A walk in Normanby Hall Country Park

Although autumn is well under way, days are shorter and the sun does not rise high in the sky, it was a pleasant day today for a walk in the country park. We watched the Red Deer, with two stags and a satellite group of young males keeping watch on the hind herd and the alpha stag, who bellowed occasionally.
 We could only feel the warmth of the weak sun in the walled garden, where a few Red Admirals and Commas feeding on Michaelmas Daisies and Ivy. In addition to some droneflies - and a wasp during our picnic - were the only insects we came across.
In the gardens behind Normanby Hall, a pair of Goldfinches fed on lavender seeds, and on the roof of the building, a group of Pied Wagtails squabbled.
 In the pond, male Mallards with freshly moulted plumage whistled and circled the females, while up to ten Moorhens fed on the grassy banks.
 A quick visit to the bird feeding station drew a blank for birds, but three shiny Fly Agaric mushrooms compensated for it.

The alpha male Red Deer bellowing

A young stag

Red Admirals

Comma butterfly

Fly Agaric, Amanita muscaria

Bird list

1. Black-headed Gull
2. Blue Tit
3. Carrion Crow
4. Chaffinch
5. Goldfinch 2   
6. Great Spotted Woodpecker
7. Great Tit
8. Greenfinch
9. Jackdaw    
10. Long-tailed Tit
11. Magpie
12. Mallard    
13. Mistle Thrush, a loose flock calling over the conifers near the car park    
14. Moorhen, 10   
15. Pheasant    
16. Pied Wagtail (yarrellii)    
17. Red-legged Partridge, 5   
18. Robin    
19. Starling    
20. Woodpigeon    
21. Wren