Croydon Ducks - South Norwood Country Park

Croydon Ducks - South Norwood Country Park - 2016

Latest update: 5th September 2016

External Links: Council Information Goggle Map Wikipedia Croydon RSPB

South Norwood County Park is a 125 acre park, adjacent to Elmers End railway station, three tram stations and Beckenham
Cemetery. It is mostly wild wet meadows and woods, with a large pond or lake. The land was originally a sewage farm, then
unused for many years and only developed as a park 25 years ago.

There is a car park in the park, entrance in Albert Road (SE25 4QL for satnavs, both shown on the map above) next to the Croydon
Sports Arena, parallel to Portland Road in South Norwood, and entrances from the three tram stations, Elmers End, Arena and Harrington
Road. The park is closed at night. Note that South Norwood Lake and Grounds is a different park, a couple of miles away.

There is visitor centre with toilets next to the car park, but it's only open for two hours weekend afternoons. Also an excellent children's
playground and pitch and putt. There are lots of paths through the park, with cycling encouraged, but no sign posts and some of the
smaller paths are hard to find. The park is well managed for wildlife, with natural fences made from tree trunks and branches around the
pond and along the streams to stop dogs worrying the wildlife. The pond has a large island for nesting and resting, and four small jetties
for visitors to feed the wild fowl. There is a no fishing in the lake.

Older Photos of South Norwood Country Park - 2015

26th June 2016, the lake is quiet, but various ducks and geese do arrive as they realise food is available.

A Coot family.

Various Canada Geese, Mallards and Tufted Ducks.

In the summer, this stream would normally be a slow trickle, but recent heavy rains means a good flow, and muddy paths.

Moved to the other side of the lake, all seems very peaceful.

But two Coots arrive from the nesting area.

Followed by a pair of Egyptian Geese with two goslings. There are three more at Kelsey Park and two at Waddon Ponds, so breeding
seems to be going well.

Now some Canada Geese arrive.

The Egyptian Geese gosling stay out of the way.

And now a Canada Goose gosling, but only a single one is very sad.

Now some ducklings arrive, probably Mallard but mother at the back has a white neck rings which is unusual.

The ducklings again.

The ducklings and mother.

21st August 2016, the lake appears very peaceful, hardly a goose in sight.

In the two months since my last visit, all the ducklings and goslings will be fledged, and many may have flow away. But there are
still Coots, Mallards, Tufted Ducks and Canada Geese here.

Only ducklings are some Coots in the distance.

Not very hungry today.

Almost certainly a Mallard family, not flown away yet.

On the other side of the lake, two Egyptian Geese who had goslings last time, hopefully flown away.

Two swans as well, but no cygnets.

Not a lot of interest in food. Did see a flock of Canada Geese flying over the island and landing on the far side.

One Mallard duckling with mother, about four weeks old.

One of the Egyptian Geese, but not much interest in food.