Red Deer at Bradgate Park

 I am still sorting the many images that I took at Bradgate at the end of November. We spent some time looking for Red Deer and, in the end, they came to us - at one point we were surrounded by about a dozen magnificent stags.

Winter Birds at Paxton Pits

After a conservation morning laying hawthorn and blackthorn trees to make low scrub for summer avian visitors, I took my camera for a walk to see what was around. As expected, Cormorants, lots of ducks  including Shoveller, Gadwall and Widgeon, Egyptian Geese and flocks of Fieldfares. All distant shots so not a lot of quality but beautiful colours in the water and plumage

Toft Christmas Tree Festival

Always a favourite with the village, this weekend St Andrews was resplendent with Christmas trees decorated by various local organisations and individuals. 

Bradgate: Red Deer Crossing

The Red Deer often make the river crossing from the wooded area of Bradgate up onto the grazing hillsides in the evening. When I was there on Monday, I saw a large herd approaching out of the trees and start to cross the river just as my phone rang with a call I had to answer - so I missed much of the action. However, one of the stags stayed on the woodland side watching the last hinds scamper up onto the hillside before he crossed. He got as far as the Mute Swan who attacked anything that came near, took fright and reversed  a bit before bravely rushing past him to join the rest.

 

Sunrise at Trowell Nottingham

The sunrise on Monday near Nottingham with the covering of snow was riot of pinks, oranges and yellows.