Ladybirds Ladybirds....

This Summer I was surprised that we did not see more ladybirds then in mid October as we cut and raked the wildflower strip we saw a few more. Over the last two weeks we have spent quite a lot of time working in the woodland taking out tree stakes and tubes where they are no longer needed. The good stakes can then be reused in the hedge laying. To our surprise there were clusters if ladybirds on nearly every tree we came to. There were hundreds of them some single ones tucked on the underside of branches but most of them were in tightly packed groups. Lots of them were down the tree tubes but some were quite high up out in the open on branches or huddled in lichen.

Owl Box - second time around

After a successful Summer for the Barn Owls and with the young having flown away to find their own territory it seemed like the best time to do repairs to the box.... So on Saturday morning we set out with tools, materials and ladders to get the job done. As we got everything in place , out flew the owl and as the ladder was put in place, out flew another.

Opening the hinged flap we found a deep pile of material and pellets so the first job was to clean it out. As soon as we got it cleaned out, the bottom fell out and then the whole thing collapsed!!!

We had to do something QUICKLY. " Scrap Heap Challenge"??

After searching through the buildings our best option was a redundant water tank with lid.

Robert cut a wooden perching shelf for the inside and a ledge for below the entrance and away we went to get it fixed back on the pole. It was quite a struggle getting it secured, we hope they approve of their new home.

 

More Good News in Bowland

Following on from the good news from Malkin Tower, The Forest of Bowland did it again last night with Bleasdale Cottages winning The Green Tourism Award at The Lancashire Tourism Awards held at Blackburn Cathedral.

Toad Family Visit.

Just as it was getting dark this evening Robert popped next door to see his Dad. On the way back he nearly tripped over a toad. On closer inspection it was not alone, there were two young ones, not much over an inch long.

Summer of Swallows

Last week the young swallows were getting together and having such fun in the sunshine they looked like the class of 2013 having their end of term parties before graduation. At breakfast time they get together on the electric wires, I counted seventy two one morning. I have the feeling that one morning soon all the twittering will have gone and they will begin their long haul flight to a winter in the sunshine.

Barn Owls

Cottage guests have been telling us of the Barn Owls they have been seeing on their evening walks down the road so this was our first attempt to get a picture. It was just on the edge of dark as we arrived and straight away there was movement on the owl box. We could not believe it, there was so much activity, owls bringing food and young flying. It was hard to keep up with exactly how many we were watching but there had to be at least four.

Woodpecker Feeding

Over the last few days we have been seeing a lot of a woodpecker family in the front garden. The parents regularly come to feed on the nut feeder in the eucalyptus tree but now they are bringing a youngster with them, it sits on a branch begging to be fed.
I often put scraps on the grass for the blackbirds and robins but I was surprised to see the woodpecker feeding its baby on mashed potato. Tonight the parent was hunting among the grass for grubs to feed the ever hungry youngster, after several feeds the youngster caught on and began  probing the ground with its beak.

Springtime Bike Ride.

 

Yesterday we set out on another ride on the new electric bikes. It's my sort of bike ride, just like  someone giving you that extra push up the hills and it's surprising how much more detail you see as you ride alongside the hedgerows. As we set out down our road to the left we saw the wheatears feeding, they will only be here for a short while before they move onto higher parts of Bowland to breed. Across the other side of the road was a group of about thirty whimbrel, they seem to be visiting daily probably some of the ones that roost at this time of year at Barnacre. Out onto the main road we took left and set out for Chipping passing near the foot of Parlick with the Para gliders soaring above us and the gliders launching from Cockhill. On down Fishhouse Lane, really needed the brakes down there as it's very steep, the bluebells are just beginning to show. In Chipping village we headed for the Tea Garden at Brabbins Shop where there is a charging point for the bikes and a good cup of coffee for me. After our refreshments we left Chipping by Garstang Road the Curlews calling above us and the hedges on either side such vibrant shades of green. On the way back up our road I caught site of the banking in the wood, yellow with primroses so we went back down later for a walk to have a better look through the wood. The primroses have really spread, I have never seen so many there before, there were violets and just the first few bluebells.

Glorious day today for the Bank Holiday and we heard our first cuckoo.       







Just one swallow.

I know the saying " one swallow doesn't make a Summer" but after this passed winter the sight of the first one was pretty wonderful! Now we hope all the others will soon follow.

Bleasdale Fells Restoration Project.

In glorious sunshine this weekend the helicopter has been busy carrying hundreds of bags of heather brash up onto the Bleasdale Fells. This is part of the work being carried out as part of the project to protect the peat moorland.

The successful early morning Spring Brown Hare Walk was almost finished when the helicopter began its second day of transporting the bags, rounding off the walk with quite a spectacular finale. 



 

 

Star Gazing and Bird Watching.

Last night we braved the cold and spent some time "Star Gazing". A friend brought his new smart telescope and set it up on the cottages car park.
We had some splendid viewings of Jupiter and its moons, Pleiades (The Seven Sisters) and The Constellation of Orion. We always knew that we were lucky to live in a "dark sky" area and it was a real treat to view them in more detail.
While we were doing this the recently arrived oyster catchers were very vocal.
Robert saw lots of snipe while out field working this morning.

Curlew Calling

As I went out into the garden this morning to feed the birds the sun was trying to shine and the snowdrops were looking lovely. Then to make the day even more special I heard my first Curlew of the season and it's even giving a better weather forcast for the half term holiday.

Garden Visitors in Winter

As it's some while since I contributed to The Bowland Blog I should make a New Year effort and get back to it and note the winter visitors in the garden. The song thrushes are still making daily visits for the berries on the holly tree and lately have begun to come to the Cotoneaster by the house. The nut and seed feeders are busy with a variety of tits and the greedy woodpecker.The pheasants,blackbirds and robins are always grateful for the house food scraps but this morning they had competition from a stoat that came and decided to make off with a full piece of gingerbread It didn't stay to eat with them but it carried it away at great speed, it was sporting its white coat for the winter.The garden goes very quiet when the sparrow hawk visits.
Looking over the hedge and down the field I have been noticing more heron visiting the lake usually just one or two but while pegging washing out last week there were three. This caused a bit of a spat I was surprised to see them having a go at each other. As I am sitting at the computer my eye has been taken with a group of feeding birds and if I'm not mistaken I think we have visiting lapwing.....
Yes we have! I got the binoculars out just to make sure my eyes were not deceiving me.
We now have regular sightings of the barn owl hunting as we drive down the road, it makes a lovely site. The new woodland has become good habitat for it.