Winter Projects.

Our Forest of Bowland Holiday Cottages

As I lay in bed this morning juggling the days jobs in my head " UPDATE THE BLOG " was screaming at me so here goes.

Our 10years of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme came to an end so that meant a whole new list of projects for the Higher Level Scheme to begin. Robert made a good start on the extra bunds and scrapes for the Lapwing Project. The hedge laying that was planned for Nov/Dec has now been postponed, first for the heavy rain and then for the snow-Health and Safety. It is now pencilled in for the New Year as is the planting of the new fruit trees. Yesterday I had a message to say the new owl boxes were ready for collecting.

As I went through the young woodland recently it was good to see an abundance of berries on the hollies, even a few hazel nuts (that's a first) and I have never before seen so many sloes. Walking home accross the fields there were plenty of snipe about. I even caught sight of a woodcock as I drove back from a meeting at dusk. Another night sighting - Robert went out to check one of the new security lights and on his wanderings between the timed phases he shone his torch along the brook and was surprised to see a group of brown trout, 3-4 inches long. The ducks are back at the lake now the ice is thawing.

Spotted Flycatchers.

Our Forest of Bowland Holiday Cottages These pictures were taken by Gavin Thomas ( RSPB )

just down the lane. The parents were feeding three fledglings." WELL SPOTTED" Gavin.

England V Australia - Lapwings

As we arrived home last week from our trip to Australia the beauty of The Bowland Countryside was just stunning. The hedgerows, trees and wildflowers had all burst forth.
Visiting some last years cottage guests, they showed us the Australian Lapwing. We would not have recognised them, no crest on top and no purple/green shimmer in the feathers. What they do have is " bright yellow, dangling ear flaps " !!!
After another successful breeding season our visiting lapwing are now gathering into groups enjoying the wider area before leaving till next year.
Our family of Greylag Geese are still with us, looking in exceptionally fine form. I must say they have been the most attentive and protective parents I've seen in a long time.

Our Forest of Bowland Holiday Cottages

Oystercatcher chick.

Gavin Thomas (RSPB ) took this picture today of an Oystercatcher chick down by the wildlife lake. They really are very well camouflaged.
The five Greylag goslings are doing well with their very attentive parents. While grazing they suddenly shoot off running with the young having to dash to keep up, then they seem to have wing flapping lessons. We await the take off !!

Our Forest of Bowland Holiday Cottages

Birds

Our Forest of Bowland Holiday Cottages

On Monday Robert did the Tewit Teas Walk with Gavin Thomas ( R.S.P.B ) for one of the events in the Garstang Walking Festival. It was quite a cold afternoon but they still managed to see a good number of lapwing chicks, an oyster catcher nest with an egg in and very good views of a Curlew sitting on her nest. They also watched another curlew " seeing off " a cock pheasant in a very determined manner.

The Wheatear are back with us for a short stay before they move on to nest, such pretty birds.

Quite relieved to have the Grey Wagtails back, they are so late, we thought we would not have any this year.

Proud Parents

Our Forest of Bowland Holiday Cottages

Down at the lake we usually only get visiting geese dropping in for a short break (no more than 3/4 days ). This Spring a group of Greylag decided to have an extended stay and the out come is that there are now five young ones.

They are very protective and proud of their brood.

Guest Sightings

Our Forest of Bowland Holiday Cottages

Over the weekend we had the third annual stay of the Haiku Group. On one of their walks they heard a group of aggravated oyster catchers, as they looked to see what was bothering them they had a very good view of an osprey flying over. We have never seen one but they tell me that it would be migrating back to the north.

Another family staying had a lovely surprise, spotting two very young leverets sitting very still in a clump of rush.

It's good to have the first of the swallows back and the bats out feeding in the evenings.

htpp://www.bleasdalecottages.co.ok

Bleasdale Sightings

Our Forest of Bowland Holiday Cottages

While checking the e- mails this morning we sighted a stoat through the window. Robert managed to get these pictures as it left the garden with it's catch, a young rabbit.

htpp://www.bleasdalecottages.co.uk

Frogs on " Night Manouvers "

As Robert drove down the road at seven o'clock to a Parish Hall meeting over a hundred frogs were on the move. And by nine on his return there were even more, home for the camera to record " The Night Manouvers ". I think it's going to be fun, fun, fun on the pond tonight.

http://www.bleasdalecottages.co.uk

Our Forest of Bowland Holiday Cottages

Breeding waders at Bleasdale Cottages

Over the weekend I kept thinking I could hear the sound of Redshank but t wasn't until Monday that I saw them for sure. That's the last of the ground nesting birds to arrive for their breeding season here with us.
Tues. 16th. March.
Even though we can still see a patch of snow above us on the side of the fell it's been the most lovely springlike day. A day of first sightings this year, frog spawn on one of the scrapes and coltsfoot and celandines flowering by the side of the brook.
We never come back from a walk without seeing Hares, and last week we were treated to a show of "boxing Hares" without even leaving the house, through the window, as I sat at the computer.
I will have to hope for some good sightings for the Hare Walk with the Countryside Rangers this coming Sunday.

http://bleasdalecottages.co.uk

Is there light at the end of the tunnel ?

Our Forest of Bowland Holiday Cottages One of the animals that has not only survived but positively thrived in the extreme winter weather is the mole. Mole hills seem to be popping up every way you look. On Saturday I could put it off no longer and the traps were retrieved from the depths of the garage and with more gritted teeth than enthusiasm I set out to set them. By Monday the population was five down. Tuesday morning was misty and cold and as my fingers tingled with cold delving into the sodden soil I was wishing I had chosen a warmer job when out of the mist a lapwing got up and flew to the next field__ the first tewit call of the year !And if that didn't manage to warm me through five minutes later I was glowing, seeing and hearing a pair of curlew. So even though the morning began looking bleak, there is light at the end of the tunnel and Spring will soon be here.

http://www.bleasdalecottages.co.uk/