Birds and flowers in St. James's Park, London - 4th July 2026

I set off for a walk round the lake in St. James's Park where I encountered large fluffy juvenile cygnets

resting with a parent Mute Swan on the muddy bank

Nene (Hawaiian goose) pulling up greenery from the lake

Lovely wildflowers planted at the edge of the lake

in front of the fountain and near tropical banana palms

Large group of cute fluffy little Mallard ducklings on their own in the centre of the lake

Barnacle goose marching along the edge of the lake right in front of me

Blonde Egyptian goose and partner

and juveniles

Two Bar-headed geese were very sensibly sitting in the shade

Blonde female Mallard

Not a good idea to go for a walk in the park on a hot Saturday afternoon!

Great White Pelican fishing in the lake

White hybrid goose

eating berry or seed of some sort

Cute baby Mallard duckling

Female Tufted ducks with a fairly neat line of fluffy little babies

Large patch of beautiful wildflowers

 

Birds, wildlife, nature and Camber Castle - walk round Rye Harbour Nature Reserve on 18th April 2026

My walk from Winchelsea Beach to the main part of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve took me past these two beautiful white horses in a field near an entrance to the reserve

I went past several modern houses

and one with an old railway carriage attached to the side

Robin singing happily in the morning sun

Common Whitethroat at the top of the branches

Little Egret in the Salt Pool

Distant Spotted Redshank in summer plumage some distance away in the Salt Pool

Another Common Whitethroat singing on the top of a tall shrub

Avocets on a little island in one of the lagoons

Some rather extravagant additions to mobile homes at the edge of Rye Harbour holiday park

RNLI crew cruising along the river Rother

Avocet and a Mallard with a lot of ducklings - viewed from Gooders hide

Groups of Sandwich Terns on small islands at Flat Beach

The iconic black tin shed with red roof and white windows/door

Church at the edge of the road in Rye Harbour

Blossom on the path in the other part of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve leading to Castle Water

Sheep with a lamb, plus Jackdaw, in a field at Castle Water

It was great to see a group of Yellow Wagtails in the sheep field at Castle Water

Light-coloured goose with a Greylag on Castle Water

Approaching Camber Castle after a long walk round the reserve

Yellow Snapdragon growing on the side of the castle

Camber Castle from the other side

I was glad they were behind the fence!

 

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