It's a miracle

At last the determined Oyster Catcher that made her nest in the hollow in the top of the gate post has hatched two of her original three eggs. We believe the third was taken by the pestering crows.
She did need a little help in the end as the chicks could not manage to vacate the nest as it was to deep for them. This wonderful weather will give them a good start and we did see them later on in the day safely with Mum and Dad on the ground.

Springtime

On Friday I went to the orchard to pick a bunch of pheasant eye flowers before the cottage guests were due to arrive. I was surprised to find I had company, this Roe Deer.
At last the swallows have settled in the barn, there have been swallows passing through on the farm but our own group are a whole month later than last year.
The woods are looking lovely with the bluebells at their best. The cow parsley and red campion are now out in the hedge rows, everything looks so green, each day more trees come into leaf.

Nest with a view.

picture taken by Helen Turner

picture taken by Barrie Tyrer

This Oyster Catcher decided to go for a nest with a view. She is sitting on three eggs, at first she flew off the nest everytime a car passed by. After a few days she was ok with the passing traffic even with the rattle of the cattle grid. We have some concerns about the number of times she flies from the nest when people pass by using the footpath but we hope she is successful.