A Trip Down South April 2010

A family party so off down to Wiltshire/Hampshire for a few days.
Our first stop was Stafford, an overnight stop to break up the long journey.

Despite being on the edge of a retail park the Travelodge had plenty of wildlife out the back including G S Woodpecker, grey squirrels and this female blackcap.
An early start the next day, skirted around Birmingham and then through some of our old haunts in the Cotswolds, stopping at Broadway Hill for a break.

Managed to arrive at my sister Gill's new house in Wilcot, Wiltshire by coffee time. No this isnt it but they look out on these lovely cottages!

Wait for me!!

A look around and a bite of lunch, then a lovely walk along the adjoining Kennet and Avon Canal.

Male Mallard preening

Wind in the Willows Canal Boat

A lovely day for a trip

The Blackthorn is out down here!

Thats a good pic Gill!

Now which way do we go Richard?

Which number bridge is this Pete?

Water reflections under bridge

The Waterside Inn, Pewsey Wharf

Gill and Pete

Reflections

Starting to look very green here

Lovely thatch near the canal

Back for an evening meal and then decided to walk in the other direction along the canal, light now fading a bit

The ornate Lady Bridge. On our way back Pete spotted a fox stalking a couple of Canada Geese, sadly light too low for any pics.

Next morning we were awoken, in our attic room by a Wood Pigeon...

...and a Collared Dove. Great views out of the skylights.

Down to Southampton for the party but on the way back to Wilcot in the evening we spotted these Lapwings in a field near Romsey.

Next morning and the ducks were waiting to be fed on the patio!

The village green

A morning walk to see what else Wilcot has to offer.

Wilcot church

Tower with clock

Lovely little cottage by the church

Georgian manor house

Inside the church

We then took the Byway behind the church, lots of Speckled Wood butterflies about.

We also watched Canada Geese and...

... a Little Egret nesting in a heronry.
Unfortunately I was the only one that managed to spot a Grass Snake, but too quick for a photo!

Postbox and aubretia

Neat thatch

The Golden Swan thatched pub

Best kept small village

Another neat thatch

Lots of lovely daffodils

Time to say goodbye to Wilcot, we'll be back!

Another Travelodge, this time near Knutsford, rabbits just outside the window!

Back in Scotland and stopped for a break at Knowetop Lochs. Willow and Sedge Warblers about and Willow and Long Tailed Tits.

Ewe and lamb

Had to stop the car to get a quick shot of the white deer near Newton Stewart.

Home and shattered, a great trip but great to be back!