Croydon Ducks - Brickfields Meadow

Croydon Ducks - Brickfields Meadow - 2012

Latest update: 12th December 2012

External Links: Council Information Google Map

Brickfields Meadow is a 10 acre park in Woodside, only about 20 years old, the site of a old brick works with the main pond being an
old clay pit. When the clay ran out, they used clay dug from the Victoria Line underground tunnels to make bricks. Much of the site is
now new housing, the rest a new park with a large, deep, fish filled pond, and a small more natural pond, also woodland and play area.

Best parking is at the end of Christie Drive (CR0 6YA for satnavs), off Davidson Road in Woodside, but there are several entrances
around the meadow from other roads, including Anthony Road (off Morland Road) and Tennison Road (but not Birchanger Road to the
west), no gates.

The meadow is entirely surrounded by housing, and seems to be a depository for a lot of rubbish, including in the water which does
not always look very clear. Fishing is allowed in the pond, which has various water fowl, but no more than a dozen birds have been
seen at any one time.

Older Photos of Brickfields Meadow

2nd February 2012, several Mallard ducks on the main pond at Brickfields Meadow.

A week later and the pond has frozen solid, a little snow remaining, most melted within 24 hours, and this was the heaviest snow of
the winter.

But the small pond has remained ice free. one Mallard feeding.

A Grey Heron watching the main pond, but ice will stop it fishing.

14th February 2012, a pair of Mallards, and a red beaked Moorhen in the distance, there are several on the two ponds here who spend
their time darting in and out of the plants.

The pond is ice free again, several Mallards feeding.

A pair of Mallards.

8th March 2012, a pair of ducks swimming rapidly our way looking for food.

The stream and bridge between the large and small ponds in Brickfields Meadow, Coots looking for food.

One Mallard is happy to fed on the grass.

Another angle of the stream from the bridge. Vegetation has been heavily cut back during the winter.

15th March 2012, a pair of Canada Geese, only seen them on two visits this year, last year they were here for weeks.

Mallards and Coots on the small pond, several nest hidden here.

The geese again.

Mallards spend a lot of their time out of the water.

The Mallard is not pleased the goose is looking for her food.

Coots chasing each other around on the small pond.

30th March 2012, there were just three male Mallards on the main pond, who split off to three different parts of the two ponds,
which are possibly where their three mates are nesting. Might see ducklings in late April.

Fishermen are starting to visit the pond again now the weather is warmer.

4th May 2012, a pair of Canada Geese have returned to the pond, looking for food.

Coots and Mallards also looking for food.

Only saw a single female Mallard this visit, hopefully one or two others are sitting on nests.

Seven inches of rain in the last month means the bridge separating the two ponds is now flooded, although that does not stop Lucy
crossing. Never seen the water level this high before, it can not be draining away. But very good news for the fish in the pond.

For some reason, this pair of Mallards decide to follow us along the grass to the bridge, rather than swimming down the channel
between the two ponds.

21st May 2012, the meadow is much quieter than last year, no ducklings yet but two families of Coots. Unfortunately a tree seems
to have planted itself in the small pond just by the bridge obscuring photos of the pond, but there are two Coot chicks here, with red
beaks.

And here is the Coot nest, in the reeds. No geese nests to raid for branches and twigs here.

On the main pond, a second Coot family with two more chicks.

The whole Coot family.

Only a single pair of Mallards on the pond, Coot family by the far bank. no ducklings and no other males so probably no nests.

25th May 2012, the fishing season has started with most of the spots around the main pond occupied. A pair of Canada Geese swim
slowly across the water heading for bread we've put in the water.

Followed shortly afterwards by a pair of Mallards from the bank, and that's really it on the pond. There are Coots and Moorhens hidden
on the small pond, but no Mallard ducklings yet.

13th June 2012, the pond is very quiet, just a single Mallard, although his mate might be sitting on nest.

At least two families of Coots, the parents each feeding a chick.

Another Coot family on the small pond.

The pond water level was very high again with the bridge flooded, and some fish seem to have moved into the small pond and can ve
seen here in clear water, usually it looks like mud.

31st July 2012, first visit in six weeks, and the pond looks quiet, apart from a Coot and two Moorhens, but hidden in the reeds a few
yards away is a Mallard family.

Looks like mum and dad and three ducklings, about three weeks old so born in July which is very late, and another boy keeping a
distance.

Not expecting ducklings this late, so not very food to give them.

Around on the small pond, a second Mallard family (and more Coots and Moorhens), just mum and six ducklings, probably one or two
weeks old, again very late in the season, but it has been a late summer.

Just a little bread left for them. But they were feeding them selves which is good.

Lunch over, off they all swim to find somewhere to sleep. So in late July, there are more ducks at Brickfields Meadow than any time
this year.

10th August 2012, a hot summer day, lots of fishermen on the large pond, so all the ducks are on the small pond. The oldest family with
three ducklings arrives from the other end of the pond.

To join the younger family of six ducklings. Brought lots of food for them this week.

The family of six ducklings watched by mother, maybe three weeks old.

Two Moorhens are waiting for the ducks to leave, an adult foreground and chick behind.

Lunch over, the duck family resumes patrolling the small pond.

Over on the large pond, Coots and Moorhens.

24th August 2012, one single Mallard and some coots on the small pond.

Joined shortly afterwards by the family of three ducklings, about five or six weeks old now. No sign of the second family of ducks
this week, they may have been sleeping somewhere or hiding on the main pond from all the fishermen.

September 2012, all the Mallards are on the main pond today, mother and her four ducklings, presumably not yet flying.

Joined by the second Mallard family.

Really very busy for September, Coots and Moorhens as well as the Mallards, normally they have left by now.

Canada Geese are occasional visitors to the pond.

27th September 2012, we only find Moorhens on the pond today.

10th October 2012, but two weeks later the Mallard family is here again, arriving from the other end of the small pond.

All very hungry, usual.

Two adult boys and a Coot, more behind the reeds, not usually this busy outside the breeding season.

17th October 2012, a week later the ponds are quiet again, all the Mallards have left, one solitary bird coming for the floating bread, but
hopefully other Moorhens will find it later.

With just a few Moorhens on the small pond.