Croydon Ducks - Waddon Ponds

Croydon Ducks - Waddon Ponds - 2016

Latest update: 6th May 2016

External Links: Council Information Google Map Croydon RSPB River Wandle Trust

Waddon Ponds is an eight acre park off the Purley Way, next to John Lewis, surrounded by housing. There are long ponds, gardens and a
playground. The ponds are fed by springs which are the source of the River Wandle, which runs buried though Croydon and eventually to
the Thames via other parks, including Morden Hall Park.

Best parking is in The Ridgeway or Waddon Court Road (CR0 4AG for satnavs), both off Croydon Road in Waddon, near the railway
station. There are entrances in other roads, including Mill Lane, next to John Lewis, but less parking. Closed at night.

There are lot of water fowl, including mute swans and a large number of coots. Nesting boxes are provided on stilts in the water. The water
fowl live both on and off the water, and wander around the lawns and gardens waiting to fed. The large number of water fowl suggest they
are well looked after by park visitors.

Older Photos of Waddon Ponds - 2015

27th March 2016, park is very quiet, hardly any birds.

A couple of Canada Geese and a Coot, no ducks.

The small pond is deserted, as torrential rain starts, and we run for the car.

17th April 2016, sunny weather this time, but the park is still very quiet.

A few Coots running around the grass.

The main lake is very quiet. No sign of the nesting island built a couple of years ago.

A few geese and Coots do come for food.

A Coot nest with an egg.

There are some Mallards around.

Further down the pond there are ducks, but still a fraction of the numbers from last year.

An unusual female Mallard, much lighter colouring than normal females and an almost totally orange beak.

This appears to be the same Mallard I saw in my garden pond earlier in the month.

Normally the female beak is very dark coloured with a splash of orange, she is the opposite.