CASTLE HOWARD LAKE
Add a birding slant to a stately home visit!
THE CASTLE HOWARD estate comprises an outstanding combination of 200 listed buildings, extensive and varied gardens, pleasure grounds and parkland, all set in 10,000 acres, of which 2,000 are woodland. The Great Lake to the north of the house was built in the 1790s and is the main birding attraction. Waterfowl dominate, with the main breeders Canada and Greylag Geese, encouraging migrants to drop in including White-fronted, Pink-footed and tundra Bean Geese, while American Wigeon, Wood Duck, Red-crested Pochard and Ferruginous Duck have been found along with Common Scoter, Smew, Mandarin and Scaup, with Goldeneye wintering along with Wigeon, Teal and Goosander. Whooper Swans can drop in to join the many Mute Swans while Little and Great Crested Grebe have been joined by Slavonian Grebes in the autumn. Swifts can congregate in bad weather in summer.