We are lucky to have a period of high pressure and the lovely weather seems to be holding up. A few of my favourite photos from my walk around the local park this morning:
Tag: Stoke Park Estate
-
9th October 2025 – Stoke Park Estate, Bristol
Duchess Pond in Stoke Park The autumn colours are really showing around this moorhen. It’s not about to build a nest is it? The resident grey heron Blue tit Female stonechat Female stonechat – there was no sight of a male Front view of stonechat … and rear view of stonechat The jay seems to always be around too although I only had a very brief view of it Grey heron Fly past grey heron seems to be showing off My favourite shot of the grey heron -
1st October 2025 – Stoke Park Estate, Bristol
Following a day of (photographing) art galleries, monuments and churches in Bristol it was back to the birds this morning in Stoke Park.
Within a few minutes of arriving I was treated to a grey heron flying right in front of me and then a kingfisher posing nicely on the edge of the pond.
Grey heron 
Grey heron 
Grey heron 
Grey heron landing in its favourite spot on the annex pond 
Kingfisher 
Kingfisher 
Kingfisher 
Kingfisher spreading a wing 
Kingfisher in flight 
Kingfisher in flight Kingfisher in flight The kingfisher seemed to follow me around Duchess Pond and I had shots of it in lots of different locations but none as good as its original perch.
Kingfisher in a different venue There were lots of corvids around and I even got sight of a sparrow hawk and a buzzard being mobbed by them.
Common buzzard being mobbed Just before setting off home I saw a male and female stonechat but only managed a photo of the female.
Female stonechat 
I couldn’t resist another photo of the Dower House with its reflection in Duchess Pond 
Moorhens are good for reflections too -
25th September 2025 – Stoke Park Estate, Bristol
Encouraged by my visit earlier in the week (and the blue skies) I decided to give Stoke Park another go this morning.
Just a short distance from my home, as I pass beneath the motorway to reach the park, I am reminded by the graffiti (and the noise from the motorway) that this is still a very urban area.
The graffiti and the noise of the motorway remind you how close we are to the city centre However, it’s well worth putting up with the inconveniences.
On the sky line there were 3 ravens and a common buzzed.
Common buzzard 
The jay was still around but much further away. 
Grey heron again at Duchess Pond 
… and again on the annex pond 
Common chiffchaff shows itself briefly 
A meadow pipit in the same tree 
Meadow pipit in flight Long=tailed tit (I counted 14 in this social group) 
Long-tailed tit in flight By the time I was about to go it was getting warmer and dragonflies began to appear.
Common darter -
8th September 2025 – Stoke Park Estate, Bristol
Just time this morning for a stroll over to one of our local parks before the rain came.
Duchess Pond in Stoke Park Estate There are still plenty of dragonflies around but I didn’t see much in the way of bird life except for a grey heron (and coots and moorhens) although redstarts have been reported recently.
Common darter 
Migrant hawker 
Grey heron Grey heron 
Grey heron It’s a lovely spot but not as wonderful as it looks because it’s next to the motorway and very noisy.
The grey heron didn’t seem to be affected by the noise 
Common darters 
The lily pads look wonderful at the moment 
The Dower House (now apartments) on the edge of the park
Martin's Bird Blog & Nature Photos 