Birds, insects, animals and buildings seen during a walk from Winchelsea Beach to Pett Level on 19th April 2026

I was standing at the edge of the high area along the coast and admiring the view, with a windmill in the distance, when a couple that lived in the area told me that it was Paul McCartney's recording studio!

Hog Hill Mill

One female and seven male Common Pochards in Pett Level nature reserve - access is wildlife only

Weird house on the way to Cliff End from Pett Level

Thatched house on the hill at Pett Level

Female Blackbird on grass near the canal

There seem to be a lot of box-like modern houses in East Sussex

Two Robins for the price of one - on and under the information board near the canal

World War Two look-out on top of Toot Rock

I walked past the base of Toot Rock on one side of the canal, but could go no further as this house was at the end of the path.  I had to turn round and walk back to the bridge and walk along the other side.  A notice could have been put up to say there was no through way!  

The Royal Military Canal - viewed from Pett Level

I ended up back at the coast in Pett Level and saw a Great Crested Grebe in the sea

Oystercatchers at the edge of the land and cows in the distance - Pett Level nature reserve

Seven-spot Ladybird on the path

Dungeness power station in the distance

Caddisfly on the path

Two Little Egrets at the edge of the reeds

Plenty of Cormorants, gulls and geese at the edge of a pond in Pett Level nature reserve

The mobile home holiday park where I was staying viewed from up on the path along the coast

There were plenty of sheep and lambs in the fields

 

Birds and flowers seen in Battersea Park during a hot sunny day - 26th February 2026

I went to Battersea Park on a sunny day at the end of February and discovered a pair of Mandarin ducks at the edge of the lake.

Mandarin drake doing his aerobics or practising his skateboarding!

The pair of Mandarins were watching me watching them!

The Mandarin drake fluffed up his feathers and made himself look very large

The pretty female relaxed at the edge of the lake

A pair of synchronised male Tufted ducks swam past

A Grey Heron stood at the edge of the lake and was being watched by a Black-headed gull

A male Norther Shoveler stopped shovelling for a few minutes near to some bubbling water

A female Northern Shoveler was in a shady part of the lake that was surrounded by trees

Long Catkins were hanging from branches at the edge of the lake

A Magpie perched on top of railings for a short while

Beautiful crocus growing in grass on a sloping mound

Carrion Crow admiring flowers in the sunshine

I was wishing that I could join this dog in one of the fountains in the park!

Brimstone butterfly feeding on tiny violets in the Old English Garden

near a Ladybird in the same flowers

Pretty mauve Scilla flowers - also in the Old English Garden

Back at the lake, I found two female Pochards

a distant Great Crested Grebe

and a pair of Northern Shovelers

It was lovely to see buds forming on a shrub at the edge of the lake

and some white Quince flowers

Finally, a pair of Great Crested Grebes at the edge of the island in the lake - one was adding bits and pieces to the nest underneath the overhanging branches

 

Siskins, butterflies and yachts - second visit to RSPB Arne nature reserve on 14th July 2024

I took further advantage of the summer shuttle bus between Wareham railway station and Arne and visited the nature reserve for a second time during my week in Dorset during July.

Great Tit and Siskin on a bird feeder at the entrance to the reserve

Female Siskin with seed

Male Siskin

Gatekeeper butterfly on Ragwort

I was thrilled to see a Marbled White butterfly - first time I have managed to photograph one

Seven-spot Ladybird on seed head amongst the Ragwort flowers

Second Marbled White butterfly - this one has tattered wings

Two Curlews viewed from the top deck of the Shipstal bird hide

Lots of yachts sailing round Brownsea Island

Then lots of yachts with coloured sails

View of Hyde Heath - part of Arne nature reserve

Stonechat on a bush in Hyde Heath

Silver-studded blue butterfly on the heath

Female wild pig in the woodland - there were piglets somewhere hidden away from view!  I did not have time to find them before I had to go back to the entrance in order to get the bus back to Wareham.