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.