Six bird boxes have been positioned around the vegetable garden and orchard. Some with a 28mm hole are for Great tits and tree sparrows. The others with a 25mm hole are for blue tits and coal tits. Within an hour of the first one being put up blue tits were inspecting the new accomodation.
Archive for February, 2010
bird box siting
Sunday, February 28th, 2010snowdrops
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
This year, snowdrops were quite late to appear but have given a spectacular show and have flowered over a long period of time.
coppicing continues
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
Coppicing work with BTCV is continuing in one of our wooded areas. Most of the trees being felled will re-grow from their stump but some like this Scots pine will not. They provide rapid growth and as evergreens are good windbreaks but they shade out other trees and suppress the growth of many flower species. Not all are taken out in any one area.
The main trunks and thicker branches become firewood whilst the smaller branches and twigs, or brashwood, is piled into compact heaps to provide wildlife habitats.
Additional volunteers came from Lancaster University and Lancaster Royal Grammar School sixth form to help out which enabled us to clear a larger area.
Getting to grips with my new camera.
Saturday, February 27th, 2010
These pictures have been taken at various stages throughout today. The early morning mist and little bit of snow were followed by birds on the feeders, but what made my day was the first of our lambs to be born . Just waiting now for Harron Clarissa our pedigree dexter cow to give birth to her seventh calf due anytime now. As you can see she doesn't seem to be in any hurry!
Parkfoot Holiday and Park Homes 2010-02-26 15:19:00
Friday, February 26th, 2010
Parkfoot Holiday and Park Homes 2010-02-26 15:08:00
Friday, February 26th, 2010
Winter Wildlife
Friday, February 26th, 2010
bird boxes
Sunday, February 21st, 2010
This weekend, we have been making nest boxes for blue tits, great tits and coal tits to be sited in and around our vegetable plot and orchard. This is to encourage the birds to eat sawfly and codling moth caterpillars that damage our soft fruit bushes and apple trees. Pressure is on as blue tits are regularly seen now inspecting our existing boxes so the new ones need to be put up this week.
The boxes make use of offcuts of timber, waterproof roofing membrane and ECOS paint sample pots from our resource centre work.
resource centre update
Sunday, February 21st, 2010
Our window and door frames, made by local Galgate joiner Andrew Corless, were delivered this week. The frames are now being painted using ECOS organic paints based in Heysham which are solvent-free and give off no fumes.
Work continues on the towers of the resource centre including making 20-30 swift boxes. These have been constructed behind the stone work, then the plastic pipe removed and the entrance slit finished to the correct size.
Slits have also been left to allow bats access to the centre of the tower to roost or breed.
grazing deer
Sunday, February 21st, 2010
We saw these deer grazing whilst walking at Bashall Eaves yesterday. Trying to get the camera out without making any noise was quite difficult, but just managed to get a couple of pics before they bolted.
Elizabeth Mills 2010-02-19 12:15:00
Friday, February 19th, 2010
Woke up to light snowfall and thick fog, thats gradually thinning as the sun tries to shine through. Just received my starter pack from http://www.naturescalendar.org/, who want people to record their first sightings of UK flora and fauna so they can see if there are any changes, perhaps due to global warming. Looks like fun, but I think I might be a fairweather recorder and wait till it looks a bit more inviting outside! Went for a walk around Stocks Reservoir , clear blue skies and bright sunshine though a strong cold wind was blowing, looked beautiful though and it was lovely to get out again. Alder catkins are almost out and some Hazel catkins were even releasing their yellow pollen when I tapped them. Saturday 20/02/10 - Stocks Reservoir was to re-open for fly fishing, but just had an email saying its 80% iced over after the freeze last night and the wind dropping, a big disappointment for all and a blow for Ben and his staff after all their hard work getting ready to open.
Feeding Flock Of Knott At Night – An Incredible Sight
Thursday, February 18th, 2010
Yesterday (Wed) was warm and sunny in Morecambe and was the first time I'd worn my coat without a fleece since about September last year. It could easily have been a Spring day in April, there was a bright blue sky, however the fells, lightly dusted with snow told you that it was February and Winter was here for a little while yet. Today was very different - cold, damp, and drizzly all day. Tonight was quite special though. I took Bess on her evening walk around 9pm, heading from the house to the sunken gardens at the town hall, on to the prom and along to central beach. Clambering over the boulders near the slipway at the old lifebout station I began walking along the beach in the darkness, Bess scurrying and sniffing behind me. The Bay is fascinating at night and the ever changing weather and the state of the tide makes it all the more exciting. There are times when it can be perfectly still and not a sound to be heard from any of the birdlife, other nights you can hear birds far out in the darkeness of the Bay chattering away - the noise drifting in and out on the night air. Tonight the tide was out and the night air was quite still but damp. After following the waterline between the sand and the mud for about 200 metres I saw what must have been a line of what could only have been a huge flock of Knot about 200m from where I stood. The Knot were extended in a line of about 50 metres, and at a depth of the same distance. The flock was perfectly still and silent as they fed and its white mass appeared in diamond formation against the darkness of the Bay - this was just amazing. On all the night forays I'd never seen a gathering of anywhere near this size - absolutely incredible! I managed to advance 30m through the mud and onto a skeer to get a closer look and this alerted what must have been sentries who gave out the alarm signal - half of the flock rose up and drifted in formation left, then right, for a short while, retreating about 20 metres then settling again. I watched for a while in complete awe then made my way back through the mud to the sand. Bess had stayed on the sand the whole time watching in silence. Nature at night - a special sight - only in Morecambe Bay!
FEBRUARY 2010
Thursday, February 18th, 2010
6th February - Around 7.45 am wonderful view of a mother OTTER and her two kits swimming in the mere at Lower hide on Leighton Moss. Red Deer sighted in field near farm around 8 am. Birds busy feeding on Bird feeding station by dining room window with Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpecker making numerous visits.
7th February - Tawny Owl sighted from Lower Hide.
10th February - Several Red Deer Hinds with last years calves seen around 2 pm in field next to road between Leighton Hall and Farm.
17th February - Dog Otter seen walking along causeway around 8 am.
18th February - Snowdrops nearly at their best in the Orchard. My girls (the hens) are starting to produce more eggs again and really enjoying basking in the sun again.
7th February - Tawny Owl sighted from Lower Hide.
10th February - Several Red Deer Hinds with last years calves seen around 2 pm in field next to road between Leighton Hall and Farm.
17th February - Dog Otter seen walking along causeway around 8 am.
18th February - Snowdrops nearly at their best in the Orchard. My girls (the hens) are starting to produce more eggs again and really enjoying basking in the sun again.
Spring
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010Well at last the snowdrops are through. We have just finished cleaning all the bird boxes out and soaked them in jeyes fluid. They've been dried and put back up. By the way some of the birds are acting not a moment to soon!
We've been getting all the raised beds ready for planting and the hens are laying again, yippee.
I couldn't believe my eyes yesterday there was a Sparrow Hawk on the bird table it hadn,t caught a bird but as soon as I went for the camera it flew away
Local Birds!
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010Had a wonderful party of 14 birdwatchers in this weekend from Bristol Ornithological Club, they were very fortunate with weather and spent some of their time walking along the edge of the bay adjacent to The Craigwell to Hest Bank. They saw great Crested Grebes, Eiders, Red-breasted Mergansers, Goldeneye, Scaup,and a mix of gulls and waders including a Mediterranean Gull, Curlews, Oystercatchers, Redshank, Knot, Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin, all being watched by a Peregrine.
Snow on the tips of the Lake District mountains last Thursday
Opposite the Craigwell.
