Desirable residential accommodation.

Our Forest of Bowland Holiday Cottages

We now have accommodation available for owls. These two desirable (we hope ) residences are now ready for occupation. The first is at the edge of our ten year old woodland on a recycled telegraph pole with views to Beacon Fell. The second is in a mature ash tree near the cottages with views of Parlick. Now the wait begins to see if we have any interest, we may have to be patient!

Planting, laying and surveying.

Our Forest of Bowland Holiday Cottages

The hedge laying that was postponed before Christmas is now coming along very well and all but two of the new fruit trees are now planted. The Brown Hares featured on the television twice last week once on BBC North West and again on News Round with the children from Bleasdale School. Both pieces were to publicise The Lancashire Wildlife project surveying the number of Brown Hare in Lancashire.

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.