October 2019 Update

The new Barn Owl nest box is now being used by the owls – so we’ve been told.

A lucky couple staying in our Shepherds hut, The Bohemian Blue Hut, where woken by  a strange sound, they looked out of the window to see three Otters playing out side in the river, a mum and two cubs…..

Like a lot of places with all the rain it has caused a lot of damage, but here it has helped the two Herons out hunting on the meadow…..



At the back of Old Beans, we have planted another 200 Tulip bulbs; looking forward to spring already…



August & September 2019 Updates

It has been a great summer for Butterflies in the garden at Old Beans Cottage, so many different varieties.

A big thank you for the donation of a Barn Owl nest box from Len and Jean who have stayed eleven times at Old Beans Cottage.The Owls have given them much viewing pleasure with their stays at the cottage.

The box was specially made by the Hawk and Owl Trust.

So on Sunday 29 September between the showers we managed to get the box into position, and take the old one away which has been in place for 22 years, and has housed many families.

Hope they like there new des res penthouse…..

June & July 2019 Updates

Running a bit late on this as I know a lot of you want to know what’s happening in the nest boxes…..

But first Chrissie on the 27th July cut down the garden Meadow, which now matches the water meadow which was cut down the week before.

The Bohemian Blue Hut which is at the bottom of the garden at Ticketyboo, was used for a fashion shot for the North Norfolk Living magazine, which has been all good PR.

On the 19th of July we had some more PR for North Norfolk Safaris which we are now running and can now be found on the website …..

On the 9th of July my good friend Phil Littler and I, ringed two Barn Owls chicks from the nest box from inside the horse shelter, which the two flying over the meadow.

Spotted Flycatchers have done well this year in the garden, with bringing up four youngsters. And have showed very well for all… photo 28th June.

Sadly with all the rain we had, the Kestrel only reared one youngster, which was ringed on the 24th of June, and can still be heard screaming out in the vicinity.

May 2019 Updates

Well we are now half way into June, and rain stops play, so here are the latest updates….

The Blue Tits in the nest boxes fledged successfully, but not so for the Great Tits in the hole in the log.

A keen pair of photographers, Len and Jean, witnessed an adult bird fly from the hole after feeding its young, only to be snatched by the resident Kestrel in the nesting box tree.

Sadly there are no Swallows nesting in the stable next door, for the second year, like wise with the eight House Martin nest boxes at Ticketyboo.

The Nest Boxes in the meadow

Checked the Kestrels nest on the 4th of June with bird ringer Phil Littler but the three small chicks where too young to ring, so hopefully next week when it stops raining.

The far nest box, in the willow tree, had Tawny Owls nesting and all have fledged. The Barn Owl nest box was checked also in the old horse shelter with Phil. The Owl was sitting tight on its nest, so will be checked again when the Kestrels are ringed.

Sunny days in May, with the ever changing back garden…

The oxeye daisies are showing well. Regular viewers will note that we have put a tree stump up on the left hand side of the fence.

This is for the Spotted Flycatcher which is at the back of my cottage hunting over my wild flowers, so hopefully this will encourage it into Old Beans….

April 2019 Updates

New

We have just launched North Norfolk Safaris.

So, while staying at Old Beans Cottage why not join us on an adventure….Check out northnorfolksafaris.co.uk

Old Beans Cottage
The old horse shelter has now been re roofed, so the Barn Owls now have a very dry roosting place to get out of the wind and rain, the tea chest nest box inside the shelter is being well used with lots of pellets inside.

Martin fixing the roof of the old horse shelter

The Kestrel nest box that you can view from Old Beans Cottage, has been refurbished with fresh wood chippings. Most days the pair can be seen mating in the tree, with the female then inspecting the nest box afterwards.

So, fingers crossed for another successful year.

Kestrel box ready for another year

February & March 2019 Updates

Time just seems to be flying by, to many projects on the go…..

Last month we put up the Little Owl nest box, so watch this space!! And fingers crossed….

We are now going to put a new tin roof on the old horse shelter, as it has taken a bit of a battering in the last few months with high winds, and it is a safe haven for the male and female Barn Owl. Which have both being showing very well at the moment.

In the mean time, we have very nearly completed the shepherds hut, which we have called The Bohemian Blue Hut, and can be followed on Instagram at the_bohemian_blue_hut (this will soon be available to rent on Airbnb).

Little Owl box, being attached to tree
Next project, to reroof the owls shelter
Barn Owls out in the day hunting
The Bohemian Blue Hut
Bedroom end

November & December 2018 Update

Last month all the meadows where cut, which will hopefully make a better hunting ground for the Barn Owls,.

We have started putting out road kills on the field for Red Kites, Buzzards and Kestrels.

The Little Owl nest box will also go up after Christmas in a new position. All five Barn Owl nest boxes have all been cleaned out, and refreshed with new sawdust; two boxes where jam packed with sticks from Jackdaws.

While cleaning out, three owls flew out from boxes, so now all tidy and warm for the winter months. The Kestrel box will be refreshed in late February.

Happy Christmas to all.






August 2018 Update

Well, it’s now mid-August and we have just had are first day of full rain after a good two months of pure sunshine.

With the River Stiffkey running though the water meadow, it has kept the grass green, so hence very good sightings of the family of Brown Hares feeding.

The Spotted Flycatchers can be seen darting about over the meadow after insects to feed their second brood. Butterflies have been well
down in numbers on the wildflowers and on the Buddleia at Old Beans.

The two Barn Owl chicks have fledged out and are still hanging around their nest box, and can be heard screaming out of an evening time.

This year the three Kestrel chicks have been great fun to watch and observe with their antics as they hung around their nest site for three
weeks.

The three teens
The wild flower garden cut down for another year – No 1
The wild flower garden cut down for another year No 2

June 2018 Update

Hatching is all going well at Old Beans Cottage – the Blue Tits and Great Tits have all fledged.

The pair of Barn Owls in the horse shelter have hatched out two chicks and are doing well. As some of you know we have a camera in the nest box this year with a live feed back to a monitor. The parents will get more active in the next week or so hunting over the meadow.

In the Kestrel box there are three youngsters. The parents can be heard more than seen but when the youngsters leave the nest it will be also visual with great displays.

As for the two nest boxes at the far end, these will be checked out next week.

Its also great to see the Spotted Flycatcher back this year but sadly no Swallows or House Martins nesting here for the first time.

Barn Owl box in the horse shelter
Two young Barn Owl chicks | Photograph taken on the 8 June
Two young Barn Owl chicks | Photograph taken on the 8th June

April & May Spring 2018 Update

So good to see the Hawthorne out in flower at long last out on the meadow with singing Whitethroats perched on top.

The nest boxes all seem to be occupied this year again; the Kestrels are nesting in the box in the tree closes to Old Beans and are due to hatch around the 20th May, so lots of action will be happening there. Beneath them are Jackdaws in the old owl box.

In the Horse Shelter, nesting in the old Tea Chest, the Barn Owls are sitting on three eggs. How do we know this.. we put a camera in there at the beginning of the year. So they are due to hatch at the end of May. The Barn Owl nest box at the end of the meadow in the Alder tree has a pair of Barn Owls nesting in it, which is a first to have two pairs of Barn Owls nesting on site. The nest box, also at the end of the meadow in the willow tree, is all so quite with no Jackdaws, so the only thing I can think is happening there is Mrs Tawny Owl is sitting tight.

The Great Tits are nesting in the hole in the log at the bottom of the garden, and the Blue Tits are in and out of the many nest boxes on site. So, in all, not a bad start to spring.

Spring view from Old Beans Cottage
The blue Camassia’s putting on a good show.
The Bohemian Blue Hut
Several of you have noticed whats going on at the bottom of my garden with the self-build of a shepherds hut, this will at some time be for lets on Airbnb.
You can follow the build on Instagram:
A room with a view from The Bohemian Blue Hut, looking down the River Stiffkey.