7th May 2016
With nice weather forecast for the weekend we decided to go for a picnic at Baconsthorpe Castle, a ruined stately home near Holt. It's a scenic site, surrounded by a moat that joins up with a small lake. Despite it ostensibly being a non-birding trip we saw a pair of Gadwall, a Little Grebe and some cygnets on the lake. Whilst we ate our lunch Swallows, Swifts and Skylarks flew overhead, and a Whitethroat sang from a nearby tree. Nearby a bee was flying around the base of the ruins, and when I looked closer I saw that it was a Gooden's Nomad Bee, a new species for me. Rue-leaved Saxifrage was growing on the walls, which was also nice to see.
Baconsthorpe Castle grounds
Gooden's Nomad Bee - a bit blurry because its in flight
Rue-leaved Saxifrage
