The Peacocks of Corsham Court

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• As I sit down to write this post the words from this song pop into my head.  “If you go down to the woods today you’re in for a big surprise...”  They’re the opening line from the The Teddy Bears’ Picnic.  But the big surprise isn’t teddy bears, its peacocks.  And not just one or two as pictured, but about 20 who roam freely “or gad about” as the song says within the grounds of Corsham Court in Wiltshire.

  

  Corsham Court, Corsham, Wiltshire

  Corsham Court is an old stately home in the South West of England and because of its proximity to Bath, I wonder if it has featured in a Jane Austen novel. It looks like it should.

  The first weekend I visited, was a cold, drab, almost misty March morning.  And as I approached the house, accompanied by a security man who was showing me where I had to go, I saw the long tail of a peacock hanging out of a very tall tree.  Without bright sunshine and its tail feathers folded, it looked like a ghost of itself.  I looked around a saw another couple seated low on the ground.  My guide said that there were many more, around the back of the house.

  

  Corsham Court, Corsham, Wiltshire

  My reason for being at Corsham Court was work.  The house and grounds are not open to the general public, except on occasional open days.  I’ve visited there twice and grabbed this series of pictures during the little free time I had.  First with my camera phone and then with my digital compact.  What surprised me each time is how tame these birds are.  I had no trouble getting close to photograph, indeed they seemed to expect it.  And they are also inquisitive creatures.  Look in the gallery at the one who followed us into the smoking area to see what we were up to.

  As usual, click on any photo to switch to a better view in gallery mode.

  

  Pickwick Village, Wiltshire. Its half a mile from Corsham and where the coach drops passengers off.

  

  Corsham Court, Corsham, Wiltshire

  

  Corsham Court, Corsham, Wiltshire

  

  

  

  

  Without bright sunlight to illuminate its glorious tail feathers, this display became camouflage instead

  

  The nosey peacock

  

  

  tail feathers

  

  “What’s going on in here then?”

  

  

  “Not for me. I’m off!”

  

  Corsham Court, Corsham, Wiltshire