After having a brilliant morning at the hides, this afternoon was for something different. I took a trip to Gibside Hall. What a glorious sunny day it's been. I wanted to take one of the buildings in the grounds that I hadn't shot before. The Banqueting House. 
Early start for me again this morning but not to work, off to the nature hides at Thornley and FarPastures. What a morning, I couldn't believe my luck. First at Far Pastures, the heron flew past, circled round, then landed on a pole in the pond. Then the fox got upfrom amogst the reeds and grass, he must have been asleep, shook himself and then went to wander off, he turned round, looked at me then went. I then decided to travel onto Thornley woods. Nothing much happening for at least an hour, then the wardens came to feed the birds. After they went it was a hive of activity, yellowhammers, bullfinch, jays, woodpigeons, rabbits, and then the most important thing....... I saw something in the corner of my eye and turned round. There was this deer coming from behind the holly bush. He walked slowly, eating leaves as he walked by and just meandered across to the other side of the woods. He was there for at least 5 minutes. I couldn't believe how lucky I was. 
"Dating from 1688, the house was home to many generations of the Blackett and Trevelyan families, who all left their mark. The restrained Palladian exterior gives way to the magnificent rococo plasterwork of the interior, which houses fine ceramics, paintings, needlework and a collection of doll's-houses. The Central Hall was decorated to look like an Italian courtyard, heavily influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites, with a series of scenes of Northumbrian history by William Bell Scott. The original formality of Sir Walter Blackett's 18th-century landscape, influenced by 'Capability' Brown, who went to school in the estate village, underlies the present surroundings. There are walks through a variety of lawns, shrubberies and woodland, enlivened with water features, lakes, buildings, sculpture and a wildlife hide. The beautiful walled garden has varied collections of plants and a well-stocked conservatory. Longer estate walks encompass wooded valleys and high moorland, including land around the recently reacquired Folly at Rothley Castle. "
I wish I hadn't used my wide angle lens for the garden shots as I don't think it's done the garden justice. But never mind it's done now and I know for future photos of gardens not to use the wide angle lens. We are always learning aren't we..
Never got out last night as I didn't feel too good. These are some more shots taken at Far Pastures Nature Reserve from the hide. 
Just couldn't resist going back tonight to get another shot. What did I see but a heron right up close to the hide and I couldn't get my camera out of it's bag quick enough to get the shot of the day as the heron flew off. LOL 
A trip to Far Pastures hide in Rowlands Gill for an hour tonight brought these 3 images. I didn't have my longer lens so these have turned out pretty good considering. The whole family were so cute. Mum and Dad were so protective of their babies that when they were worried by a swan which kept following them around and making a nusience of itself, Dad came to the rescue and off he swam making himself a decoy whilst Mum took them off to safety. The swan was a real nusience. But he finally gave up after a while.
Jaunt number 3 found the Camera Club at East Castle where the statues of the Old Transformers are. Once a railway line that used to transport steel from Consett Iron works is now a Cycle path. Above the cyclepath are the two giant steel figures rusting high up the side of the cutting. "The Old Transformers": the words are burnt clear through the heavy steel plate.
Have you ever seen a White Fallow deer before? Can you imagine ever seeing deer sitting on your front lawn? Things not usually seen before, well you've seen them now :-)
