Late Spring 2003

As Spring progresses the Estate at Hautbois is coming to life again. Trees are starting to get their leaves, and there is evidence of blossom everywhere. The birds are also looking for suitable nesting places, and rabbit activity has considerably increased.

The moorhen's nest pictured above left was spotted in the quiet water just below Badger campsite. The Hen became very agitated at our approach, and seemed reluctant to leave the nest. The reason suddenly became very clear, as, before our eyes, the first of her new chicks hatched! Quite a moving experience! The second nest is obviously not so close to hatching as "mum" leaves these quite willingly. Also bobbing around on this area of the cut is a brood of ducklings (hard to count exactly but look to be around 10 of them). The Duck gets very concerned about the bad behaviour of her offspring as they seem quite unworried by human presence at the moment, so while she "quacks" madly to gather them around her they simply ignore it (much like "our" children do!).

Pictures of Hautbois in Autumn 2002

Winter shots 2002/2003

Early Spring 2003

Late Spring 2003

Late Summer pictures 2003

Autumn 2003

January 29, 2004