Norfolk Calling

First post for a while. (Special apologies to Maria's mum!) Not much time for rambling of late. Both cottages have been very busy and we only have very limited availability between now and the end of August. Still getting some great feedback from guests which is reflected in the number of repeat bookings. (25% of bookings year to date). It really does make the time and effort put into keeping the cottages clean and well maintained very worthwhile. It just gives us a really good feeling to know that our guests have enjoyed their holiday. Have managed a couple of rambles down to Salthouse and back up from the coast via the Pheasant Hotel at Kelling. No mega sightings for me but locally Pallid Harrier, Red Rumped Swallow, Collared Pranticole have all been seen within the last couple of weeks (Citrine Wagtail at Cley as well) The Mudd family (making a second visit to Bridge Cottages) bagged 116 species over their two week stay earlier this month including nightingale on Salthouse Heath. Hoping to get out onto Kelling Heath when I have a week off in mid June to find a churring nightjar or two. Prospective guests please note the photo attached to this post is of the 'montana' climbing the garden shed behind no.3 Bridge Cottages. It is not a picture of the accommodation for let!!

Happy Holidays

Judging by the number of enquiries received at Bridge Cottages HQ since Xmas North Norfolk is going to be a very popular destination for 2009. The number of repeat bookings we have taken has been really gratifying. Here are a couple of the recent comments from the Bridge Cottage guestbooks-: K&J Dec 2008 -: Thank you for providing the perfect getaway. The cottage is beautifully thought out and the finishing touches make it perfect. We look forward to coming back again. The D family Dec 2008-: A great base for a family Xmas in Norfolk. Clean warm and very comfortable. Thank you very much we shall definitely recommend others. Very little opportunity to ramble of late. We did enjoy a walk from the cottages at New Year. Down to the coast at Kelling via Kelling Heath and then back up via Salthouse and Salthouse Heath. Before Xmas our Bessingham ramble turned up a new bird for our own patch - a Red Kite. Excellent view. Busy decorating at Bridge Cottage HQ since Xmas plenty of wildlife to distract me from the making good and painting. Barn Owl floating by. Good sized flock of Fieldfare in the field opposite. Nuthatch a regular on the feeders. Sue bought me a new feeder for my birthday and a supply of niger seed. Result - Goldfinches and Siskins in abundance just feet away from the kitchen window. Spring cleaned at the cottages this week and watched the resident Sparrowhawk (who seems to regard the feeders in front of the cottage as his local supermarket) put another dent in the local tit population.

North Norfolk Railway Gala 2008

The North Norfolk Railway Gala at the end of August each year always attracts a lot of interest.

This year the crowds of railway enthusiasts and holidaymakers were able to see both the the NNR's home locos in action plus two visiting steam engines.

The railway's recently restored Quad Art set of carriages were also in service and seemed to be the main draw for the real enthusiasts.

Many thanks to Paul Straghan for the following photographs which were taken from 'our' Bridge 299 and show the Quad Art set being hauled towards Holt Station and also a DMU departing from Holt. You can see the old London Routemaster bus which ferries passengers into Holt in the background of the DMU picture.

Paul and his family were staying at Bridge Cottages during the last week of August and also visited the Bure Valley Railway which runs from Wroxham on the Broads to Aylsham.

Paul's final photo has no connection with the railway but we have posted it here because it is a great shot along the beach at Weybourne towards Sheringham and proves that the sun did come out at least once during August!

Harvest Time

Here are just some of the nice things our guests have said about their stay at Bridge Cottages over the last few weeks-:

P&G June 2008 - Lovely, clean comfortable cottage in a peaceful setting. Ideal for a short break.

L&J July 2008 - We have enjoyed a wonderfully relaxed week thanks to the well equipped cottage. Our bird count for the week just topped 80 (excluding the exotic varieties at Pensthorpe)

D&N Jul 2008 - Had a lovely stay. Cottage very clean and comfortable.

A quieter time on the bird watching front although I have read reports of good sightings of various waders along the coast at the usual hotspots.

Locally there has been very little sign of the local red deer population until the weekend when a rather handsome stag crossed the road just in front of us as we drove to the cottages for Saturdays changeover.

A nuthatch is a new addition to the species using the feeders at the front of Bridge Cottages.

Here in the garden at Bessingham I have been trying to improve my knowledge of the dragonflies that are attracted by the duck pond. Common Blue Damselfly very abundant. Other sightings that I am confident of naming include Black Tailed Skimmer and Common Darter.

The Buddleia in the garden has also been attracting huge numbers of Peacock butterflies. Comma's also commonly seen around the garden.

Here Comes The Summer!!

After a week or so of very drab and damp weather the sun finally shone on North Norfolk on Sunday. We took one of our favourite rambles starting at Sheringham Park which is owned by the National Trust and only five mins in the car from Bridge Cottages.

The walk down through the Park to the coast between Weybourne and Sheringham is very scenic with great views out to sea and towards Sheringham. The park is renowned for the collection of rhododendrons which were just past their best but still making a good show.

When we reached the cliffs we turned west and headed along the clifftop path towards Weybourne beach with the coastline visible right out to Blakeney Point. We then walked back up to Sheringham Park via Weybourne village and the North Norfolk Railway at Weybourne station.

Wildlife sightings along the way included numerous singing Skylarks along the clifftop, Sand Martins at Weybourne Coastguards Cottages, Sandwich & Common Terns out to sea and a solitary Fulmar riding the breeze along the cliffs.

Closer to home the Bessingham ramble has produced sightings of two new 'patch' species, a pair of Mistle Thrushes and a Common Sandpiper. Other highlights included 13 of the local Red Deer population gathered together in one herd grazing on a set aside strip, Grey Partridge, numerous Brown Hares, Roe Deer, Barn Owls, & Common Buzzard.

Highlight of the late spring, early summer thus far has been our very own Springwatch as we have watched two fledgling Tawny Owls being raised in the copse at the end of the garden. The sight of one trying to catch a good sized rabbit and then running around on the ground after the Rabbit had won an unequal contest was a sight to behold.

Spring Has Sprung!!

Despite the 'changeable' weather we have been experiencing in North Norfolk over the last fortnight our guests have still been finding Bridge Cottages an ideal base for a spring break! Here are a just some of the nice things that have been written in our guestbooks recently. (No financial inducements offered. Honestly!)

March 08 R,A,D & R

Thank you for a wonderful holiday. The cottage was lovely and cosy and very clean.

March 08 D,K,B & N

I couldn't have wished for a more perfect place to spend Mothers Day.

April 08 A & J

Many thanks for your delightful cottage in its idyllic setting. The cottage is thoughtfully & comprehensively equipped.

A return to full time employment, running the cottages and the weather has severely restricted my ramblings. Still plenty to see in the garden at Bessingham. Green Woodpecker a regular visitor and Common Buzzard overhead. Also ticked a Treecreeper for the first time in the garden this weekend.

The early morning drive into Norwich is turning into a 'mini safari'. Red Deer, Muntjac, Brown Hare and Barn Owls all regularly seen. The Brown Hares have been in full 'mad March' mode. Just wondering what I can add to the list to conjure up Norfolk's equivalent of the 'Big 5'?

Guests at Bridge Cottages have also reported regular sightings of a Barn Owl quartering the edge of the plantation and field at the rear of the cottages. Our next door neighbour Terry has also seen glimpses of the local Roe Deer population in the adjoining woods.

Brilliant.

All aboard the Skylark

At last we managed our first ramble of the year at the weekend.

Sue joined me on our regular circular route from Bridge Cottages HQ. Managed to dodge the showers but a strong westerley blowing and very wet underfoot.

On the birding front the main feature was a gathering of around 20+ skylarks. One brave member of the party was already singing on high, staking a claim for his territory and managing to hover despite the strong wind.

Have not seen a winter flock of such numbers in these parts before although we did see much larger congregations on Islay a couple of winters back.

Other highlights included a large flock of Long Tailed Tits in the pine plantation. I love the way these birds always seem to be having a good gossip with their endless 'chattering'. They are regular visitors en masse to our bird feeders as well at the moment.

Larger flocks of Fieldfare have also been more prevelant of late and before Xmas we spent a good while watching a large party of Pied Wagtails flitting to and thro amongst the winter crops. Hoped to pick out one or two 'alba' variants but my bins (read my spotting skills!!) were not up to a positive ID.

On a sadder note I have to report the demise of one of the Bridge Cottages management team as featured in the 'Meet the Management' entry dated 15/8/2007. We are now left with just one old Aylesbury duck. His mate was the victim of a serious assault presumably by a local fox or maybe a party of vigilante pheasants.

Never mind the survivor seems to have recovered from the loss and has formed a new coalition with next doors chickens. Life goes on!