It was a glorious morning to set out on the walk to watch the Brown Hare. The group were well rewarded, for rising early with good sightings of their antics and the thrill of catching them boxing.
Today was one of those wonderful clear blue sky days here in Bowland and it was the first time this year we have had flocks of lapwing flying over on their pre breeding season " away days "
It's a real treat to have them back even if it's just for short visits, it gives you hope that it won't be too long before they come to stay to breed.
Now just hours later we have the clear black sky that is perfect to see the spectacle of the sky at night, no light polution, it's a wonderful sight!
After taking a walk a few days ago to collect greenery to make door wreaths for Christmas I decided to check the young trees in the orchard.
As I was sitting at the kitchen table eating my breakfast- one Weetabix with a handful of Special K , a Brown Hare was doing the rounds of the garden. Along with some grass its' menu included - pine shoots with some sappy bark, leaves from the Lavetera, holly and thorn finnishing off with a good helping of sorrel. It had eaten its" five a day" before 8 o'clock!
As part of the Garstang walking Festival we had a "Tewit Tea Walk" this afternoon. Along with the lapwing with young there were sightings of Curlew, Oyster Catchers and Whimbrel. As the walk passed Jonas Wood the three young Tawny Owls were to be seen peeping out of their nest, one even climbing on top of its' siblings to get a better view of the passing bird watchers.
An unusual sighting for us here was a Pied Flycatcher, a young male calling for a mate.
I hadn't been to the lake for a while so we decided to have a walk down this afternoon. As we approached the Redshank flew up. The rowing boat was in the shallows with quite a bit of water in so I suggested pulling it on to the bank but I soon changed my mind as a water hen has decided to make her nest on the seat, eight eggs. I used to have an uncle who each Spring would ask " how high were the water hens nests" his theory being this would be a sign for how wet the summer would be. What would he have said of this one? Next we found a goose nest, five Greylag eggs. Didn't stay long as the Redshank were coming back again. Walked on passed the clay pit, lots of snipe about and the marsh marigolds look good. Then on to the sedge bed, the toad spawn is looking promising. Came back by the newly laid hedges, coming into leaf now. Our Forest of Bowland Holiday Cottages
What a glorious day we all had today! It got off to a lovely start when the first thing I sighted from the bedroom window was a swallow. Often the first one to come back will be on it's own for up to a week before the rest follow, but not this year, there are two already. So it's time to keep the barn door open for the Summer. Within two minutes of propping the door open for them they were straight in and sitting on top of the big light making their fantastic chattering sounds. Lets hope this weather stays a while, it makes everything so enjoyable-even work!
