Goldcrest

Himalayan Garden & Sculpture Park, Ripon

A beautiful bird and flower packed day out with S & P. 

The rhododendron and azalea were out at the gardens, along with various blossom and a small number of meconopsis. Really pleased to see this goldcrest in a rowan tree when walking around the arboretum. There were some really interesting tree species. We also spotted a nuthatch and a little grebe, along with various other birds in the gardens. 

Afterwards we went to see the Thornborough Henges. P and I walked the two in open fields, seeing the dramatic scale of the ditches and earthworks. All three of us then went in to see the third henge which is in woodland, so the embankments are better preserved (less ploughing) but the full scale not quite as apparent. The woodland was full of bluebells and we saw greater spotted woodpeckers and blackcaps.  

A short walk down to a hide in Nosterfield nature reserve where we watched lapwing spiralling around and hares chasing on the far bank. Various ducks were dabbling and someone let us use their scope to see a male garganey, apparently surprisingly out in the open.