Pairs of birds, sometimes couples, sometimes parent and fledgling, sometimes siblings, photographed in Victoria Tower Gardens and St. James’s Park over the last five years. Highlighted in blue are links to details of each species. Cormorants can often be seen skimming low over Thames waters, and from time to time seen standing on rocks, piers and even the yellow Palace of Westminster markers, stretching out their wings.
Feed me! Now! Crow showing parental restraint.
Crows are part of the Corvid family . Bright, intelligent birds they are good parents. On one occasion I saw a pair watch over their dead offspring, lying wings outstretched on the foreshore, keeping a gull and cormorant at bay.
Having cracked open a shell, the parent feeds its content to the youngster.A pair of Mallard ducks padding along their favourite wall by Lambeth Bridge.Snoozing but still ever watchful Mallard ducks on their wall.A pair of Canada geese with their goslings.
Canada geese have made fewer appearances in Victoria Tower Gardens but this pair spent some time on the foreshore one morning.
Egyptian geese.
This pair of Egyptian geese seem to have been resident on or around Victoria Tower Gardens for quite a while. They feed from the shoreline and on the park lawn. They know when it’s lunchtime and do on occasions demand sandwich crusts from visitors.
What’s going on? A pair of Egyptian geese by the lake in St. James’s Park.
On the day I photographed this pair, they were attracted by a noise from other Egyptian geese honking further along the lake shore in St. James’s Park. The brown circles round their eyes give them a comical, quizzical look.
Greylag geese approaching Lambeth Reach shore.A pair of greylag geese by the remains of an old jetty on the Victoria Tower Gardens’ foreshore.
Greylag geese are ancestors of most domestic geese and are very much at home in St. James’s Park but also appear on the Thames and in Victoria Tower Gardens.
A handsome couple of herring gulls.
Herring gulls usually mate for life and can often be seen in pairs. Juveniles, when not annoying their parents, tend to gather in groups.
A pair of herring gulls pacing the foreshore, appear to be deep in thought.
Magpies are “scavengers, predators and pest-destroyers” and here in Victoria Tower Gardens they’re ready to pick up any discarded snacks or crumbs.
One magpie was first on scene to grab a tasty snack dropped by a bench.Parakeets.
Over and above the harsh cawing of crows and chattering magpies, the screeching of ring-necked parakeets is unmistakable. However, they do have more gentle billing and cooing sounds in their lexicon too.
Black-headed gulls heading for a treat.
Black-headed gulls migrate south for winter, many appearing along Lambeth Reach in late summer and early autumn.
Two of the famous Pelicans of St. James’s Park.
The six pelicans, stars of St. James’s Park, are called Isla, Tiffany, Gargi, Sun, Moon, and Star. At ease with visitors, when not taking refuge on their island, they often have crowds around them, at a respectful distance, on the lakeside path or the benches, which they like to occupy.
Two pigeons perching on a monument In Victoria Tower Gardens, their feathers almost an echo of the fish scales on the figures beneath them.
London pigeons are the focus of an interesting ten year study by Luke Taylor published in 2013. He writes: “Pigeons have managed to evolve and out compete countless other species, they have successfully migrated and colonised the entire world.” In flappy, dust-raising flocks they are overwhelming but singly, or in pairs as they are in Victoria Tower Gardens, there’s time to give them a closer look.
Two pigeons posing.A pair of robins, the one on the right giving me a look…
Though I’ve often seen two robins in a territorial scrap, I haven’t often seen a pair of robins as a couple. Robins are one of only a few British birds that sing throughout the year and there was some singing going on here. Warning notes…
… and then flying at me before swerving away.
Robins are fearless in defence of their territory and their mate.
A pair of black swans in St. James’s Park.A pair of white swans in St. James’s Park.
If you’ve spent any time walking beside the central London Thames you will not fail to have noticed the bright blue and white boats of Thames Marine Services Ltd. Their fleet of tankers supply fuel to both large and small ships and commercial companies, along with private boat and houseboat owners.
If you walk along the Albert Embankment, or by the river in Victoria Tower Gardens, you will have seen Thames Marine Services’ static refuelling barge, Thames Refueller, in its blue and white livery. Set against set against the heart-covered National Covid Memorial Wall, its view across the river is a real picture postcard of the Palace of Westminster. Their high profile base at Wapping includes their second static barge and moorings for their fleet of four fuel tankers: ARMADOR II; HEIKO; CONQUESTOR; and GOSSO.
Thames Marine Services’ base seen from Tower Bridge, with their workboat GUNN crossing the river.
Over the past few years I’ve been able to photograph their boats in action as they go about their business on the river and I’ve been kindly helped with this article by Nicholas Dwan – Nick -, whose family has had links, one way or another, with the Thames for many generations. Thames Marine Services was first set up as a fuel delivery service by brothers Robert and Nicholas Dwan in 2015, which expanded into the sale of lubricants, the provision of crewing services, mooring, and engineering services as well as a waste oil removal facility. You can see their website here: Services and specifications of each of their boats here: Fleet
The ARMADOR II supplying DIXIE QUEEN.
My only sightings of ARMADOR II have been of her at work near and around Tower Bridge. In the photo above she is supplying Thames Luxury Charters’ impressive replica paddle steamer DIXIE QUEEN.
The ARMADOR II supplying Japanese naval ship JS KASHIMA, moored alongside HMS BELFAST.
In the picture above, ARMADOR II is among those attending to the needs of visiting Japanese training vessel JS KASHIMA, June 22, 2022.
The CONQUESTOR at her Wapping base.
CONQUESTOR is a frequent visitor to Lambeth Reach and beyond.
The CONQUESTOR on Lambeth Reach.The CONQUESTOR, seen from Westminster Bridge, passing old London County Council Hall.The CONQUESTOR heading upstream past Westminster Bridge.The GOSSO
I was intrigued by GOSSO’s name and Nick Dwan told me that she was “named after his great grandfather Ted Gosso Williams.” adding that “He was a real character working along the Thames in sailing barges, tugs, and passenger boats.”
The GOSSO refuelling M.V.s VISCOUNTESS and THAMES PRINCESS at Lambeth Pier, March 27, 2019.
Nick kindly gave me permission to use the following pictures of his great grandfather, which are now part of Thames history.
Ted Gosso Williams was Captain of the TOWER BELLE for many years and, Nick tells me, “though he was meant to be doing the Tower to Westminster service, on Doggett’s day, being a great fan of the race, he would follow it with enthusiasm.” Nick paints a picture of hilarity in the pub where his great grandfather took the stage: “He was known for sitting on the floor pretending to take part in the race while doing a commentary. Then someone would shout ‘there’s a wave coming in Gosso’ and chuck a pint over him.”
And the Doggett’s, full name ‘The Doggett’s Coat & Badge Race’, is very much part of Dwan family history. Open to recently apprenticed watermen, raced in single skulls between London Bridge and Cadogan Pier every year since since 1715; it’s a real test of skill, endurance, and knowledge of the river’s complexity.
The two directors of Thames Marine Services, brothers Robert and Nicholas Dwan, each won this arduous race in their respective years. Yet that’s not all. Nick gave me a full list of the family’s achievements saying that they now have the most living Doggett’s winners beginning with his father: Ken Dwan (1971); John Dwan (1977); Nicholas Dwan (2002); Robert Dwan (2004); Merlin Dwan (2012); and then cousins Jack Keech (2017) and Patrick Keech (2019); adding that “we have another cousin, Alf Keech who is due to row in four years time”. And the family is not the Company’s only link to the race: two of their Captains are also Doggett’s winners. Harry McCarthy, from a family of Watermen including previous winners, won his race in 2014, and Max Carter-Miller won his race in 2021.
The HURLINGHAM, was Ted Gosso Williams’ last post as Captain after a long and varied career on the Thames, but his name lives on in this bright, blue boat GOSSO, often to be seen fulfilling orders along the river.
The GOSSO passing the National Covid Memorial Wall.The GOSSO moored to static barge Thames Refueller, on which is the “Yellow Deck Chair”. **The HEIKO coming from under Lambeth Bridge.
Doggett’s winner in 2014, Harry McCarthy joined Thames Marine Services in April 2016. An experienced Captain he works with ARMADOR II, CONQUESTOR, and HEIKO. In August 2019, skilled manoeuvring by HEIKO’s captain, and swift action by the crew, saved a swimmer from drowning in the Thames. See film of the rescue here.
The HEIKO heading upstream from Westminster Bridge.The HEIKO on Lambeth Reach.
Max Carter-Miller, who won his Doggett’s Coat and Badge race in 2021 is now Captain of HEIKO.
Max Carter-Miller, now Captain of the HEIKO, rowing on his way to victory in the Doggett’s Coat and Badge Race, 2021.
Max Carter-Miller joined Thames Marine Services in 2017 as an apprentice waterman. In 2020, he completed his apprenticeship and was then eligible to take part in the Doggett’s Coat and Badge race, winning on his second attempt in 2021.
ALBERT
Nick Dwan also told me the story of ALBERT now, as you’ll see in the picture below, re-named ALB-E and converted to be fully electric. The boat is named after his grandfather, Albert Dwan, “who in the 80s used to run her around for a catering company based at Lambeth Pier, called Fitzrovia Catering and at that time she was called Bread Run. She would run between all the party boats delivering their food and then in the mornings, go round collecting all the dirty plates and catering equipment.”
MERIDIAN as a workboat.
“The boat then passed on to Dave Gilby who ran his marine Electrical business from her. From there she passed to Livett’s Launches, who renamed the boat MERIDIAN, and used her as a safety boat, diving boat and camera boat for filming.”
ALBERT converted to be fully powered by electricity.
In August 2023, Thames Marine Services bought two bunker barges from Thames Fuels Ltd: HELENA and KAROLIEN, now called KARO and converted into a “black water and sewage disposal barge.” I caught KARO on Lambeth Reach in April this year but have yet to see HELENA in her new livery.
KARO on Lambeth Reach, April 24, 2025.Thames Refueller, the static barge, watching over the Palace of Westminster at dusk.
The Thames Marine Services’ fixed barge, Thames Refueller, at Westminster, has exceptional views of one of London’s most famous buildings and is well placed for boats needing supplies all along the tidal Thames.
Covering the Thames from Teddington to the Estuary, taking in Sheerness to Strood on the Medway, the company has a strong, eye-catching presence on the river and it has been interesting and a pleasure to discover more about their work.
** Some of you who follow my social media accounts may have come across, and even smiled at, the saga of the “Yellow Deck Chair” on the Thames Marine Services’ fixed barge at Westminster. It’s still going…
