derbyshire holiday ;day 1 (sunday)

today we arrived at our campsite. it was very sunny and so we hoped it would stay for the rest of the holiday. however our hopefullness was spoiled as we arrived. not the weather, but a huge queue of caravans trying to get onto the site. so as we waited behind some 6 caravans. just as i got out a sparrowhawk flew over us, (see below)

most convienitnly the campsite was right next to the river derwent. as we waited we spotted a dabchick, a heron and as we were just setting off a small brown lump emerged from the water on the bank. i thought it was a water vole and was thrilled. water voles on the bank of the river next to the caravan site. when we finally got onto the site. i could loads of people had put out birdfeeders and thus there were plenty of garden birds, most notable were the nuthatches. we finally found a decent pitch and set up there (pitch 48 for anybodys interest) as we waited i saw a wren sitting on the wall behind our pitch. it was singing as we watched it flew into a hole in the wall. upon furthur examination iot turned out that the hole was filled with leaves and other things. i badly needed a wren photo and this was the perfect oppertunity. see below the results of my efforts.

the caravan site was actully the chatsworth campsite. chatsworth is a large historic house owned by the duke of devonshire. it has large grounds (with woods, feilds and a river) just leave the caravan site and you would be in a pristine deer park.

in the afternoon we decided to go into bakewell for a look at the river and to gather some supplies. i stayed by the river photographing the birds.

and fish too it would appear

of ll the days to do my hair up!!

a beautiful sleeping duck.

plenty of stuff on the river:

turfted ducks, lots

mallard, lots

canada geese, lots

a muscovy duck

2 mute swans

2 moorhens

2 coots

black headed gulls, lots