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!!

Flowers and wildlife seen during a birthday walk in St. James's Park in mid-April 2025

It was a sunny Spring day and the beautiful Cowslips were in flower

Gargi, the only Great White Pelican in the park that can fly, was a lonely figure standing by herself at the edge of the lake.  Her five Pelican friends were in the island enclosure and not allowed out due to the possibility of bird flu in the area.  Gargi, apparently, could decide whether to join them or not!

Nene/Hawaiian goose standing at the edge of the lake

Mute Swan on a nest at the far end of the lake

Grey Heron standing on a branch towards the top of a tree

Tulip city in the flowerbeds at the Horseguards Parade end of the park

Close-up view of a lovely blue Iris

Two Barnacle geese not looking at one another!

Pretty pink Cherry blossom on a tree at the other end of the park

White Ross's goose trying to hide away on the island in the lake

Bar-headed goose swimming on the lake

 

First birding walk of the New Year - St. James's Park - 3rd January 2025

My walk began at the shrubbery near the entrance to the park where I saw a normal-coloured Great Tit

...and the dark melanistic version

I wouldn't want to cycle in the lake anyway!  Idiot vandals!!!!

Bright yellow eye on this Tufted drake

Millennium wheel viewed from the bridge across the lake

...also the buildings behind Horseguards Parade

Black Swan with her Mute Swan companion, plus a Greylag goose, on a sunny day

Black Swan near her companion's juvenile cygnet as he sails off to confront another swan

White Ross's goose approaching the railings

Grey Squirrel with a snack

Grey Heron enjoying the sunshine

All six Great White Pelicans standing (and shivering) at the edge of the lake

The Pelicans then moved over towards the bridge at Duck Island where two men were throwing fish to them

Red-headed Pochard at the other side of the lake - a member of the waterfowl collection

...also a Eurasian Teal

...and a Hooded Merganser

...and a Shelduck

...and two Barnacle geese

...and a Hawaiin goose

Green Rose-ringed Parakeet on a twiggy branch in front of a tree trunk

Pair of Egyptian geese near the exit to the park - the female is very light-coloured

Blue Tit perching on the edge of a coconut shell