Croydon Ducks - Kelsey Park

Croydon Ducks - Kelsey Park - 2011

Latest update: 12th December 2012

External Links: Council Information and Map Google Map Friends of Kelsey Park Wikipedia

Kelsey Park is situated in Beckenham, just outside the Croydon boundary and not that far from Elmers End and South Norwood Country
Park. It is a long park with a river flowing through, with large lakes and ponds, and many formal gardens. Kelsey Park is owned by
Bromley Council and is about 100 years old.

There are entrances all around the park, with road parking only, Kelsey Park Road in the north, Manor Way west side (entrance top and
half way down the road), Wickham Road east side (only entrances near southern end), and Stone Park Avenue along the southern border.
There is a cafe and playground on the east side near the south of the park, the better borders and planting appear to be the west side.
Unfortunately, the west side of the park is barred to dogs (even on leads) so we have only visited the east side.

The Friends of Kelsey Park has an excellent Wildlife Sightings page that shows many of the more unusual water fowl in the park,
including Mandarin, Wood, Muscovy and Appleyard Ducks, Greylag and Egyptian Geese, and Swan cygnets.

Looking north up Kelsey Park from near the southern entrance, lake on the left. Due to heavy vegetation, not easy to feed ducks from
here.

30th July 2011, taken from a high bridge over the lake, near the cafe, looking north, slow moving water under the bridge has caused a lot of debris in
the water. A few water fowl on the way for food.

Looking south from the same bridge, various Canada Geese.

The western side of Kelsey Park, rich borders and geese all over the lawns, but no dogs allowed so could not get any closer.

Various ducks on the way for food.

A Mallard family.

A partial Albino Coot, normally black but with some hite.

About half way up the park, a more favoured feeding location with swans, geese and ducks waiting for food.

Looking across the lake to the western side of the park, lots of Canada Geese.

Another feeding area near another bridge to the main entrance in Manor Road, lots more Canada Geese and a few Mallard ducks.

A small waterfall, presumably the dam here has created the large lake behind.

Another Mallard Duck family, ducklings are about four weeks old.

A female Mandarin Duck, none of the rich colours of the male. Did not see any male Mandarins, but the Friends web page suggests
there are about 40 in the park, perhaps they have moulted their rich colours already.

Another Mallard family, ducklings perhaps two weeks old.

The northern entrance to the park on the left into Kelsey Park Road, with the river continuing off north beyond the park and feeding into
the river Ravensbourne which leads to the Thames.

The outlet from the main lakes down a cascade towards the river Ravensbourne.

9th October 2011, the mallards have got their winter colours back, looks like a swan in the centre of the group, but strange colour.

A Cormorant balancing on a tree branch over the lake.

A group of Mallards on one of the smaller ponds.

Feeding time on the main lake, geese, swans, domestic ducks and various sea birds.

The park cafe was very busy on a chilly autumn Sunday morning, as was the rest of the park.

An immature Herring Gull.

Christmas 2011, a lot of birds on one of the smaller ponds, very hungry.

Probably a Greylag Goose with yellow beak, surrounded by Mallards and Canada Geese.

The Greylag and Canada Geese are sufficiently hungry to fed by hand, despite the dog watching them closely.

Two large domestic ducks with yellow bills, surrounded by Mallards, Coots and Canada Geese.

View across the main lake, not as many birds as the smaller pond, more widely spread out, Canada Geese, Tufted Ducks and Coots.

A view of the main lake from the dog free western side of the lake which has much more expansive planting.

Another view of the main lake from the western side, towards the two viewing platforms from which many of the earlier photos were taken.

The Manor Way entrance to the park, half way down the west side of the park. There are railings protecting all the plants, so don't
know why dogs are barred from this area.

Our first sighting of Mandarin Ducks, on the western side of the smaller lake.

Mandarin Ducks are so distinctive they can not be mistaken for any other birds.

More Mandarin Ducks with a Mute Swan sleeping on the floating island.

Finally the Mandarin Ducks show some interest in food and come towards the bank, with various Mallards and sea birds.

The Canada Geese arrive for food, five Mandarin Ducks at the back of the photo.

A Muscovy Duck, called Boris according to other walkers, resident on the western side of the park.

The Muscovy Duck eating nuts which the other walkers had brought for him, before the other birds can get to them, smaller Mallard
in the background.

A view of the smaller lake from the western side, the dog walker path on the far bank is away from the water.

Another view of the smaller lake at the north end of the park from the western side, a Coot and many Mandarins.