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.