Croydon Ducks - Millers Pond

Croydon Ducks - Millers Pond - 2018

Latest update: 10th January 2019

External Links: Council Information Google Map Friends of Millers Pond

Millers Pond is a small four acre park in Shirley surrounded by housing, main entrance in Shirley Way, south of the Wickham Road,
best parking in Worcester Close (CR0 8HT for satnavs) on the east side of the park.

The park was acquired by the council in the 1930s, and is well looked after by the Friends of Millers Pond. It is very popular with dog
walkers and families, and the vast number of water fowl on such a small pond suggest the locals keep them well fed.

Older Photos of Millers Pond - 2017

7th January 2018, all the usual Mallards, Canada Geese, Coots and sea gulls.

And the pair of Egyptian Geese.

Fewer sea gulls around the large island.

21st January 2018, sea gulls seem calmer today, at lease until the food comes out.

11th February 2018, very tranquil, everyone must be hiding around the islands.

The Eygptian and Canada Geese are on the grass instead of the water.

While the sea gulls are on the water.

18th February 2018, don't seem very hungry this week.

Too early for nest building, we had recent snow and it's still very cold.

11th March 2018, Lucy the dog in the distance, avoiding the Canada Geese. Sea gulls make it hard to feed the ducks.

Sea gulls harrassing the ducks and geese.

25th March 2018, fewer sea gulls this week, perhaps flown off north for the summer.

The Egyptian Geese are still here.

A single Mandarin Duck, probably visiting from Kelsey Park a couple of miles away where there are many more.

1st April 2018, the sea gulls have finally left.

And the Coots are busy building nests.

Don't seem very hungry this week.

The Canada Geese are also nesting, this one on the small island.

Another Canada Goose nest, well hidden on the large island, just see the goose on it. But the park wardens are known to collect eggs
to keep the population under control, and no goslings two months later.

Another Coot nest on the small island.

8th April 2018, very tranquil again.

The Coot nest in the centre of the pond.

Some activity on the grass behind the pond.

Ducks and geese behind the large island.

Better view of the goose nest on the large island.

Looks like eggs in the goose nest on the small island, but never saw any goslings.

The two Egyptian Geese waiting on the small island with a Moorhen behind them.

The Coot nest is twice the height of last week, no idea why theu build such massive structures.

22nd April 2018, pond seems calm again.

The Coot is still sitting patiently on her eggs.

Don't often see Greylag Geese here, probably visiting from Kelsey Park.

13th May 2018, hungry this week, rushing across the grass as we walk in the park gate.

The Coots have a new family, with tiny red beaks.

There is a Mallard family as well, with seven ducklings, probably one or two weeks old.

The Coot family is back near their nest on the small island.

Mother followed by her chick.

One parent is back on the nest.

The other parent is on the island with more chicks.

View of the small island.

The Mallard family is now behind the large island.

The ducklings again.

Geese resting nest the water.

The ducklings are now out of the water eating duck pellets.

The geese like duck pellets as well.

Another Coot family on the nest in the centre of the pond.

And now coming close to the pond edge for duck pellets.

20th May 2018, the Egyptian Geese are waiting just inside the park gate.

With a lot more Canada Geese.

No sign of ducklings initially.

The Coot family is still back on the island.

A new Coot nest between the two islands, somewhat smaller than some of the others on the pond.

Anothjer Coot nest on the small island.

Several Mallards sleeping near the water.

Found the Mallard family at the far end of the pond.

All happy eating duck pellets.

Some geese arrive as well.

The Coot family from the middle of the pond.

With their nest in the background.

And now back on their nest.

27th May 2018, another tranquil morning.

Pair of Tufted Ducks, with more heading our way.

Coot nest.

Coots familty.

The Coot chicks prefer to fed, rather then feeding themselves, wherwas as ducklings always look after themselves. Did not see the
duckings this week, must have been sleeping on the island.

Egyptian goose near the water.

Several Coots behind the large island.

The new Coot nest is a little larger this week.

Not that hungrry really.

10th June 2018 - very peaceful.

They finally arrive for food.

A turtle sunbathing on the Coot nest.

A Mallard quacking.

The Coot tries to get back onto her nest. They spend days or weeks building them.

Still not that hungry.

More birds near the beach.

17th June 2018 - a little more interest this week.

The Mallards are all on another part of the pond.

One Coot family being fed by the parents.

The Mallard ducklings are now six or seven weeks old, almost fully grown.

The ducks and geese have moved around to the islands.

A Moorehen looking for food.

24th June 2018 - lots of birds in the distance.

Another new Coot family, several chicks a few days old.

The Mallard ducklings looking for food.

The ducklings again.

The older Coot family.

Hungy birds climbing the bank toward the path looking for food.

Behind the large island.

The Coot is now sharing her nest with two turtles.

Mallards and Canafa Geese on the small island.

Four Coot chicks, without mother.

1st July 2018 - seems hungry today.

A new Mallard family, three ducklings maybe a week old.

The ducklings again trying to stay away from much larger birds. No goslings this year, park wardens probably took the geese eggs.

Coot family being fed by both parents.

The ducklings again.

Another Coot family.

8th July 2018 - not quite as busy today, must be lots of natural food.

Four Mallard ducklings, two or three weeks old.

Ducklings staying out of the way.

A fifth duckling has appeared.

Lots of birds by the small island.

The turtle is making the most of the hot weather.

Mallard ducklings resting out of the water.

15th July 2018 - Canada Geese heading our way.

The turtle is sharing the Coot nest with two large chicks.

Not many ducks today.

The dry and hot summer means little new water from the stream that feeds the pond, and evaporation dropping the water level.

So the birds are walking on mud behind the large island, rather than swimming.

Water level on the main pond is low but still swimmable, not sure if the council removed the fish this year.

22nd July 2018 - not hungry again.

Apart from the Mallard ducklings.

And a Coot chick.

Lazy birds on the small island.

Lazy turtle.

Water level even lower than last week.

Far side of the pond.

Large ducklings on the bank.

Low water level evident at the beach as well.

5th August 2018 - there has been some rain finally, pond looks fresher.

Coot family is now almost fully grown.

Canada geese at the beach.

The rain has raised the pond water level again behind the large island.

The Coot nest between the two islands has diasappeared, nowhere for the turtles to sunbathe.

12th August 2018 - all seems very quiet.

A few birds on the small island.

Had some heavy rain, although the water level is only a little higher than last week.

Two herons looking for fish.

19th August 2018 - Coot chicks eating on their own.

Birds seems hungier than in previous weeks.

An almost while Mallard, quite rare.

The white Mallard again. Only saw it a couple of times.

Following us around the pond.

And behind the large island.

26th August 2018 - not many birds here initially.

But they arrive from around the pond.

The white Mallard is still here.

All showing more interest in food.

2nd September 2018 - mix of Mallards, Canada Geese and Coots.

Eating on the path.

And on the lawn, the white Mallard again.

Following us again.

9th September 2018 - only Coots initially.

This week lots of Mallards on the path.

The white Mallard seems to be getting greyer.

Beside the large island. Always find Moorhens here.

Hungry when they climb out of the water looking for food.

But more peaceful on the main pond.

16th September 2018 - various birds heading our way.

Lots of Mallards and one Coot on the path.

And following us around the pond, lead by Greylag goose, don't see them here very often.

And now many out of the water.

The white Mallard is darker and her beak seems redder, perhaps a new duckling this year still changing colour.

30th September 2018 - quioet again.

One sea gull in the distance.

Feeding on the grass again.

The birds have found something more interesting than my food.

7th October 2018 - hungry this week.

Eating on the grass again.

The Greylag goose is still here.

Lots of ducks on the far side of the pond.

Geese leaving thr water which means they are hungry.

Still quite busy, not too many sea gulls yet.

21st October 2018 - Sea gulls are returning from the artic is large numbers.

All waiting for food.

On the grass again, the yellow beaked Canada Goose.

Eating their brown bread.

The large island.

The ducks like this area behind the pond.

Still hungry.

4th November 2018 - The sea gulls now start getting agreesive, diving into the ducks to get food.

It gets very noisy with all the sea gulls.

Ducks are still hungry.

So hungry they climb the pond bank onto the path to follow us.

Far end of the pond.

11th November 2018 - birds heading our way on the water, sea gulls dive bombing.

November has been very wet so muddy, but need the rain after a dry summer.

Everyone is hungry again.

Only a few geese at the beach this week.,

18th November 2018 - seems quieter this week.

A few Coots.

One of the Canada Geese is trying to peck me.

25th November 2018 - hungry this week.

Sea gulls still causing trouble.

Lots of Mallards following me down the path, and the sea gulls as well.

Even the ducks and geese are avoiding the sea gulls.

2nd December 2018 - started feeding the ducks in this area behind the jetty which they swim under, the sea gulls avoid this area.

Lucy the dog gets to ride in a buggy, she is almost 18 years old and can not longer walk all the way around the park on her own, but
enjoys being outside meeting other dogs and people.