4th May - Highclere Castle and Hillier Gardens, Hampshire

 At the start of the May Day Bank Holiday we had a trip to Highclere Castle.  In perfect weather we arrived early and were able to enjoy the sight of the castle in wonderful light as we parked the car.

Highclere Castle was built in 1679 and largely renovated during the 1840s, with a park designed by Capability Brown in the 18th century. The 5,000-acre (2,000-hectare) estate is in Highclere, Hampshire, England,

The 19th-century renovation is in a Jacobethan and Italianate style produced by architect Charles Barry. It is the country seat of the Earls of Carnarvon, a branch of the Anglo-Welsh Herbert family.

Highclere Castle has been used as a filming location for several films and television series, including the 1990s comedy series Jeeves and Wooster. It achieved international fame as the main location for the ITV historical drama series Downton Abbey

We were here to tour the castle because of Downtown Abbey, unfortunately photography was not allowed in the castle, although one or two did try.  We toured the castle first and then spent the afternoon walking through the extensive gardens.

Looking south across the lawns in front of the house.

The intricate designs all around the house and the family flag.

We were so lucky with the weather and walking around the grounds was a real pleasure.

The colours of the trees at their very best.

Wild flowers with a background of cowslips.

Everywhere there were views of the castle.

A trail leading down to the grazing pasture for cattle, again some lovely different greens highlighted in the distant trees.

There are several gardens, some looked after and a few just left which was a shame, however the good out did the bad today.

The flag tower just showing above the trees.

A field full of Cowslips leading up to the castle lawns.

Plenty of bird life around the gardens, Blackcaps, Blackbirds and Robins all singing, while above there were Red Kite circling and Jackdaws around the buildings.  Butterflies were also about with at least two Painted Ladies flying through and Orange Tip, Green-veined Whites and Peacocks.

The castle framed by two Ceder trees.

A place of solitude.

A lovely time walking around the gardens.

Later on in the weekend it was a trip to Hillier Gardens just outside Romsey.  It was a familiar drive for me and we arrived in overcast conditions, but it was due to clear out later on in the day.

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens is an arboretum covering 180 acres and accommodating over 42,000 trees and shrubs - most notably an almost unparalleled collection of oaks, camellia, magnolia and rhododendron.  At this time of year the star attraction are the rhododendrons and they didn't fail to deliver.

Many different varieties all stemming from the wild species that grows in the foothills of the Himalayas.

The walk around the rest of the grounds was pleasant, again plenty of bird song, Blackcap, a Garden Warbler, Song Thrush, Blackbirds and Robins all in song.  Plus what could only have been a Tawny Owl that flew from the ground to a tree, we never managed to locate ite it, but from the size and the fact that the Blackbirds were mobbing suggests it was probably a Tawny Owl.

Another lovely day.

30th April - Normandy Marsh and Lagoon, Hampshire - Part Two

Still in the same spot on the sea wall path, the birds kept coming. There had been Bar-tailed Godwits on the west side of the lagoon, a small group of about ten flew over heading east.

This one close in showing the barred tail.

The Grey Plover once again on the sand close by me.

There were Dunlin scattered around the lagoon, feeding in the shallow water close to the islands and the sand bar in front of me.  Almost all were in summer plumage showing the distinctive black belly.

Every so often they would fly along the shore to move to another spot to feed.

And with the Dunlin were the two Sanderling, this one being the one showing signs of breeding plumage.

The Avocet was feeding close once again.

I have often wondered what the Avocet are able to sieve out of the water with their scythe like action.  Here it has clearly caught a shrimp.

There were a few Ringed Plover scattered around the marsh, this one being the closest to me.

There has been a couple of Curlew Sandpipers in amongst the Dunlin and another birder pointed out that there was one with Dunlin in the centre of the lagoon.  It would be better seen from the east side so I walked around and was able to pick it out as it moved around one of the islands.

The larger size and longer bill than the Dunlin standing out and of course the lack of any black belly, in fact there were signs of the red breeding plumage on the flanks.

The pools on the east side had receded quite a bit and in the sunshine the mud and sand was bleached.  There were several pairs of Avocet.  This one wasn't sitting on eggs, but just resting on the mud. staying out of the wind and enjoying the sunshine.

But it was sonn standing up and going through some stretches.

And then showing off the elegance of this wader.

Some of the Bar-tailed Godwits showed the stunning brick red plumage while others were still in the drab, grey brown non breeding plumage.  Bar-tailed Godwits do not breed until their third year but will undertake the long migrations with the adults.  It is also possible that the female birds do not have the bright red plumage that the males do.  Females are typically larger than the male and they have a longer bill.  There were two birds that came close to me on the east side, both in non breeding plumage but showing off a long bill, possibly females?

I walked back to the south side once again and settled in to have lunch, but this was interrupted when a full breeding plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit dropped in.

This one looked smaller and the bill also appeared to be shorter.  It flew around the disturbing the Dunlin feeding on the shore.

Of the two godwits we see in this country the Bar-tailed for me looks the most spectacular, with the brick red colour extending all the way under the chest and belly, while the Black-tailed is pale on the underneath.

And being able to look down on the godwit, you get to see the barred tail and lovely brown detail on the wings.  The under wing is pale, if it was black we would have something special.

With the tide now falling it flew out to the mud on the other side of the wall.

The terns were a challenge as they flew past heading out to the sea and then returning.  Here a Common Tern.

Then Little Terns, looking stunning against the azure blue sky.

From this shot it is possible to see the yellow ring on the leg.  I am able to read the characters, so hopefully an update on the details for this bird later on.

The mewing calls from above heralded the arrival of Mediterranean Gulls.

The black edges to the primaries indicate that these birds are in their third calendar year and not yet ready to breed despite the full black hood.

Oystercatcher crossing the lagoon.

There is an inlet that comes closer to the path and there were five Bar-tailed Godwits that were feeding along the shore that started to move closer.  Fortunately there were two, that looked like males, in full breeding plumage and one showed really well.

Showing off the stunning colour, a lovely brick red which contrasts with the brown of the wings.

A scratch as it preened dipping the bill in the water to smooth out the wing feathers.

And then a shake.

I had been in one spot for just over four hours and had some great views.  It was time to head back to the car.  The weather had been stunning with to blue skies dominating, the wind though a little cool, but probably the reason why the waders were here in good numbers today.  As I walked up on to the top sea wall I looked back at the scene I was leaving.

A lovely day to end the month of April.