Escapes and Photography

Tuesday, 2 June 2015

Charlecote Park -The birds and new life.

Over the last few weeks I have been out again with the lovely volunteers who are fully trained and have a special BTO license to handle and ring birds. They have very kindly allowed me to tag along again this year so that I can share with you all what I have seen. To be honest it is not just to share with you all, I enjoy my time out with them and learn a lot about the nature in the park. They are full of useful information which they are more than happy to share with me. Just a quick note...Please don't forget that it is against the law to disturb a nest or nesting birds without a special BTO license. I myself just record what happens with my camera.
With the help of these lovely volunteers, I have been able to record the different stages of both the Blue Tits and the Great Tits. Here are the different stages of the Blue Tits. Great Tits eggs are identical only a little bigger.

These hatched chicks will only be about 2-3 days old. You can see there are still two more eggs to hatch.

These are maybe a day or two older.

''More food please.''

It always amazes me how quickly birds grow. The volunteers check the bird boxes only once a week and the difference from one week to another is amazing. The birds in the box below would have left the nest before the next check.

Just to show you the difference at this stage, here is the Great Tits.

Back to the Blue Tits. A couple of photos from last year of some Blue Tits being fed by a parent at Charlecote.

Early June is when many Blue and Great tits fledge but they will still stay close to their parents as the parents will carry on feeding them for a few weeks.

On checking last years nesting tree for the Tawny Owls, I was a little disappointed as there was nothing there this year. My disappointment did not last long. When checking a bird box often used by Jackdaws, a single 18 day Tawny Owl was found inside it. Tawny owls on average, only have one to three Owlets a year. Last year there were two and they were deep within a cavity of a tree so I only managed to get this next picture. Tawny Owls like many birds, pair for life.

This year being inside a bird box, I was able to see this amazing bird up close as the volunteers ringed the owlet which allowed me to photograph it. I love Owls by the way. I think they are beautiful birds.

Here it is at about 18 days old.

I love the expression on the owls face below.

Tawny Owl around 25 days old. You can see the feathers at he bottom of the wings starting to appear.

This Owl is now leaving the bird box and climbing the tree and they are very good climbers. You have to look very carefully to spot them high up in the trees. It will still use the box until it fledges but it will leave it more often now.

Last year we were really pleased to have two sets of Barn Owls. This year it looks like we might have three sets but we won't know for sure until later this month. The Barn Owls are not disturbed until later in the month when it is safe to do so. All evidence around the nesting areas says we have three sets so I for one, am really looking forward to the end of this month. The Kestrels are still around but not nesting in the same box they did last year as like with many bird boxes, the squirrels have taken over. The Kestrels will be in a cavity in an old tree somewhere within the park but it is impossible to check them all so this year, we might just have to enjoy watching them fly above our heads. To see the Kestrels from last year, here is the link...http://janaruzena.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/fawns-barn-owls-and-kestrels.html

I have also seen a Red Kite often flying over Hill Park. A beautiful bird. The little Owl has been harder to spot this year and their bird boxes were also taken over by squirrels. There is one that has been seen by the edge of the Park but I can't say if it is nesting inside or outside Charlecote Park. I am not giving up on them though and will try my best to find one for you along with getting the Kingfishers to sit still for a second or two to have their photo taken!

Next we have the Jackdaws which are of great interest to me this year as I also have some nesting in my roof!

Here are a couple of pictures of Jackdaws at a young age.

Just a few days makes such a difference. The feathers are really starting to grow now and the bird is more alert.

Look at those blue eyes.

The Great Spotted Woodpecker was spotted by a visitor who kindly told me where it was nesting. Over the years I have heard the Woodpeckers often but have found them harder to photograph. I was so happy when going in the next morning to find this picture in front of me. It was a lovely start to my day,

The first picture shows the female with one of her young.

This next picture shows the male feeding the young. The way to tell the difference between a male and a female Great Spotted Woodpecker is that the male has a red bit on the back of his head. All chicks have red heads.

The female Great spotted Woodpecker higher up the tree catching bugs.

I managed to get a short video of the woodpeckers so have put it together with some of the photos. Hope you like it.

The Grey Wagtail has been spotted in many places around the park. They normally like to be near running water so can often be found close to a river, waterfall or a stream. They are beautiful birds which are often confused with the Yellow Wagtail as they both have yellow on them but the Grey Wagtail has a grey head.

In a different spot I saw a female with what looks like two fledglings. It was a little far away to see properly. The males as above have the black on their necks but females don't.

Another Wagtail I have spotted all over the park is the Pied Wagtail, a black and white bird. These birds unlike the Grey Wagtail can be spotted on the ground in the middle of a field looking for bugs to eat. Because of their colour they are easier to spot. They can been seen all year around in Britain.

Have you ever heard young Herons squabble? I have and what a noise they make. As the parents come back to the nests, siblings squabble over the food. I wondered what was going on at first but just through the branches of the trees, I could see them having a go at each other.

There are plenty of Robins around and they can often be seen fluttering around the Woodland Garden.

Next we have the Chaffinch which is native to this country. A male is much bright in colours than the female.

There are a few sets of Canadian Geese on the River Avon which runs through the park. You can spot them at different stages of growth and sizes.

I have spotted four Canadian geese families so far but there could be more.

Young goslings.

And a little older but not by much. They will turn greyer as they get older.

In the next photo it looks like the goslings are arguing with one of the parents.

A little video for you.

There are also plenty of ducklings to be spotted but I am still waiting to see what the Swans have to offer this year. I can see where they are nesting but I have not seen any young yet but that doesn't mean they don't have any as sometimes it is hard to see.

Mallards

Beautiful ducklings which are always very cute when they are this young.

There are two sets of Coots on the lake but they are not easy to photograph this year in their nests because of where they are nesting but here is a picture from last year. I will get some better pictures when they start swimming around the lake.

An adult Coot out of the water.

Look out for the Moorhens on the lake, they are a little shy.

That's my catch-up for my Charlecote Springwatch on the birds but by no means is that all. There are far too many birds to cover within the park. These are just some I have been able to photograph and share with you all.

I love the time I spend at Charlecote Park and love volunteering there. It gives so much back and a much needed break from my day to day life as a carer.

My challenge for this week is to try and catch the Kingfishers on camera and to also see if I can get a Fawn or two for you as the first one has already been spotted at Charlecote Park. Also to come soon are the ever changing colourful gardens and the beautiful meadow so watch this space!

A big thanks to all the Volunteer Licensed Ringers who kindly let me join them and allowed me to take photos. Much appreciated.

Hope You have enjoyed this blog

Monday, 11 May 2015

BBC Countryfile comes to Charlecote

As many of you know, I love volunteering at The National Trust's Charlecote Park. It is such an amazing experience to be out and about in the park with all the animals and wildlife, I find it so interesting and I have learned so much. The Charlecote team of staff and volunteers are one of the nicest group of people I have met in a very long time. It feels like one big family.
Being a volunteer photographer, my role is a little different from most other volunteer and staff members at Charlecote and one I feel very privileged to have.

There are so many things I enjoy about my role, far too many to list but if you are a regular reader of my blogs, you will already know some of them. This week BBC Countryfile presenter Matt Baker visited Charlecote Park with his team to film a series of clips for an up and coming show with Paul Smith (Head Gardener) and Adam Maher (Head Ranger) both also share the role of acting Park and Garden Manager. BBC Countryfile featuring Charlecote Park and Charlecote Mill will be aired on Sunday 24th of May on BBC1 at 7pm and I for one can't wait!

Adam and Paul make a great team.

My day started in Places Meadow with Matt Baker and Adam. Many of you will know Places Meadow as the Buttercup Meadow and I can tell you that the buttercups are starting to show already, it won't be long until the whole field is full again!

This is a picture from last year.

Matt and Adam walking along the River Avon which runs across the bottom of the Meadow.

This beautiful meadow has been seeded in the past with a mix of wild flowers but after being under water last Winter for around three months, all the seeds were washed away. As you can see below, the Meadow looked more like a lake at a nature reserve. The idea behind the new plants is to introduce flowers that would have grown in this field many years ago and also to encourage all sorts of wildlife, including bumble bees and butterflies.

This year, to give the new wild flowers a better chance of surviving, it was decided that plug plants would be planted instead. By the time Winter comes, these plants should be well established and will not be washed away by the river. It is hoped that with time, these plants will reseed themselves and spread more naturally. It is a long process but it will be around for many years to come.

There have been lots of helping hands to plant these plug plants as there were 2,500 of them! Staff, volunteers and visitors have helped to plant them. There will be another square of 3,500 plug plants planted later in the year so if you are happy to help, keep an eye on Charlecote's Facebook and Twitter because as they say, 'Many hands make light work' :)

Just a few of the many people who have helped plant the plug plants.

Adam explains what is happening in Places Meadow to Matt and his team.

Here Adam and Matt plant some of the plugs. Of course I made them stop for a quick picture or two! Things like this don't happen everyday so I had to record them in some way :)

Matt Baker with Nick and Adam. Nick is also a Ranger at Charlecote Park and has also planted some of these plug plants.

After Places Meadow and a bit of planting we headed over for a coffee break, then into West Park with Paul to see the deer and the heronry.

Paul getting his microphone fitted.

A heavily pregnant doe.

The fawns are due from the end of May and through June.

Here is one of the newly born fawns from last year.

You can really see the change in the deer's coats now, some of them are still a little patchy but most are losing their Winter coats and the lovely warm colours of the summer coats are coming through.

Mixed within the does are last year's fawns and some of the prickets (1-2 year old males)

Matt and Paul out in West Park searching for the deer.

Walking up through the Avenue towards the heronry.

From in front of the heronry you have one of my favourite views of the house. I have a photo taken from here for every season and I can't decide which time of year I like best.

The heronry has 13 active nests this year and is one of the largest heronries in Warwickshire. For more on the Charlecote Herons, read my previous blog called 'Charlecote and the Reawakening of the Park and Gardens' http://janaruzena.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/charlecote-and-reawakening-of-park-and.html

After a spot of lunch in the Orangery, Matt headed for the Parterre with his team to do some more filming.

I have to say Paul and his team of staff and volunteer gardeners have done an amazing job on the Parterre. It has been a 'must visit' for me over the last few weeks. It really is beautiful.

It was an amazing day and a real privilege to be able to tag along. I think Paul and Adam did amazingly, I felt very proud to work with them. Matt was excellent as always too :) I am so looking forward to seeing them all in the show on the 24th of this month and also Charlecote Mill which is where Matt and his team headed after leaving Charlecote Park.