Goldfinches

Foxhill Barn Bed & Breakfast

Goldfinches have been increasingly regular visitors to our bird table this last week. We have just sited 4 new bird boxes in the hope of attracting more birds this year.

Woodpecker and White Stork

Foxhill Barn Bed & Breakfast

This Great Spotted Woodpecker has been a regular visitor to our bird table throughout February. Jan also spotted a White Stork a couple of weeks ago - no photo unfortunately.

A question about woodpeckers

Foxhill Barn Bed & Breakfast

While helping to prepare breakfast for our guests yesterday morning I looked out at our bird table and was delighted to see a Great Spotted Woodpecker. I called out to Jan, but in doing so merely managed to scare it off - or maybe my appearance alone at the kitchen window was enough to do the scaring. Jan said that GSWs are quite common. I've only ever seen a Green Woodpecker on our table before. Could anyone tell me which is the more common of the two?

Jams & Chutneys

Foxhill Barn Bed & Breakfast

After previously buying in all our preserves for the breakfast table, Jan decided a couple of years back to start making her own jams and marmalades. We've tried out quite a selection on our guests, including a beautifully tart wild plum jam made from produce grown in the local hedgerows. After taking stock of what we've used we've discovered that the most popular jam this summer was damson, so if you know of any going to waste year after year please let us know. Jan also makes her own chutneys using seasonal fruit and vegetables, and now has approaching 20 different varieties.

Hen harriers a plenty

Foxhill Barn Bed & Breakfast

We had a couple staying with us recently who drove through the Trough to get to us. Towards the top of Waddington Fell they saw no fewer than 5 hen harriers! Needless to say it made their day.

Birds and bats

Foxhill Barn Bed & Breakfast

Recent bird sightings mentioned by our guests include a whimbrel, a couple of mergansers, oystercatchers and sand martins. Just the other night I and 2 of our visitors enjoyed watching a pair of bats racing past just above our heads. You are nearly always guaranteed to see them as dusk falls - very entertaining.

Deer and otters along the Ribble Way

Foxhill Barn Bed & Breakfast

This email was sent to us by a member of the Manx Arms Ramblers, 8 of whom stayed at Foxhill Barn recently while walking the Ribble Way. They were obviously delighted with their wildlife sightings.

Hello Peter & Janet,

As promised, a note to say thank you for a great nights stay and for going that extra step to make our walk enjoyable.

The rest of the walk went well with a much better amount of signposts to help us along. The weather stayed with us for the rest of the trip and we managed to complete the whole walk for Sunday afternoon.

We were lucky enough to see three deer crossing the river , in the location you described as being detoured due to land dispute. This was really a treat we did not think could be bettered until we spotted otters a few miles out of Preston.

Altogether a great trip.

All the best Paul and the Manx Ramblers