Wildlife in January

All of the usual birds have appeared this month with one or two additions....

Sparrow hawk (briefly)
Brambling
Reed Bunting (once)
Starlings
Either a Mistle Thrush or a very fluffed up song thrush, we never did decide!
Pied Wagtail
Fieldfare
Hen Pheasant
Woodpecker
Nuthatch
Tree Creeper (once)
Collared Doves
Blue Tits
Coal Tits
Great Tits
Chaffinches
Blackbirds
house sparrows
Dunnocks
Siskin
Long Tailed Tits
Green Finches
Robins

In the field behind.....

Rooks galore
Hen and Cock pheasant
Fox
Murphy the Jack Russell from the farm!

In the woods up the road.....

Roe Deer (2)
Woodcock
Squirrel
Fox

The Frozen North

It's a hard life when this is the view as you walk the dog!
I think some people wondered why we wanted to move to the 'frozen North'. Just to prove them right, this is Gilcambon Tarn, quite close to our house, on 28th January. It must have been like this since the middle of December


But it's not all hard work! There is still time to sit in the departure Lounge and watch the birds. This chap made a fleeting visit today. Lets hope he's back over the weekend for the RSPB Garden bird count

Sunset #3

Husband had a feeling we were in for a sunset this evening. The most amazing bank of cloud billowed it's way down the valley behind us. The picture doesn't show just how bright the sky above the cloud bank really was.

As usual, Husband was right, we were in for a treat of a sunset.

Even the moon was showing off this evening, with a bright, colourful halo.

More new arrivals

Two fleeting visits today, firstly this lovely family of Long Tailed Tits

followed soon after by a Tree Creeper who was far to quick for the camera man.

This afternoon has involved a bit of hanging

One window done, Many more to do

New visitors and new arrivals.

Sadly not on camera, but we had the delight this morning of watching our resident Charlie fox sitting on the wall at the far end of the top field behind the house. This field is obviously his regular haunt.
We seem to be in the middle of a Goldfinch frenzy. The last few days have seen numbers jump from about 4 at any one time to over a dozen at a time. Too many to count given the speed at which they move. They have decided that they like ALL bird food now. Niger, sunflowers, mixed seed, nuts. Anything and everything.

Today they brought some friends along too. First we saw a Siskin on the nuts, then she went on the niger, then another arrived, then another! You can just make out two on the right handside of this niger feeder (right hand feeder).

Another new arrival today. The blinds have arrived for the departure lounge - and been expertly fitted too!

As I sit and type, it feels much warmer with something at the window!

Because we can.

The days of chosing between a few dull, local dog walks are officially over. Today we decided that Hattie's 'Get Fit' campaign was ready for the hills - albeit gentle ones! So for our local walk of the day, we chose the Caldbeck fells.
This part of Cumbria is home to a wild herd of Fell ponies, which can be found grazing contentedly whenever you happen to pass this way.



This is why we moved to Cumbria. All that space and not a soul in site.

I may be some time.........

For about a week, we have had various swatches of fabric pinned to the curtains, trying to decide which we like best. Although we have curtains at every window that needs them, none of them (bar the landing) fit, match the other window in the room, or match the decor and or furniture.
It came down to two fabrics - Husband liked one best, Mrs B liked the other. Finally an agreement was made. Mrs B's choice would go in the sitting room (well she is making them!) and Husbands would go in the bedroom.
After a trip to Cummersdale Mill shop this morning, the delightful task of joining lengths of fabric together has begun. Starting with the sitting room curtains....

The Big Thaw.

Friday night brought rain, all night and most of Saturday morning. By the end of the day most of the snow had gone, What is left on the higher ground makes the fells stand out more clearly than ever. This is the High Street range as viewed from the departure lounge.

Walking up in the local forest, we were suprised by how much snow was still left today, even though the temperature has been above freezing for the last couple of days.

As we neared the end of the walk, we were rewarded with the sight of this little chap/chapess high in the trees above us. We saw one in exactly the same spot on our last visit here, on New Years Day. You'll need to double click on the photo to find him!

Home Improvements #2

The departure lounge has been somewhat lacking on the comfort front. Beach chairs (complete with Mogs Eye sand) are OK for a while, but they somehow didn't quite do justice to the room. Mind you the Human tripod fits in quite nicely (photo taken on New Years day).

So today saw the delivery of some new(ish) furniture. Luckily for us Hayes in Ambleside were selling off their displays in preparation for the new season.

Feathers and Footsteps

Two visitors in the garden today who have both been before, but not when I have had camera to hand.
This Nuthatch is becoming a frequent visitor

Another fleeting visit by one of the local Great Spotted Woodpeckers


Another fresh covering of snow overnight and a dog walk from home, gave us the opportunity to track some of the wildlife in the village.
Hattie and her Dad 'enjoying' the snowy conditions

Roe Deer are abundant in the local forest.

This little Red Squirrel was behind me! Unfortunatley, by the time we realised, he had scampered off.

Two new visitors

The continuous covering of snow is obviously making it difficult for birds to find food. Today has seen two new visitors to the garden. Firstly a Hen Pheasant, who has spent most of the afternoon stocking up.

Moments after I had put the camera down, a Fieldfare flew into the garden and hopped up the path outside the Departure Lounge window.

Vince has reappeared to dig the hole for nextdoor's klargester. He really has picked a cold, miserable day. It's been around freezing all day, but has felt way colder. His digger has been parked up in the field through all the cold weather, but seems to have started without fuss this morning. He is obviously expecting to get down to bedrock - he's brought his skidsteer with a pecker on it. This picture is for Brother-in-Law!

Four and Twenty Blackbirds

Well, Ok, not 4 and 20, but 9. Nine, all in the garden at one time - and quite a small area of the garden. I couldn't get them all in one shot, but if you look closely, you can count quite a few.


It's been thawing again today, but still it's pretty well white over.

Home Improvements - where to start?

We have a list of things that NEED doing here, and another list of things we WANT to do. Finances will mean that the former will be more successful than the latter. Much of our time since the new Year has been spent researching and getting quotes for some of the more needed of the list. One thing that was required and was not in the end going to prove too costly has at last been sorted. Obviously we have to get our priorities right. I think we know our place......


A new hearth rug has been bought!

For the record, we have had temperatures above freezing today - the first time for a good while. Everywhere is still snow covered, but it has improved the village road for today - if it freezes tonight (which I am sure it will) it will probably be back to where it was by morning.

Sunrise #3 and wildlife

Technically I suppose it isn't the sunrise we see from our bedroom or the departure lounge, as the sun rises round on the other corner of the house. What we do see though is the glorious colours the sunrise produces. This morning was no exception.

Soon after this was taken, as daylight increased, the fields took on a pink glow as the snow reflected the colours in the sky. Even the sheep were pink.
Whilst I was in the shower, Husband was drinking tea in bed, watching a dog fox meandering across the fields behind the house. That's another list we must keep - wildlife seen from the house (as opposed to in the garden). So far that is pheasant, deer and now a fox. Oh also Murphy the farm terrier who has visited the fence once or twice.


Another dusting of snow overnight means tracking wildlife is really easy

The proof - fox tracks exactly where Husband said they would be! Following wildlife is a dangerous business. It is always advisable to take some protection with you. Here's what I took............

There's only so much you can take.

After three weeks without seeing a blade of grass we are fast going off the colour white. Local farmers must be tearing their hair out having to defrost water for stock, and the amount of silage they must be getting through is unthinkable.
Road conditions locally have been pretty dire. We don't get our road salted - that is not until the local district councillor gets on telly. Now we get the gritter through, but the road is so hard packed, it isn't really making any difference.
Temperatures have been at -10c twice this week at about 10am. so heaven knows what they were earlier in the day. Shap recorded -16c last night. Having said all that, we are getting stunningly beautiful clear blue, sunny days. It's a shame Hattie isn't up to doing much in the snow, but the fields behind the house are enough for her at the moment.


Dry, hard frosts on top of snow have left a stunning display of cystals on the surface of the snow.

For a change, this is what we can see from the front. The Penines, in all their winter glory.


Hattie hardly even sinks in, the snow is so hard and crunchy

Watching the sunset #2

Still pretty much snow bound, sub zero temperatures make photographing the sunset a cold pastime. This time however, it was well worth the freezing fingers,