House martins at Charlecote

Thursday was looking like a decent day, between some rotten weather days, again, and a localish trip to Charlecote Park has been on the cards for a while.

The deer, which I was hoping to see, have been moved to a field away from the public, but the parkland was open and is quite a nice circular walk. However, my leg wasn't up to much, so it was basically the house and grounds with a short wander on the parkland.

The weather for the morning was just right, the afternoon forecast was cloudy, but I wasn't staying all day, just time enough to get some house martin photos, and they didn't disappoint.

First off, a pic of the overgrown weir, where the R Dene joins the R Avon, normally kept tidy and flowing full

The south side of Charlecote House, and where most of the house martins were nesting.

A view of the south side of the house from the parkland trail

The house martin nests were under the bay windows, and all were active with young inside, or some with young outside, but not yet attempting to fly....

As I was setting up the tripod, woosh, they flew past me!

A house martin crawling out of a nest

Another nest and one youngster pokes its head out

Incoming (Par Avion for those old enough to remember that) food supply...

And away for the next delivery

Peek-a-boo....

And now for the Chad impression....

More food going in!

And off again for the next delivery....

Another nest, another delivery....

Finaly, a buzzard flies overhead...