Three week later the eggs hatch and we have some small chicks. Four tiny young birds were soon to fly from this nest. Many of you staying in the cottage were interested to know if they survived. Thanks for all those who kept the Bird Table full; the robins were very grateful, obviously.
The birds are vulnerable at this stage in their lives from other birds, particularly magpies. We were also concerned when we found badger tracks in and around the Barn as these animals can take small birds, rabbits and very young lambs.
A walk in the woods. Bluebells are always fascinating to photograph because of the colour contrast. Just last week I walked through a small area of woodland which we have as part of Coldharbour Farm and it was covered in blue. The sun shone through the trees to make lovely picture. With so little rain in recent weeks it is remarkable that the flowers still come through every year. I always look forward to May and the Bluebells – a special time of year.
It may be Easter but these are very special eggs. I found this nest in between some old timber beams in the Barn. There are 5 of them and they are oval and about an inch long. They are shiny white with brownish red spots. These birds are famous for nesting in all kinds of unlikely locations, old tubs, boots, old farm machinery – just about anywhere that affords shelter. The birds are very sensitive and will leave the nest if they think they have been discovered. So at the moment the Barn is out of bounds ! – lets just hope in a few days time we have 5 little baby robins.
An amazing sight it is too. They are everywhere this year, along the banks of ditches is a favourite place, they like moist ground and thrive amongst bushes, thorns and daffodils. Signals the arrival of Spring and the beginning of lighter evenings. Take a walk and you will always find something different, thats what is so good about this place.
Pied Wagtails are everywhere and fascinating to watch this week. They are always on the move so its difficult to get a good photograph. They seek out small insects in the grass and they like to perch up high on the roof in direct sunlight to keep warm. This particular one spent over 20 minutes preening. Feathers need particular attention as they provide insulation to keep the body warm so need to be constantly inspected and cleaned of dust and dirt. On our County Tours operated from the cottage we do try not only to spot the different birds and animals but also observe their fascinating behaviour.
The shepherd has not been well. With over 200 sheep on the Farm to check every morning he is sorely missed. Whatever the weather, come rain, wind, sunshine or even snow the sheep have to be looked after. I receive instructions and off I go every morning doing the rounds. I am certainly not an expert but have been told to look for signs of sheep limping, walking slower than usual or stuck in the brambles. Its more involved than you think and then you have to count them – but they keep moving ! Was that 60 in that field or 58 ? and so on. In the end I draft in help from the willing guests staying in the cottage. All part of the fun of staying on a working Farm.
This is a photo of some Hazel catkins which I took today – I am thinking this is early in the year to see so many. Although spring is several weeks away the first signs are there to see. Given all the snow, wind and rain we have had just recently it is remarkable that the catkins haven’t all blown away. What you see here are the male golden tassels and they rely on the wind to transfer pollen to the small female reddish flowers – coming soon !
Today we have had some more snow. A blanket of white stretches across the fields almost picture perfect. This photo of the old barn on the Farm captures the wintry scene. This building is over 200 years old and contains the original timber beams. If you come to stay on the Farm I will show you around this wonderful old building. For the last few mornings between first light and about 9am it seems to be a favourite place for the kestrel. Often seen high up on the Barn roof on the look out for prey. An amazing sight. I’m trying to get a photo of this bird but you have to be very quick, they don’t seem to stay still for very long.
A snowfall makes excellent tracking. When I spent time with Ray Mears in the Arctic and then again in the desert of Namibia he used to describe it as the ‘daily newspaper’. At the end of the day we used to mark out an area. The next morning we would get up at first light and record all the footprints and marks. So much can be learnt from direction, depth and size of prints. Its an excellent way to learn tracking and something we try to do on our Country Tours. You will be surprised what you can learn – any clues to what these footprints show ?!
We had a light covering of snow today and it transformed the landscape. This photo was taken just outside the back door of the cottage.
The area is called the Rother Levels with the River Rother meandering through the valley. The farthest side is the county of East Sussex and the nearest side is Kent. Nonetheless a fanastic viewpoint. The sheep don’t seem to mind the cold weather and its a great opportunity to see different types of birds. The cold weather seems to drive the seabirds in from the coastline.
