Another Tick - County Durham

We have just come home from a week in County Durham – the 24^th county in our quest to stay a week in every British historical county. Still hundreds to go! Co. Durham is surprisingly impressive with miles of moors and dramatic landscapes with wild waterfalls.

Our cottage was in a fantastic location in Weardale, isolated on the top of a hill, accessed by a long, steep grass track through three farm gates. We had superb views from every window, and wonderful gardens full of birds, bunnies, bats and baa lambs.

We even had a couple of curlews in the garden and lapwings flying over.

In an old barn next to the cottage was a thrush’s nest – and she was sitting.

Swallows were everywhere, but a pair of pied wagtails were my favourites as they were working so hard to gather insects to feed their brood.

The garden was swarming with bunnies

And of course, we had some wildlife of our own

Holidays can be sooooooooo tiring

And the tortoises came, too.

We spent a great day with JudiM and her OH – more about that in another thread. Shame about the weather!

An excellent holiday was had by all.

So glad you enjoyed my County Linda. You were in a lovely location with your own reserve LOL Nice that the animals came too LOL

Welcome back, Sparrow. Sounds like another wonderful week on the great county quest. Curlews in the garden, for goodness sake!

Glad you enjoyed it Sparrow, and you didn't even need a passport. It will always be home to me, even though we have been in Gloucestershire since 1979. Our son has emigrated from Gloucestershire to Tyne and Wear so he's heading home too(-:). Good to see High Force with some water- last time I was there it was running fairly low. Looking forward to more of your pictures to help me feel homesick(-:).

That looks like a brilliant location, Sparrow. No noisy neighbours except for the wildlife. How fabulous to see a Curlew from the garden. Glad you had a good time and look forward to hearing more.

Glad you had another great trip, Linda. Super photos......how many more Counties have you got to go to? And is one of them Hertfordshire?

Looks like you've had a great time Sparrow, the cottage looks fantastic.

Must have been great to see Curlews in the garden.

Thank you everyone.

It is a lovely county, and the location of the cottage made it even better. We have at least 50 more counties to do. Hertfordshire is on the list Graham!

Sparrow,did you get up the dale a little way to see the Black Grouse lek ?last year when we were up that way we had good views near Langdon Beck which is not far from High Force.

Hi Seaman,

No, we didn't I'm afraid. I have three incumbrances on these holidays as far as birding is concerned ... my OH and two dogs. I read that there were black grouse up there, and elsewhere on the moors. We did have a few walks on the moors, but it's hopeless for me.

I know what you mean Linda,non birding partners are not conducive to spotting rarities and complain when put on the lead like the dogs LOL I am one of the lucky ones my OH is as daft as me about birding.

Well done Linda enjoy your holiday threads of all different counties.Think the same as Seaman those of us with birding mad O H are so lucky but guess you must gain in other ways.

Thanks Sooty.

It is hard work with a non birding partner, but he will come with me to reserves providing there are public footpaths through them that allow dogs on leads, and he is getting better at being patient when we go in hides. I get 20 minutes now!

A friend of ours who relies on her husband for transport picks reserves with tea shops and her OH is quite willing to sit there for a couple of hours or more with the papers before having a kip in the car.Apparently he is well known in certain reserve tea rooms.

LOL Seaman, I will suggest that next time! I might get an hour!