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

Photo

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.

Photo

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

Photo

But there is one Moorhen collecting food.

Photo

Finally one girl duck arrives. 

Photo

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

Photo

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

Photo

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

Photo

The waterfall from the large lake. 

Photo

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

Photo

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

Photo

Another Coot famiily being fed by mother.

Photo

Unusual colouring for a duck.

Photo

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

Photo

Some Tufted Ducks swim across the lake for food. 

Photo

A swan on the lower lake, still quite peaceful. 

Photo

Another Coot nest, almost hidden by branches.

Photo

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

Photo

The four goslings must be a few weeks old now. 

Photo

The goslings are already larger than Mallards. 

Photo

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

Photo

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

Photo

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

Photo

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.

Photo

The Egyptian Geese again.

Photo

Another Mandarin duck. 

Photo

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

Photo

The Mandarin mother and duckling, with two boys.  

Photo

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

Photo

All very happy now eating duck pellets. 

Photo

The parents are agressive, keeping geese and ducks away. 

 Photo

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

Photo

One of trhe adults eating pellets. 

 Photo

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

Photo

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

Photo

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

Photo

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

Photo

The lake looks so peaceful from here.  

Photo

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

 

 

All photos and text on this web site is © Copyright 2011-2022  www.croydonducks.co.uk and may not be reproduced, copied or linked
without prior written permission.  All rights reserved.