January 2026 – Happy Penguins

Why are penguins such a popular bird? I believe we associate them with being relaxed, happy, living in the present, taking life as it comes.

Of course life isn’t really like that for penguins in the wild, but it certainly is for the King and Humboldt penguins living on Penguin Shore at Birdland, Bourton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire.

Even when they suffer from medical problems – as is the case with Seth, who waddles with a limp and has arthritis – they receive all the best care, and Seth gets painkillers in his fish, so he continues to feel a confident, comfortable penguin despite being one of the oldest penguins in the world at 40.

These Birdland residents all live much longer than penguins normally do in their natural environment; guaranteed food, health checks & medical attention, no predators, a beautiful swimming pool, and Birdland Head Keeper Alistair Keen at their beck and call!

Plus, for those penguins with ambition, (notably laidback Spike and long-established star Seth), a showbusiness career in the film and TV industry.

While we were waiting for the penguins’ feeding time, I noticed one of the smallest Humboldt penguins – probably the chick that Alistair hand-reared, and introduced to the adults earlier this year – stationed right by the gate, his beak turned towards where Alistair would appear with his bucket of fish, waiting patiently for about 20 minutes before Alistair’s arrival.

Like the peacocks at Warwick Castle, putting on special displays for visitors, these beautiful birds seem to know they are very popular with humans and they play up to it with their body language – or perhaps we imagine that, placing our own characteristics upon them!

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About Me

I live in Warwickshire, a county in central England, just south of Birmingham, together with my husband and son; and my daughter currently lives and works in Australia.

I was born and brought up in Orpington, a town on the southeastern edge of London. My first job was as a production secretary with the BBC. Later I lived for five years in Australia before returning to live and work in England.

My published output includes two novels Mystical Circles and A Passionate Spirit, and four highly illustrated nonfiction books Paranormal Warwickshire, Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire, A-Z of Warwick and Paranormal Gloucestershire.

All are available online and the nonfiction books can be found in Waterstones branches and tourists outlets in Warwick and Leamington, and also in Kenilworth Books and Warwick Books.