Stanwick Lakes Away from the Water

Stanwick Lakes offered some excellent opportunities for close encounters with the wildlife, perhaps because the park is very popular with walkers, cyclists and families and the birds etc have become accustomed to people. Blackbirds, Magpies and Muntjac foraged happily in good range and even the Buzzard was not as wary as usual.

Bradgate Park Early Snow

It snowed heavily for about 30 minutes after I arrived at Bradgate this morning giving some very attractive landscapes with a Chinese painting feel. The snow chnaged to rain so it was a very transient effect. The light level was low so it was difficult to record the deer in the snow.

Red and Fallow Deer at Sunset

We were very lucky to have a good sunset for our trip to Bushy Park. Here a selection of Fallow and Red Deer taken against the setting sun.

Tracks and Trails

With all the heavy rain over the last few weeks, all the paths are muddy around us. One upside is the visibility of animal tracks, even more so in last week's snow.  We have a Badger Sett that I walk past most days - the first two images show hind and fore paw prints. The tracks clearly lead from the Sett into Toft Wood and across. Badgers are protected by the Badgers Act 1992 which prevents injury to and the disturbance of badgers. Land owners must not disturb a badger or its sett without obtaining a licence but with all the clearing going on of the banks of the Brook, fingers crossed that this is upheld.

The other tracks are Muntjac, Fox (two photos), Dog and Rabbit

Marsh Harrier Display at RSPB Fowlmere

We spent around an hour watching a pair of Marsh Harriers displaying at Fowlmere. A Fallow Deer also came out to drink while a Mallard dropped in to have a wash.