Tuesday's Walk

Yesterday's walk  at Trentham Gardens was all about Lambs and Swans with a few other birds heard up in the woodland.  It was a beautiful morning so fresh and green after the rain the day before.

We brought the Merlin bird song identifier into use and along the paths up at the top of the estate we heard Jackdaw, Robin, Blackbird, Wren, Chiff Chaff, Blackcap and Jay.  Later down near the lake we heard Greylag geese, Blue tits, Coots, and Common Reed Warblers.  Up in the trees a woodpecker was tip-tapping but for some reason,  this didn't seem to register on the App.

It was lambing time on the Estate and we saw quite a few lambs.

The sheep are brought into the lambing area from the field when lambs are due.

There are a mixture of Jacob and Herdwicks.

Back down by the lake there were lots of swans.  

Quite a gathering in fact.

Whilst in the formal garden the tulips were looking wonderful.

I love all the different colours together

Such a cheerful sight.

Swan Day

It was cool and breezy as we walked around the lake this morning but at least it stayed dry.  It's raining now as I type these words so I feel that we saw the best of the day.

 Everything seemed winter brown and colourless as we walked around the edge of the lake and along the muddy paths.

 Although there is always beauty to be found especially in the bare winter trees.

It seemed to be a bit of a swan day around the lake today, these two caught my eye in their woolly winter scarves but it was time to seek out the real ones.

They were hanging about the paths as people were feeding them with grain.

They seem completely unfazed by walkers, dogs, children, buggies, joggers and mobility scooters all of which we saw pass them by.

 

 Further around the lake by the miniature railway we found the black swans.  

Still keeping themselves together as a family unit.  Cob and pen had four cygnets in the spring and three have survived.

 Around the other side of the lake we caught sight of my favourite geese the Greylags.

Some of them were stretching their legs and flapping their wings almost like ballet exercises

We spotted six herons. Five by the edge of the heronry. The one above had ventured out to the lakeside but was hiding itself quite well.

 There were lots of crows about too

They always look disgruntled don't they? 

Thinking about birds and in particular those that visit our garden I've registered, as I have done for quite a few years now, to participate in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch which takes place from 25th to 27th January. I always look forward to sitting and recording the birdy visitors to the garden.

I'll be back in a few days with some recent winter reading.