Hither and thither... Audley End House and Rye Meads

I do love being up in Essex and today I was undecided where to go.. so I headed off to Audley - there was a 'Christmas' event and many 'enactors' were about a various points.

Bellows being used to stimulate the fire..

The kitchen garden which now seems to be 'resting'... roll on Spring :)

The water level has been lowered considerably and not many birds abouts..

And then I dropped in to Rye Meads.  Saw a male pintail which was great; about six snipe and many many lapwings, teals etc.

This Kingfisher had been around for about 1/2 hour before I go into the hide.  She had dived and caught a fish and repeatedly banged it against the branch.  The dropped it accidentally into the water twice but, in the 2nd occasion it didn't reappear

Just a record shot!!

Lovely to have sunshine today.

and tomorrow... well we've decided where we're going so... watch this space :D