Kew

Yesterday on our way home from London we called into Kew Gardens for a few hours. We arrived around 11am and although the weather was mostly dry there was a heavy oppressive feel to the day.

Palm House

Its a great place to just amble about and the paths are all wheelchair friendly. The only downside is the constant aeroplane noise from the 'one a minute' flyovers !

All the time we were walking I could hear the calls of Rose-Ringed Parakeets or as their commonly called Ring-Necked Parakeets (Psittacula krameri). These colourful and noisy additions to the British list originate from South Asia and Central Africa and because of our climate which is similar to the mountain foothills they have become very successful and numerous. I could hear them constantly but couldn't quite get a good view.

We managed to get around quite a bit of the grounds before we started to feel peckish and went to find some lunch.

After lunch we went to the Palm house, and if we thought it was hot outside, boy was it steaming in there !

We now decided to head for home as it was still a two and half hour drive, but first we called into the small gift shop. Whilst we were there I heard more Parakeets calling outside and leaving Miriam to browse the overpriced tat I went out to look for them.
I was more successful this time and managed to see one in a large London Plane outside the shop.

I moved around to get a better view and was surprised to see that it was at a nest hole into which it gradually disappeared.

What you looking at !

Going

Going

Gone 

After an unpleasant drive home in the pouring rain we arrived around 5pm absolutely shattered !