Jays
Jays are active at Beningbrough in late autumn and early winter. A shy, woodland bird, the jay is the most colourful member of the crow family. Jays arrive in October to feed on the acorn crop, and even bury acorns to retrieve later in winter. They have a loud distinctive ‘shriek’ which can be heard on winter days.
Birds hunting for prey
If you're lucky, you may see a sparrowhawk hunting in the garden or even a tawny owl searching for its prey before dark on a quiet winter afternoon. The ghostly white figure of a barn owl is also a possibility as they often feed in daylight in winter.
Birds in the garden
The American garden, beyond the walled garden has feeders and a bird hide, and is a great place for spotting birds. Here, you are likely to see blue tits, great tits, coal tits and chaffinches. Nuthatches and the great spotted woodpecker can also sometimes be seen.
Riverside wildlife
Mixed flocks of tit species can be seen flitting from willow to willow in search of food. There's usually a resident flock of long tailed tits active here too, looking for insects. Kingfishers, herons and gooseander are all resident on the river through the winter, as is the grey wagtail. A fleeting glimpse of an otter is always a possibility on a quiet day.
Woodland wildlife
A walk through the woodland areas of the parkland could be rewarded with a glimpse of a fox or even a roe deer. Small mammals are also in evidence, including short-tailed voles and wood mice. Occasionally, brown hares are to be seen in the winter fields. They have longer legs than rabbits and have black tips on their ears and tail.
Signs winter is ending
As the days begin to lengthen in January, buds on the trees begin to swell and catkins (male flowers) appear on shrubs such as hazel. On the woodland floor, the green shoots of bluebells can be seen emerging through the leaf litter and by early February, the first snowdrops are usually flowering, both in the garden and in the woods.
