Continuing my birthday treats, Julie took me to Pensthorpe Waterfowl Reserve and Nature Park yesterday. It is close to Fakenham, so an easy drive from Beetley.
(All photos are posted on Flickr, you can click on them to enlarge each one.)
Early in the season, there were not that many birds. The enclosure for the Flamingos and Cranes was also closed, because of the risk of Bird Flu in the county at the moment. But the large park is a haven of peace and quiet, and beautifully maintained by the friendly staff.
Sleepy swans, mid afternoon, woken by a dipping Coot.
This Goose let me get quite close, but I used the zoom so as not to frighten it.
This Swan had a reed-fringed pool all to itself.
The all-weather observation area. There are also numerous ‘hides’ located around the grounds, for dedicated bird-watchers.
The central lake is vast, and the River Wensum also runs through the park.
This is called the ‘Monet-Inspired Bridge’.
Julie crossing the bridge.
More photos from Pensthorpe to come soon.
beetleypete 
Looks very tranquil. Reminds me of Martin Mere.
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Tranquil is definitely the word, WN. It was a lovely place to spend the afternoon.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Wonderful insights, and honestly i had never seen a sleeping swan, before. 😉 xx Michael
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Swans and Ducks tuck their heads under the wings when they are sleeping. Then they just drift on the water.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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What a lovely day!
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The weather was just right, and the nature park was idyllic, Jennie.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Wonderful! Best to you, Pete.
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Geese are fun to be around. I don’t suppose any of them laid a golden egg? (Honk if you’ve heard this joke before!)
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I trusted you to pun a goose, and you delivered! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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What a gorgeous landscape! Nice job on the photography! Hugs, C
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Thanks, Cheryl. That place is really serene. Only 2 miles from a large town, it feels like the middle of nowhere.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Great images , Pete its very beautiful there 🙂 x
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It really is, Carol. More from there later this morning.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Julie has a beautiful smile. The place is so serene. I love it already.
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Thanks, Shaily. Serene is a good word for the experience of visiting that peaceful place.
Best wishes, Pete.
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that is incredibly beautiful
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It is indeed, Beth. More photos from there soon.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I’m glad you and Julie had a pleasant outing and good weather. Perfect for your birthday week!
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Thanks, Audrey. It certainly was a perfect afternoon out.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thanks for sharing that part of the day with us. Warmest regards, Theo
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More photos from there to come, Theo.
Best wishes, Pete.
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What a beautiful way to spend the day in nature!
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Thanks, John. It is such a peaceful place, the only noises are natural.
Best wishes, Pete.
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These are great pictures, Pete. I love birds.
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Thanks, Robbie. More to come soon.
Best wishes, Pete.
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It looks like you had fun.
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It was very peaceful, Molly. I would have stayed later, if it hadn’t been closing at 4:30.
Best wishes, Pete.
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How lovely. Swans and geese…I could watch them all day. I should have Grant build me a hide but somehow I think our birds would know I was inside! Early Spring is special. Love the pics.
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Thanks, Carolyn. I’m sure your birds would know, and just wait for you to come out and fill up their feeders. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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A lovely place for a day out. That looks like a pink-footed goose Pete – a nice shot:
“This species does not breed in the UK, but large numbers of birds spend the winter here, arriving from their breeding grounds in Spitsbergen, Iceland and Greenland. Numbers in England are on the increase, particularly in Norfolk, probably due to better protection at winter roosts.”
and Julie is looking good after her weight loss. I hope she took a photo of you in your shorts!
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I think there is a photo of me on her phone. I will ask her.
Thanks for identifying the goose, Jude.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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A peaceful plac
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It was incredibly calming, Sue.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Good!
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I like to bird watch. The nature park looks like a relaxing way to spend a sunny day. Excellent!
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It is much bigger than my photos show, Cindy. It was a very peaceful afternoon indeed.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Beautiful spot, Pete. I love the clouds on the mere
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It turned a little cloudy after we arrived, but it was still lovely weather at 16C.
Cheers, Pete.
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This looks like such a lovely and serene spot to spend some time with nature.
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It certainly is, Liz. Just the sound of the Geese and Ducks. It felt like being a long way from normal life, just what I needed.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I look forward to our weather warming up so that my husband and I can do the same.
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A trip through Nature – what a great idea for a birthday. Now i know what I’ll ask for!
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It was just what I needed to de-stress, GP.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Such a wonder-filled experience! Thank you, most kindly for sharing.
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Thanks, Annette, glad you liked it. More photos coming soon.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Lovely place Pete, and nice to see Julie.
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Thanks, FR. More photos to come soon.
(Julie is not so keen on having her photo taken by me, but she will ‘pose’ if pre-warned. 🙂 )
Best wishes, Pete.
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Great photos….this is a serene place no doubt chuq
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It is the very definition of ‘peaceful’, chuq.
More photos from there coming soon.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I look forward to them chuq
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Isn’t Pensthorpe wonderful. Here are my husband’s photos from there. We visited in 2013 https://somerville66.blogspot.com/2016/11/pensthorpe-nature-reserve-in-norfolk.html
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Thanks for the link, Lizanne. I will definitely go back one day.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I left a comment on the post. 🙂
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Beautiful and very peaceful, Pete. A perfect choice. Thanks for sharing those with us.
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Thanks, Olga. More to come soon.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Looks a lovely place, Pete.
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I would definitely go back sometime, Stevie.
Best wishes, Pete.
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