Dear Reader:
A trio of elegant Mute Swans glide effortlessly across the river. They are accompanied by both male and female Mallards.
Three Mute Swans and one cygnet alongside Mallards
English Mute Swans are a sharp contrast to the usual Black Swans that I encounter at home in SA.
Australian Black Swans and cygnets
I am taking a rainy day walk around the outer London village of Barnes; a 45 minute bus trip from central London. This largely affluent community sits on a bend in the Thames River.
One of several pubs in Barnes
There is a wide range of things to do in this village even on a rainy day. The architecture is varied and interesting, the river and central duck pond support a variety of wildlife and there is an eclectic variety of shops and galleries to browse.
Duck pond at Barnes
Beyond the swans, in mid river, two teams of rowers battle against the incoming tide as their coaches urge them on from a power boat. And yes, the term tide is correct, as the Thames is a tidal river for many miles above its confluence with the ocean.
Rowing on the Thames
Battling a sudden gust of wind I follow the Thames Path, past some interesting buildings with glorious views over the river. I am making my way towards a little gallery which I always visit when I come to London.
Walking along the Thames Path in the rain
Local artists are featured here and I chat with one of the owners, an artist himself, before purchasing a beautiful ceramic owl as a keepsake.
Inside the Riverside Gallery
On the nearby duck pond, my naturalist’s eye is drawn to a pair of Swans and their sub-adult cygnets. The birds start to paddle across the water in my direction. Even closer, a pair of Egyptian Geese leave water and begin to feed on the grassy verge by the pathway.
Egyptian Geese feeding
The rain eases a little and I peer into shop fronts as I make my way along the high street towards a bus stop for my return trip to London.
A soggy dog at the bus stop
As always, my short excursion to Barnes has been wonderful. Despite the wet weather, which adds a certain convincing flavour to the day, I have managed to capture a few memorable images.
Cheers
Baz
Additional notes
The camera used was a Nikon Coolpix W300 (all weather camera)
This is an easy walk/drive which is quite suitable for families and seniors with public toilets, parking and other facilities nearby. It is dog friendly.
Please pass on this blog title and or contact information (URL) to any person or organisation with an interest in taking walks and enjoying wildlife.
Click on these links and see more stories and pictures in my Weekend Notes articles as well as locating similar blogs on Feedspot’s top 20 Australian wildlife blogs
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