Tawny Owl Heaven

Just spent a very snowy weekend in Northamptonshire.   We (8 friends and I) stayed at a brilliant hotel called Hellidon Spa and Golf Course.  

Treecreeper

Having braved the snow on the journey up there, we were relieved not to need a car for the rest of the weekend.   With a huge golf course which was totally unplayable we were lucky to have a great playground to enjoy long snowy walks, plenty of bird and nature watching, snowball fights and making snow angels.   Fantastic icicles developed outside my bedroom window, hanging from the eaves above.

Snow covered fields

I found two Treecreeper, six Long-tailed Tits, a Robin, Dunnock, Blackbird and Fieldfare within minutes - just outside the hotel reception.   We saw Muntjac Deer, Fox, Rabbit and Roe Deer tracks and spotted a Stoat as we walked to the local village.

Tawny Owl was heard every evening and morning, calling on and off through the night.   It was lovely to lie in bed with the window open and just enjoy the call.

Smart Post Box

With large numbers of Redwing, Fieldfare, Rook, Crow, Jackdaw and Woodpigeon making up the majority of sightings, a lone Cormorant was an interesting addition as it fed in the lake viewable from the dining-room.

Hellidon is a delightful village with cottages built of local stone and in a traditional style, some are thatched.   Several post boxes were seen, including a rather smart black one.

All in all a great weekend, with the Owl being my highlight by far.