After visiting Sheffield I drove about an hour north, by-passing
most of Leeds and heading over to Harewood where Loes now lives.
Harewood House was famous for its Bird Garden and work with not
only endangered species
but also with the successful re-introduction of the Red Kite
to the area
Harewood House this beautiful morning.
Loes and I are off to see the famous Bird Gardens before they
close on the 19th February this year.
The 50 year old Bird Gardens are found on the lakeside slopes
on the other side of the Courtyard building.
The Terrace overlooking the gardens . . . but the cafe
isn't open this morning.
The Penguin Pool close to the Courtyard will stay for a while
at least.
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The pool
gives the birds chance to swim and dive. |
The cubby holes around
the edge make good nests areas. |
A glass panel allows you to see the birds underwater and
appreciate a whole new graceful part of their lives.
This is a pair of red crested Turaco.
The red crest seems a solid part of their head,
as opposed to raised feathers.
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Two visitors
stop by to admire the parrots and Parakeets. |
This large one was a Macaw,
larger but not as vividly coloured as some. |
I guessed this one . . . the Snowy Owl.
But what of this one ? . .
. It turns out to be a Burrowing Owl.
They have long legs for running, which are also
useful for scraping out abandoned South American Prairie Dogs
burrows where they often live.
One of the Vulture family . . . the Andean Condor.
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Two aptly
named Blue and Gold macaws. |
Blue on one side and
gold on the other. |
Pick a characteristic and think of a name . . . the Black
Cheeked Lovebirds, an endangered African parrot.
The Brown Lory, a nectar eating parrot, utilising a high
energy food source which they extract with a specially adapted
tongue.
[ Just a thought . . . the brown version is much easier to
pronounce than the red lory or yellow lory ! ]
These are African Crane birds, possibly the gray-crowned
variety.
- - - o o o - - -
There were numerous other birds on show. Lets hope
they all move to good homes
and that the powers that be can protect and breed them for
re-introduction to the wild at some point.
Harewood also has a small farm section, specialising in the
sheep, goats and smaller breeds such as Guinea pigs.
As befits the smallest of them, Harewood bugs have a Harewood-shaped
bug hotel.
The Bird Garden is located on the wooded slopes below the
Terrace Tearooms
and in season has a huge range of rhododendrons add a variety
of colours, depending on what's in flower.
At the lakeside is the electric powered ferry that takes
visitors across to the walled gardens and Bothy Tearoom.
- - - o o o - - -
The following morning it was time to take the dogs for a
longer walk, as they were not allowed in with the birds the
day before.
Loes and I head out for a stroll around the wider grounds
of the Harewood Estate.
It looks early, but it was mid morning and the mist is hanging
about despite a late start after breakfast.
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Mist covered
spiders webs catches the light. |
The delicate tracery
shines as the sun makes an appearance. |
We've walked down to the peninsular opposite
the bird gardens and find the second jetty for the ferry boat.
I think this is called The Bothy . . . and the
open window suggests coffee might be on offer.
. . . plus a mid-morning treat of some fine
carrot cake.
The sun is out and gradually the mist evaporates.
The small river that exits Leeds Eccup Reservoir
feeds through the estate
and flows into the "Capability Brown"
main lake in front of Harewood House . . .
. . . via "Rough Bridge" that we also
crossed on our visit at Christmas.
One of the famous Harewood Red Kites flies over
the farmland of the estate, as we make our way back.