May 2016 Updates

Not only a good showing with the camassia’s in full flower, but also a good showing of both Barn Owls out hunting to feed their small chicks in the nest box in the horse shelter.

And at the far end of the meadow the Kestrels have three chicks; so not a bad year for nest boxes at Old Beans Cottage.

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Camassia’s in full bloom
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Both barn owls out in the meadow hunting for food
Kestrels @ Martins 30.06.2016
Kestrel chicks in the nest box
Barn Owls @ Martins 30.06.2016
Barn owl chicks in the nest box

 

April 2016 Updates

Well this makes a change for me, as all the photographs in the mini-gallery below were taken by Chris, who was staying in Old Beans from 16 – 23 of April 2016.

What great images of whats happening at the back of the cottage, and so many of you will be able to relate to the Stoats.

So if you take any photographs of the wildlife at Old Beans, and want to ping them over for the news letter, we will try and get them on the page.

This just in….

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My old mate Phil Littler with one young tawny owl chick, nesting in the Alder tree nest box out on the meadow. Regular readers will know Phil is licensed to handle, ring and tag wild birds of prey.

March 2016 Updates

Well spring is here at long last, and all the signs are out there.

In March the pair of Barn Owls were seen out on the meadow all the time, with the female stocking up on food. Since around the 30 March things have gone very quiet, so lets hope she’s
sitting on eggs for the next 33 days.

Barn owls in the meadow
Barn owls in the meadow

We also got to do some very quick spring cleaning, with reroofing part of the cottage on Saturdays when you left at ten, and stopped before you arrived at four. As the cottage is booked at the moment for 33 weeks of this year, it’s very hard to squeeze these jobs in, so a big thanks to Graham the builder.

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Old roof tiles off….
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…so Graham the builder can do his stuff…

For many of you have been to Old Beans before, you will know about the Stoats; one has been seen running around the garden on the 2 April and again 3 days later, which is great news, and the Swallows returned back here on the 3 April; so spring is here….

February 2016 Updates

The last Barn Owl nest box has gone up to the left of Old Beans cottage, with the help of Mr Phil Littler (in pic). There have been two Barn Owls flying over the meadow of an evening, only time will tell.

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Phil dong his stuff

Seven Buzzards have been soaring above the cottage, while in front of the cottage the Kestrels have been in and out of their nest box.

East Barsham Manor is up for sale again; if you have got three million spare…..

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East Barsham Manor – a snip at nearly £3m

See more: click here

January 2016 Updates

Happy New Year to all…..

Well I honestly don’t know where the last few months have gone, maybe it was spending quite some time filming in Australia. Look out for the series on ITV in late March, Wild Australia With Ray Mears.

Back at Old Beans Cottage I have planted hundreds more tulip bulbs. And with a friend, Phil Littler, we have done up and restained the Barn Owl nest boxes, and cleared out all the old crap and fleas, and put fresh sawdust in the cleaned out boxes; early Spring cleaning.

I’m hoping to put up one more Barn Owl box nearer to the cottage in February.

Giving the barn owl nest box an early Spring clean
Giving on of the barn owl nest box an early Spring clean

August 2015 Updates

Great weather at Old Beans, especially for the butterflies on the buddleia just out side the French doors.

It has been another busy year with 32 weeks booked up at the cottage; the paint brush will be out in November for some TLC.

July 2015 Updates

Hi All

Just home myself for a few days in warm sunny North Norfolk, compared to where I have been filming in wet Scotland, thought I would take a few pics of the new kitchen tiled Travertine floor and new fridge freezer.

Out side the wild flower meadow garden has just been cut, there has been good sightings of the Hummingbird hawk-moth now on the Buddleia, which is just coming into flower.

Three young Kestrels from the nest box are now screaming out, as they fly over head, and if you have £3,950,000 the neighbours at Barsham Manor have put the place on the market with Sotheby’s…

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New Travantine floor in the kitchen
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New fridge freezer
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Barsham Manor, a snip at £3.95m…..

June 2015 Updates

Hello folks

I’ve barely had time to take a couple of photos this time around before work intervened. I hope you enjoy them…

OBC in Top 50 Cottages To Rent Feature in The Times

Old Beans Cottage is featured at no 10 in the ‘Top 50 Cottages to Rent’ list compiled by The Times Newspaper (Saturday 21 February 2015).

The text of the entry reads:

“Spot barn owls when you stay at this quaint studio cottage by a water meadow near the north Norfolk coast. Converted from an 18th century wash-house, the cottage has a lovely lounge with french doors leading to the garden. A king-size bed is screened from the main living area by a large ornate wardrobe. There’s a modern kitchen and shower room”.

It’s gratifying to have been reviewed so favourably.

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