Latest update:7th January 2014

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 - 2012

29th March 2013, very few visitors in the park despite it being a bank holiday, still very cold.  Not many geese here today either.  Plenty
of Coots and pigeons.

Lucy taking a brief dip.

A solitary Domestic Duck, not hungry.

The main pond, Mallards and Tufted Ducks.

I believe this is either a Little Grebe or a Red Necked Grebe, smaller than a Coot, round as a ball, kept diving and appearing yards
away. Seemed to on it's own.

Coots and geese following us down the pond, looking for food.  The nets are to protect the new pond edge planting done last spring,
but which has not really started to grow yet. 

View from the end of the pond, just one swan, very quiet.

But the swan seemed hungry.

The Little Grebe again, on the other side of the pond, Coot in the background.

The centre of the pond, a few Tufted Ducks.

27th May 2013, a Canada Goose family, just off the main path, all the goslings sleeping together.

Until they realise food is available, look about two weeks old.  The parents are hissing at the dog who gets too close.

A Coot family on the same pond, heading back to their nest box.

An older Coot chick.

The ponds are relatively quiet, not too many birds around, the fences have allowed the new pond side planting to survive.

Common site of the water fowl following us along the pond looking for more food.

No Mallard ducklings, just that single goose family.

Another Coot chick.

Very quiet on this pond as well.

As we complete our walk around the ponds, the goslings have gone back sleep.

4th August 2013, lots of Canada Geese on the grass.

And more geese in the water, no ducks here atall.

Near the bridge, the Coot nest is still being used.

And another Coot nest on the small pond.

Yet another Coot nest.

One of the few places you can get near the water and the birds can walk out, all the Coots seem to be here, with some Mallards.

The main pond, various geese and ducks.

Varous Mallards come looking for food.

It was probably hoped that nests would be built on the floating platforms, but they just seem to get used for resting.

The Coots prefer to build their nest in shallow water.

More Canada Geese on the main pond.

A Moorhen family near a perfect natural nest hole.

At least one of the nest boxes has a resident.

26th August 2013, good number of Mallards and Canada Geese on the smaller pond.

Including a white Aylesbury Duck, a domestic duck that can lay dozens of eggs a year.

The Aylesbury Duck swimming away.

Many of the Mallards have found a secluded area of grass.

One of the many Coot nests, with almost fully grown Coots.

Still lots of hungry geese and ducks.

Not as many ducks at this pond exit as last visit.

The main pond has more Canada Geese, Mallards and Coots.

But the far end of the pond is very quiet.

A hungry Coot family near the water, surrounded by geese.

The geese are following us down the pond looking for food.  After a year, the new pond edge planting is getting well established,
stabilising the pond edge.

The chicken wire fence intended to keep geese away from the new edge planting has suffered during the year and everyone can now
get under it.

The nesting house has a resident, although two more decided food was more interesting.

Otherwise this smaller pond is very quiet this week.

19th September 2013, mix of Mallards and Canada Geese on the smaller pond.

Including one white Mallard, it's only this year they've been seen, and in three different parks.

The Moorhen family and nest.

Feeding time on the main pond, Coots, Moorhens, Tufted Ducks, Mallards and Canada Geese.

One of the newly planted banks, the fence in the water was supposed to stop the birds eating the new plants, but seems to have
failed and the bank looks bare.

17th November 2013, just one White Mallard at this pond, with two Coots and the Mallards.  Strangely, not a single Canada Goose
at the park this weekend. 

Always many dozens of Coots at this pond.

View from the end of the main pond, a few Coots and Mallards, and lots of seagulls.

Almost every post in the pond is occupied by a seagull, must prefer to stay out of the water.

29th December 2013, the park is quiet today, but sunny, lots of hungry geese and ducks following us around.  

Lots of geese on the small lake. 

And one White mallard.

Lots of Tufted Ducks and Coots near the bridge.

Don't often see Coots leaving the water looking for food.

The main lake has a mix of Canada Geese, Mallards and Coots.

Looking back from the northern end of the lake.

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