Croydon Ducks - Kelsey Park

Croydon Ducks - Kelsey Park - 2019

Latest update: 26th December 2019

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 - 2018

13th January 2019, winter visit to the park, all very bare. Stream and path at top end of the park.

Stream leaving the park.

Waterfall from the top pond.

The top pond, only a few Mallards and a swan, very rare to see a swan here, probably one of last year's cygnets forced off the main lake
by it's parents.

Little further down the park, a few sea gulls.

More ducks the upper lake.

Always nice to see Mandarin ducks here.

Pair of Egyptian geese. Lot of successful breeding in recent years, lots at this park and most other parks.

One Canada goose, Mallards and more sea gulls.

Quite a few people here today.

The main waterfall.

Several more Mandarin ducks and Mallards below the main waterfall.,

Main lake is mostly sea gulls.

But two swans arrive, Canada and Greylag geese, Coots and Tufted ducks.

And another pair of Egyptian geese.

Difficult to feed the ducks and geese, the sea gulls dive bomb and grab the bread.

Third pair of Egyptian geese on the grass.

And another Egyptian goose on the lower pond, very low water level due to lack of rain.

But these birds are all hungry, not too many sea gulls here.

Looking down the main lake from the bridge.

Water not very deep, swans standing on their legs.

Birds on the bottom pond.

Large number of male and female Mandarin ducks on the bottom pond.

And the fourth pair of Egyptian geese.

Closer shot of the Mandarin ducks, including three females at the back.

Lots of Coots on the main lake.

Heron Island, with view of empty heron nests.

Another group of Mandarin ducks on the side of the main lake.

Yet more Egyptian geese, but now on the other side of the lake so may have seen them before.

Dog paddling area of the stream.

21st April 2019, south entrance to the park, splitting ahead to east and west side of the lakes.

The stream as it enters the park from the south, with a couple of Mallards.

Water level in the bottom pond even lower than January, very muddy.

Several Mandarin ducks near the bottom pond.

So pretty.

South part of the main lake, very quiet.

Few more birds arriving from the northern part of the lake.

Tufted ducks and Canada geese.

Heron Island.

Closer view of Herons on their island.

Two Egyptian geese by the lake.

And more Egyptian geese on the grass.

More Herons.

Egyptian geese off somewhere.

Not many Greylag geese today.

First babies of the year, a Coot family.

Another Heron looking for fish.

Pair of Mallards on the main lake.

Wider view of the lake.

Coot sitting on eggs in her nest.

Only one swan today, hopefully the other is sitting on a nest of eggs on the island.

Other side of the lower pond, Mallards and Canada geese.

20th June 2019, stream at southern end of the park again, no ducks this time.

Ducks and a Moorhen on the mud.

Waiting for food as usual.

Male and female Mandarin ducks.

Mallard boys seem to be losing their grey feathers earlier than normal this year.

Some activity in the main lake.

Several herons looking for fish.

The bottom pond from the high bridge.

Canada geese and Mallards on the main lake.

The high bridge at the bottom the main lake.

Lot of Canada geese today.

Two swans today, neither hungry, just diving and washing, no sign of any cygnets.

Egyptian and Greylag geese on the grass.

Two Greylag goslings.

Goslings eating duck pellets.

Now there are all three breeds of geese here.

The goslings are heading to the lake.

Nests on Heron island.

The nests really are massive structures, six feet wide.

Three Egyptian geese.

A Coot chick on the water.

And now the Greylag goslings are on the lake as well.

Midweek, the park is quiet, and everyone is following me down the path.

Lots of Canada geese..

The main waterfall.

Finally find Canada geese goslings near the upper pond.

Eating the duck pellets, the pigeons don't get first.

Moorhens on the grass.

Upper pond is busy this week, lots of Mallards and Coots.

And pigeons.

Mallards are hungry.

Stream leaving the park.

21st September 2019, walking the park the opposite way today, so the stream leaving the park again, low water flow after a dry summer.

Lots of Mallards and a few Canada Geese on the upper pond.

Do not seem that hungry today, not really following me.

The upper lake, a few birds arriving.

And more Mallards, geese and Coots.

More activity on the upper lake.

Including an Egyptian Goose.

Several birds below the main waterwall.

Lots of hungry birds above the waterall on the main lake.

The Greylag geese are always inquistive, looking for food.

And following me along the path.

Family of Moorhens, watched by a goose.

Greylags are sill hungry. Quite a few winter gulls here already.

The main lake and Heron Island.

Still a lot of geese on the path.

Finally find the swans near the Rose Garden.

No sign of any cygnets here this year, unusual.

More Egyptian Geese on the grass.

Very little water in the top pond at the southern end of the park.

Usually expect to see Mandarin ducks here.

But more Egpytian geese.

Lots of Mallards and geese under the bridge.

And on the main lake, more Egyptian geese.

The swans standing up in the shallow water at this end of the main lake.

A lot of Coots near the playground.

And some hungry ducks swimming this way.

But the main lake is tranquil.