Nature on site

The weather has been wonderful recently, spring really feels like it has arrived, so we have been spending as much time as possible outside. The farm really feels like it is coming alive, nature is staring to put on a show. The cherry trees are in blossom and the mining bees and bumble bees are out in force helping pollinate all the early flowers.  The red kites are spending a lot of time flying low in the sky above the farm, it is nesting season at the moment so mating pairs of kites are spending their time playing in the skies, building nests and looking for food.    There is also the odd tussle between kites over who gets the best nesting spots and who gets to collect Noodle the farm cat’s leftover mice and shrews.

As well as the host of bees and birds of prey the woodland birds like the coal tits, goldfinches, nuthatches and tree creepers are spending lots of time on the farm stocking up on food and nesting materials.  Most of our bird boxes look like they have occupants and we can’t wait to see the fledglings take flight in a few weeks.

The longer evenings and spectacular sunsets are a real treat in themselves but they are made even better by the Pipistrelle bats hunting for bugs over the pond.

The farm is a pretty amazing place to be at the best of times but the last few weeks have been awesome.

A list of the wildlife we have spotted on site in the past two weeks.

Birds

• Buzzards
• Red kites
• Sparrow hawks
• Greater spotted woodpeckers
• Starlings
• Coal tits
• Blue tits
• Great tits
• Tree creepers
• Nuthatches
• Goldfinches
• Sparrows
• Robins
• Canada geese

Bees

• Ashy mining bees
• Red tailed bumble bees
• Buff tailed bumble bees
• Red mason bees

Other wildlife

• Pipistrelle bats
• Oak beauty (moth)
• Rabbits
• Toads
• Newts
• Frogs
• Tadpoles