Brockhampton Estate, Herefordshire

Monday 7th May 2007
After a wet start to the day, things improved so Linda and I decided to go to The National Trust's Brockhamton Estate, near Bromyard in Herefordshire. At the medieval moated manor house, it was nice to the Swallows and House Martins have taken up residence. This is a magical place, and luckily the weather held enough for us to take one of the longer walks along the charmingly named Hyde Dingle, where we heard a Cuckoo calling, returning via Holy Wood and Brockhampton park. The Park area is planted with mainly Oak, and it was here we saw two male Redstarts singing from the fine mature trees.

Meanwhile, back in the garden ...
The Blue Tits have now hatched in the nesting box and the proud parents are constantly winging in and out to keep up with their demanding young. The Great Tits continue to feed their young in the Sparrow terrace, and the Starling chicks can now be heard nosily chirping from under the ridge tiles on next-door's roof.

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