At Last! Not my best pictures but here are the goldfinches. I managed to get these from the kitchen window at around 7pm yesterday.
Archive for April, 2009
height top farm 2009-04-30 08:10:00
Thursday, April 30th, 2009Wednesday April 29th 2009
Wednesday, April 29th, 2009The reaction to the refurbishment of the Dairy has been great. Everyone loves it and its so easy to keep clean & tidy.
With hindsight, my claim that our visitors would have new laid eggs in their welcome baskets was a bit rash, some would say 'tempting fate'! .....Our two lovely little hens are 'no more'. Don't think it was the fox that took them this time, Alan seems to think it may have been a sparrow hawk because all we found was their feathers. Anyway, we've now purchased five new brown hens which should start laying soon so, hopefully I will be able to fulfill my promise.
Goldfinch
Wednesday, April 29th, 2009
Spotted a pair of Goldfinch twice yesterday and once so far today. They are the most colourful garden birds to be using the bird feeders at the moment. I have had my camera ready but still not managed to get a snap. I will keep trying and post as soon as I do get a picture.
RSPB Lapwing Survey
Wednesday, April 29th, 2009
I visited Broadgate on 24th April to do my Lapwing survey and found a total of 23 birds i.e. 11 pairs or so in the survey fields. However, you can't just divide the number of birds by two as some males may have two "wives" so 23 birds might represent a number of triangles instead of pairs!
Whilst I ate my packed lunch in the car it was so enjoyable watching the Swallows flying down to a puddle in the farmyard to collect mud and bits of straw to make their nests. One pair squeezed through a tiny gap at the top of the barn door to get to their new home.
I've never seen so many brown hares in one area before. I was hoping that some would box as I've never seen them do that before but I'm still waiting.
Besides Lapwings and Swallows I saw:
22 Meadow Pipits in one field (probably on passage), Curlew, Oystercatcher, Mallard, Pheasant, Mistle Thrush, Siskin, Wren, Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Blackcap, Blackbird, Kestrel, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, House Sparrow, Goldfinch and Reed Bunting.
Jean Roberts
Whilst I ate my packed lunch in the car it was so enjoyable watching the Swallows flying down to a puddle in the farmyard to collect mud and bits of straw to make their nests. One pair squeezed through a tiny gap at the top of the barn door to get to their new home.
I've never seen so many brown hares in one area before. I was hoping that some would box as I've never seen them do that before but I'm still waiting.
Besides Lapwings and Swallows I saw:
22 Meadow Pipits in one field (probably on passage), Curlew, Oystercatcher, Mallard, Pheasant, Mistle Thrush, Siskin, Wren, Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Blackcap, Blackbird, Kestrel, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, House Sparrow, Goldfinch and Reed Bunting.
Jean Roberts
Swallows
Monday, April 27th, 2009
It's great to see the swallows back. The first two arrived a couple of weeks ago. They are so entertaining to watch in full flight. We can't decide how many there are now - maybe only four but sounds more like a dozen when they get chatting.
Saturday 25th April 2009
Saturday, April 25th, 2009
3.30 pm Just had first heavy rain shower that we have had in about 3 weeks. Very welcome as everywhere is so dry and in need of some rain! The bluebells are now almost all fully out and look an absolute picture in the woods. My favourite 2 cowslips are now fully out in the hedgerow at the top of Big Seeds field. They were a long way behind others on the farm that I thought we had lost them.
One of my B&B ladies was sat in bed yesterday morning and she saw the Barn Owl fly by also spied the Marsh Harrier over Leighton Moss. I have just seen Green Finch on the bird feeder and Siskin. It is really lovely at the moment with the trees bursting into leaf although, as usual, the Ask and the Oak look miles behind.
The 3 farm kittens are becoming very mischievous and we have been able to ascertain that one is female so she it to be called Millie and has a lovely family waiting to adopt her.
One of my B&B ladies was sat in bed yesterday morning and she saw the Barn Owl fly by also spied the Marsh Harrier over Leighton Moss. I have just seen Green Finch on the bird feeder and Siskin. It is really lovely at the moment with the trees bursting into leaf although, as usual, the Ask and the Oak look miles behind.
The 3 farm kittens are becoming very mischievous and we have been able to ascertain that one is female so she it to be called Millie and has a lovely family waiting to adopt her.
The Green Tourism Business Awards
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009
Received my Green Tourism Business 'Silver' Award today at Hornby, had an excellent day out, very good speakers and excellent lunch
for more details about Green Tourism log onto http://www.green-business.co.uk/
Extracts from nature diary in bird hide
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
21st March, quiet peaceful day following a misty start. Lapwings swooping
28th March, RSPB lapwing today, saw 2 buzzards
7th April, Plenty of phesants, 4 or 5 pairs of lapwings in field to south of bird hide
9th April, A lovely sunset with lots of birds in the field behind bird hide
9th April, lots of birds, lapwings, redshank, spotted redshank, snipe, culews, woodcocks, whimbels, along with plenty of hares and rabbits
28th March, RSPB lapwing today, saw 2 buzzards
7th April, Plenty of phesants, 4 or 5 pairs of lapwings in field to south of bird hide
9th April, A lovely sunset with lots of birds in the field behind bird hide
9th April, lots of birds, lapwings, redshank, spotted redshank, snipe, culews, woodcocks, whimbels, along with plenty of hares and rabbits
Broadgate Farm B & B and Cl site 2009-04-21 17:15:00
Tuesday, April 21st, 2009
Cooler today, but dry
Busy rolling and chain harrowing fields, missing the lapwing nest, there are not as many as last year but still quite lot. Buzzards have been sited in the area which will not help the other birds.
House martins are busy in the building with their nest.
I have been tidying the garden up. The blossom is still not out.
Busy rolling and chain harrowing fields, missing the lapwing nest, there are not as many as last year but still quite lot. Buzzards have been sited in the area which will not help the other birds.
House martins are busy in the building with their nest.
I have been tidying the garden up. The blossom is still not out.
House Martins Arrive
Monday, April 20th, 2009
Even though its only 20th. April the weather today has been gorgeous, warm and sunny again.
Saw the 1st house martins yesterday, always a sign of warmer weather. they are busy today re-building their nest in the farm buildings and round the eves of the house.
The garden birds are busy feeding from the new bird feeders in the garden
Saw the 1st house martins yesterday, always a sign of warmer weather. they are busy today re-building their nest in the farm buildings and round the eves of the house.
The garden birds are busy feeding from the new bird feeders in the garden
height top farm 2009-04-14 17:23:00
Tuesday, April 14th, 2009
Yesterday Easter Sunday, Ken was delighted to see that the swallows had returned. I was quite pleased but I did think about my washing!
EASTER SUNDAY 12th April 09
Monday, April 13th, 2009
11.30 am Heard the Cookcoo calling in Deepdale woods. Beautiful, warm sunny day with hardly a cloud in the sky. The 3 tabby and white kittens have now got their eyes open. 2 Marsh Harriers seen soaring over the causeway on Leighton Moss. Two Barn Owls seen flying out of Dutch Barn around dusk. 5 Red Deer seen ambling across bottom field towards Grisedale woods. What a wonderful day!
Boxing Hares and Leverets
Sunday, April 12th, 2009
Found a special surprise today, not the "Easter Bunny" but three very young leverets. I have seen a Hare in that spot before but I would not have thought she would have given birth so close to the buildings and only a few feet from the washing line. It gave me a thrill last week watching down the front field with a guest, we saw hares "boxing" the fur was flying!
Our first swallows are back this week- always a welcome sight-must leave the barn door open for them.
Guests came back from their walk this afternoon reporting having seen lapwing chicks.
http//:www.bleasdalecottages.co.uk
Our first swallows are back this week- always a welcome sight-must leave the barn door open for them.
Guests came back from their walk this afternoon reporting having seen lapwing chicks.
http//:www.bleasdalecottages.co.uk
Fresh Air
Sunday, April 5th, 2009
Back from our holidays, we had a great time, but it was lovely to get back. The sun was shining spring flowers out, fresh air, (we called in at Morroco whilst we were away, it was dirty, dusty and smelly) you don't realize how clear and fresh it is here until you have been away for awhile.
We had the grading visit but don't get the results yet, a couple of weeks to wait until we get them at the presentation. Keeping our fingers crossed, we worked really hard. We use soap nut pods now for washing the linen, they are great, everything is so soft and you aren't using any chemicals. Good for people with sensative skin.
Lambs are having races round the field, they are lovely when they are small.
Broadgate Farm B & B and Cl site 2009-04-02 09:50:00
Thursday, April 2nd, 2009
A clear crisp start to today, then the sun is shining and its a lot warmer,
List of birds seen today; pheasants, curlews, lapwings, wood pecker, blue tits, buzzards, magpies
hares are plentiful
List of birds seen today; pheasants, curlews, lapwings, wood pecker, blue tits, buzzards, magpies
hares are plentiful
