The highlight of our exploration of the 1600 acres of the Sizergh Castle estate in south Cumbria, not far from Kendal, was hoped to be sightings of the elusive hawfinch. Sadly it was not to be, but nevertheless the 30 Field Nats members who came on the trip experienced a varied and enjoyable day exploring the estate and castle gardens.
We embarked on a clockwise circular walk of about 4.5 miles through a richly varied landscape of pasture, scrub, old deciduous woodland, wetlands, hedgerows and mature parkland. With such a variety of habitats we could enjoy an equally varied range of birds, such as goldcrest, linnet, reed bunting, redwing and fieldfare (both no doubt fattening up for their long flight back to their summer quarters in Scandinavia), together with a number of marshland and wetland species in the Park Moss area such as cormorant, pink footed geese, wigeon, teal and snipe. A male and female marsh harrier were also spotted, quartering the marsh in search of prey. In all, 53 bird species were seen during the day. Despite strenuous efforts by everyone, none of the rare resident hawfinches, which gather around the hornbeam trees near the visitor centre early and late in the day, showed themselves.
Some of the fields we passed through were covered with countless anthills, some of which had been excavated most probably by badgers or woodpeckers. 
Overlooking the Lyth Valley
Brigsteer Park Wood, with its areas of cleared and coppiced woodland, contained beautiful displays of wild daffodils, primroses, lesser celandine, violets, barren strawberry and a solitary early bluebell.
Fungi also revealed themselves during our walk, especially in the woodlands, such as the lovely scarlet elf cups on the fallen logs where we stopped for lunch, as well as turkey tail, candle snuff and birch polypore. Roe deer and rabbit were the only two mammals spotted during the day.
A steep haul up from the wetland hide overlooking the Lyth valley was rewarded by grand views over the landscape, despite mist obscuring the southern Lakeland fells, and also by a visit to the small isolated church of St John’s with its intriguing mural behind the altar.
A downhill track through a wood and across pasture led us back to the visitor centre and a chance to look around the Castle gardens, especially the spectacular ferns in the stumpery, before enjoying National Trust refreshments and a final search for those shy hawfinches.
The overcast skies that we had experienced all day turned to heavy rain just as we boarded our coach for the journey home, tired but satisfied by a good day of natural history in delightful surroundings.
Rick Cowley