nature reserve

Such a great place - I only hope that I will be able to visit it again some time in the future

 

Bird and nature walk in Walthamstow Wetlands - 5th March 2026

Two male Tufted ducks on one of the reservoirs on a bright sunny day

Female following a male Tufted duck

Fresh new buds in front of a clear blue sky

Romeo, the local cat, chilling out in the sunshine

Pair of Egyptian geese in front of an island in the reservoir

Grey Heron with long extended neck

Gadwall drake standing in shallow water

Female Gadwall searching for a snack

Mute Swan and Grey Heron at the edge of the reservoir

Grey Heron lifting its wings ready for take-off

Tiny Wren towards the top of a tree

I took a photograph of a large swathe of Blackthorn blossoms and then saw a Peacock Butterfly in the centre!

Two Grey Herons at the side of the reservoir - both enjoying the lovely sunshine

The Engine House visitor centre

On the other side of the Wetlands a blond Egyptian goose was searching for a snack

Robin at the end of a branch as I left the Wetlands in the late afternoon