Croydon Ducks - Kelsey Park

Croydon Ducks - Kelsey Park - 2018

Latest update: 4th June 2018

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 (BR3 6LJ for satnavs) in the north, Manor Way
west side (BR3 3LJ, entrance top and near the middle of the road), Wickham Road (BR3 8QW) east side (only entrance near
southern end) which is close to the cafe and play ground, and Stone Park Avenue (BR3 3LT) along the southern border. 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).

Older Photos of Kelsey Park - 2017

25th May 2018, first visit this year, long winter then wet spring, waited for better weather. But it rained the day before so waterfall heavy.

Unusually, all boy Mallards on the small upper pond. The dog paddling area on the far bank has been fenced off.

But there is one Moorhen collecting food.

Finally one girl duck arrives.

Further up the lake, a heron flies in the food.

Often see herons, but usually stationary watching and waiting for fish, unusual for them to come to eat.

The upper lake is relatively peaceful, few geese and ducks.

The waterfall from the large lake.

Even the large lake seems peaceful, alhough I have been spotted from the distance and some ducks and geese swim this way.

There are always Greylag geese on the path along the large lake.

Another Coot famiily being fed by mother.

Unusual colouring for a duck.

Several herons can be seen on the high nests on Heron Island.

Some Tufted Ducks swim across the lake for food.

A swan on the lower lake, still quite peaceful.

Another Coot nest, almost hidden by branches.

A Greylag Goose family on the grass beside the lower lake.

The four goslings must be a few weeks old now.

The goslings are already larger than Mallards.

Further up the same lawn, a lot of Mandarin Duck boys.

Water level on the lower pond is low, so lots of mud. More Mandarins.

Looking down the lower pond from the high bridge. The trees have not been cut back so poor visibility.

But there is an Egyptian Goose family, six of them all the same size. I've been told they breed here in the autumn, so probably from last year.

The Egyptian Geese again.

Another Mandarin duck.

Down at the side the upper pond, a Mandarin mother with one duckling. Unlike the colourful boys, female Mandarin are plain brown.

The Mandarin mother and duckling, with two boys.

FInally find the swan family, with nine cygnets. I'd guess a couple of weeks old.

All very happy now eating duck pellets.

The parents are agressive, keeping geese and ducks away.

Even that Coot that is close to the cygnets gets chased away.

One of trhe adults eating pellets.

A few feet away, a Mallard family arrives with four ducklings, the only one I see here today.

The ducklings are probably two weeks old as well, happy to eat duck pellets.

The cygnets and ducklings, not getting too close, very dangerous for ducklings to get close to swans.

A little further along the bank, where the ducklings are safer, but harder to see due to tree branch shade.

The lake looks so peaceful from here.

The pond below the main waterfall, a few ducks, but lots of pond weed.