View from the stream

A frosty start turned into a sunny but cold winter's day with temperatures down to -7 at dawn. A brisk walk at lunchtime through the Wood Garden presented an abundance of wildfowl to see.

I spotted these Mallard ducks paddling in the stream where the Woodland meets the Pavilion Lawn with the Castle just visible in the distance.

Ducks, gulls and grebe were swimming in the Cascade Pond and a lone moorhen skated gingerly across a frozen pond by Whooper Island (named after the Whooper Swans that nest there).

Mute swans basked in the sunshine preening their beautiful white feathers, while flocks of Canadian geese flew across the moat landing on the Great Water. Black swan pairs can be seen at several sites across the estate in readiness for breeding, just on cue for Valentine's Day promotions!

More wildlife photos here.