Posted on

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.

210215_times_obc

 

Posted on

April 2015 Updates

Spring Is Here

Spring has sprung, so have the Stoats, they have all been released back to the wild, Wriggles had great fun climbing oak trees much to our amazement, it was great to see them run free.

stoat_apr_15
Wriggles enjoying himself in the trees

The Kestrels have not decided on a nest box yet, but this week they have been sitting out side the one in front of Old Beans Cottage.

kestrel_apr_15
House hunting – kestrel style

In the cottage, the solid oak flooring has been taken up in the hall way and kitchen, and in its place premium Travertine tiles have been laid.

Posted on

March 2015 Updates

Its all happening with Wood Peckers drumming, Dunnocks singing and the pair of Barn Owls are quartering over the meadow and giving fantastic flybys in front of the cottage, and at the moment using two nest boxes.

Kestrels are landing in their box, the Red Kites that nested two miles away are soaring over head and Great Tits are inspecting the hollow log at the end of the garden.

In the cottage the wooden floor in the entrance hall and kitchen has been taken up, and has been replaced with floor tiles.

outside_2015_01

More images have been added to the Outside Gallery: Click Here

More images have been added to the Inside Gallery: Click Here

Posted on

December 2014 Updates

Well, where does the time go?

It’s been a very busy year at Old Beans Cottage, with it being booked up for 32 weeks. We always shut down in the winter to tidy up things and to give it a bit of TLC. When its booked for a solid eight months it’s obviously hard to get in to do the work.

Had a walk down the meadow to check the owl boxes and two need replacing at the far end. Never dull!

In the wild flower garden we have sown Yellow Rattle to help knock back the grasses and give breathing space to the other wild flowers; time will tell.

And in the mean time we have self published another book, My Year With Hares. You can get a personal, signed copy from my other website: Click Here.

I wish you all a Happy Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Martin

Posted on

August 2014 Updates

General & Nature Round Up

I hope you have enjoyed your holiday at Old Beans’. I am now back at Ticketyboo, after  three months of filming in the outer Hebrides (at least there are no midges in Norfolk ). And would like to say a big thank you to Jackie, for looking after the cottage while I was away and continue’s to do so.

On the 29th of August, Mr Phil Littler Esq ringed three young Barn Owl chicks, which where in the nest box in the horse shelter, out in the meadow. So in the next few coming months, there should be a lot more fly pasts of owls in front of Old Beans Cottage.

ringing_owl_chick
Phil Littler ringing the owl chicks
Posted on

July 2014 Updates

Nature Round Up

In the Barn Owl nest box in the field shelter, on the 14th July there were three very small young Barn Owl chicks, and three eggs, which at this stage we do not think will hatch out, the chicks will be ringed around the 18th August.

The female Stoat has raised four young out of the five, which is good news, and better news that all young and mum will all be released mid August. The end of a chapter.

The young Kestrels from the nest box are still flying round the meadow.

Hares have been spotted in the field next door.

Posted on

June 2014 Updates

June news at Old Beans Cottage

On the first of June, bird ringer Mr Phil Littler Esq, ringed four young kestrel from the A frame nest box at the bottom of the meadow, also in box, one dud egg.

In the horse shelter out on the meadow, with the tea chest inside, the Barn Owl is still sitting on three eggs, with a good food supply of voles in the box with her.

Baby Stoats can be heard, but not seen at the moment, time will tell.

Posted on

May 2014 Updates

Wildlife & Fauna Roundup

The Stoat gave birth to five kits a round the 6th of April, so they will now all be released together in a few months time, we have left well alone this year with no filming at all, just this one photograph on inspection of the chamber.

Blue Tits have used the box for the first time at Old Beans.

The Camassia flowers put on a good show this month, as the oxeye daisies start to take over.

And the Barn Owls have been showing very well out on the meadow. All the nest boxes will be checked next month.

Posted on

April 2014 Updates

Kestrels still copulating and using nest box at the bottom of the meadow, there is a pair of Barn Owls using the nearest nest box to Old Bean’s cottage in the tree, and if you are awake early you can watch this magnificent bird hunting in front of you and sitting on the posts in the meadow.

So pleased this year that all the tulips are pushing up, so giving you all an exceptional good show, while you have your cup of char or glass of wine.

Now and again the Red Kite can be seen flying over the cottage.

First swallow back at old beans on the 11 April.