Bridge Cottage Ramblings

Here Comes The Summer!!!

2011-09-04T14:04:00.000-07:00

Well maybe not this year!! Despite the sometimes changeable weather we have had a really busy but enjoyable season at Bridge Cottages so far this year. Lots of returning guests and judging by the comments in our guest books some of our 'new' guests will also be returning again. The North Norfolk Railway continues to be popular attraction for young and old. Fishing for crabs at Blakeney or Wells harbours has also been a popular pastime with younger guests. When the weather was less kind the indoor pool at Splash in Sheringham has been popular and the Sticky Earth Cafe in Cromer has received some nice reviews from mums looking to keep their little ones amused. When the sun has shone then the beaches at Sheringham and Holkham seem to be the favourite spots. Slightly further afield Bewilderwood is also a popular family destination. From the grown ups the local pub that has received consistent praise for its food and service is the Wheatsheaf Inn at West Beckham. (We have been ourselves and agree with the reviews in the guestbooks) Pensthorpe Nature Reserve has been popular with old and young alike. For those reading this who like to enjoy a round of golf on their holidays then the club at Sheringham has received an honorable mention for having a well groomed course, friendly members and reasonable green fees. Just goes to prove there are plenty of attractions and activities in North Norfolk for all the family to enjoy whatever the weather.

Spring is in the air!!

2011-02-27T10:51:00.000-08:00

At last!! The sun has been shining in North Norfolk today, the birds have been singing and it really does feel as if winter is behind us. Our season is already underway at Bridge Cottages with only a short break between our Xmas guests and our first guests of 2011 at the beginning of this month. Sue has been busy spring cleaning and carrying out some redecorating in both cottages to keep them looking fresh and cared for. Here are a few comments from our guestbooks made by guests staying over the last few months. Julie & family August 2010 - Very enjoyable stay. Very comfortable. Lovely location. Great bird watching. Neil & family September 2010 - Enjoyed the break and loved the cottage. Very much appreciated the little extras. PS - Great marmalade. Bob & co November 2010 - We have nothing but praise for Bridge Cottages. Thank you for providing such a lovely place to stay. We particularly enjoyed the North Norfolk Railway and a meal at the Feathers Hotel in Holt.

Cookies Crab Shop

2010-07-12T12:54:00.000-07:00

Our busiest season yet at Bridge Cottages but we still managed to have our own very local 'staycation' at the beginning of July. With just three days off work we managed to cram in a lunch at Cookies Crab Shop at Salthouse followed by a ramble out across the marshes to the shingle and back, a day at the Royal Norfolk Show, a very funny production of Much Ado About nothing in the lovely setting of the National Trust's Sheringham Park and a sunset cruise on the Broads listening to a bit of jazz. But most importantly lets get back to Cookies. A local institution for 50 years located right on the coast road and only five mins in the car from Bridge Cottages or a leisurely stroll along country lanes with great views. The menu is limited. It's mainly locally caught crab or lobster salads garnished with a variety of other sea food. Very reasonably priced. Less than a tenner for a (half) lobster salad. The facilities are a little rustic (if the weather is not so good then the seats in the garden shed are the best bet), there is no licence but you are welcome to take your own wine or beer, and the toilet facilities are across the road. But it is our favourite spot for lunch along the coast. They also do an excellent take out service. Our guests have also enjoyed the charm of Cookies. I & M who recently stayed rated their cottage "first class" and had a great holiday but picked out Sue's lemon marmalade and Cookies as their personal favourites!! Stay at Bridge Cottages and you to can sample the Cookies fayre but it is advisable to book if the weathers fine.

Oliver Cromwell visits the NNR

2010-03-16T13:59:00.000-07:00

The NNR continues to be a very popular attraction with our guests. Both cottages were booked this weekend with our guests drawn to North Norfolk by the official opening of the level crossing at Sheringham linking the NNR to the Bittern Line. To mark the occasion The Broadsman 'special' was run from London to Holt hauled by the Oliver Cromwell. Many thanks to Phil Greenslade for this picture of the train as it approached 'our' bridge 299. On the nature front lots of redwing and fieldfare in the field behind the cottages this weekend and a brief glimpse of the Marsh Tit which has been an occasional visitor to the feeders in our neighbours front garden for sometime now. Here at Bessingham regular sightings of the local Barn Owls, Roe Deer and the Brown Hares doing their 'Mad March' thing.

Happy New Year

2009-12-29T00:19:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year to all our past and future guests and especially to our 'regulars'. 2009 was a very busy year for us. Thank you to all those guests who left such kind comments in our guestbooks and apologies to those who had to live with no.4's faulty central heating and hot water system in the late summer. Fortunately normal service was soon resumed. We have also spruced up the bathroom in no.4 and installed a new power shower during the autumn. With a fresh coat of paint on the walls and windows after completing external decs in October we are all 'fired up' and ready to welcome old and new guests for 2010. It's going to be another a great year in North Norfolk with the latest developments on the North Norfolk Railway generating a lot of interest. The first steam hauled service from Liverpool Street to Holt is scheduled for the 11th of March. The arrival of the first spring migrants will also soon be with us. Best wishes Paul & Sue (Photo courtesy of the NNR)

Norfolk Calling

2009-05-18T14:19:00.000-07:00

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

2009-02-01T13:58:00.000-08:00

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

2008-09-09T11:13:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-07T13:46:00.001-07:00

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!!

2008-06-08T14:26:00.000-07:00

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!!

2008-04-09T14:20:00.001-07:00

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

2008-01-21T13:55:00.000-08:00

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!

MERRY XMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

2007-12-26T02:45:00.001-08:00

A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR PAST AND FUTURE GUESTS FROM PAUL & SUE AT BRIDGE COTTAGE HOLIDAYS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING ALL OUR GUESTS, OLD AND NEW, IN 2008.

Comfortable & Warm!!

2007-11-27T01:58:00.000-08:00

More feedback from guests who have stayed at Bridge Cottages so far this autumn/winter-: V,M&D Oct 07 The cottage was excellent. A real credit to you both. We hope we will be able to come back again. H&B Nov 07 We have had an excellent week in your delightful cottage - so very comfortable and warm. Birds have been brilliant......... D & G Nov 07 Cosy, comfortable and quiet with the many extras a bonus. Since we started letting Bridge Cotts last Xmas we have been surprised but delighted to receive a handful of thank you cards, the odd bottle of plonk, some nice glassware and an original watercolour (painted by a staying guest whilst she was relaxing in the back garden of no.4) from guests who have really enjoyed their stay with us. Recently however all of the thoughtful comments and gifts were completely surpassed by our 'birding' guests from Derbyshire. Presumably in the knowledge of my own interest in the wildlife hereabouts I was greeted by a deceased Little Auk when I arrived to tidy the cottage in readiness for our next guests. The poor thing was neatly perched in the porch accompanied by a note explaining that he or she had been recovered from Holkham beach! Brought back memories of a lovely lady we have stayed with on Islay who was keeping a number of Chough corpses in her freezer. But that's another story altogether.............!!

Seasonal Ramblings

2007-11-20T01:52:00.000-08:00

Just over a year has passed since we moved to Bridge Cottages HQ after 20+ years of living in the London suburbs. Returning to life in Norfolk after so many years living and working in London I have noticed that the changing of the seasons seems much more marked in the countryside. A bit of a cliche I know but the events that highlighted the passing of the year in our old life were very different from those which have accentuated the changing seasons over the last twelve months. In our old life the changing seasons were emphasised more by our working and social lives rather than what was happening in the natural world. The works Xmas do, the start of the cricket and football seasons, barbecues in the garden, being able to sit outside the pub when joining friends for a drink after work were the events and pastimes that signalled that time was moving on. Living in the suburbs of south London meant that in winter we escaped the coldest nights with the temperature usually being a couple of degrees warmer than they were outside of London. Maybe this is why the first frost on the ground is now more noticeable. I am also sure that the street lighting we had lived with for so many years has also made us take more notice of the shorter winter days and the dark nights. The night sky has also been something of a revelation away from the light pollution down south. Other signs of the seasons changing are perhaps more subtle like the first Chiffchaff or Cuckoo calling in Spring, walking along the beach at Cley watching the sunset on a rare warm mid summer evening or autumn marked by the migration of Bramblings, Chaffinches, Greenfinches Siskins and Goldcrests via the tallest Silver Birch trees in the garden. Now with the leaves off the trees the view across the North Norfolk countryside from the Bridge Cottage's office (spare bedroom!) has opened up again which along with the mud on the roads caused by the hauliers moving the sugar beet crop to the processing plant at Wissington signals the start of winter again. Whatever the season or the weather our first year back 'home' has really made us appreciate what we already knew that North Norfolk is a great place to live and to visit.

Sunrise

2007-10-16T03:04:00.001-07:00

Took this weeks ramble from Bridge Cottages HQ. Out of the house at dawn. The orange sun lazily rising in a clear sky. Hardly a sound to be heard anywhere. The tone of the light caused by the rising sun and the low dark clouds still hanging around to the west created a very mellow atmosphere. Plenty to see at first light. Great views of one of the local barn owls quartering a meadow just along the lane from Stepping Stones. Nice to see a couple of brown hares. Common Buzzard also perched upon a stag oak. Was stealthy enough in my approach to the field bordering the woods on the Barningham estate to be able to watch two very relaxed roe deer hinds for several minutes before they moved back into the woods. The keen birders staying at Bridge Cottages over the last couple of weeks have had some excellent sightings close to the cottages. The Barred Warbler(s) have stayed at Kelling Quags for several days and a Red Necked Phalarope has been resident (And easy to view. Even I managed to spot it!) on the pool. Could have booked the cottages several times over at half term. Thomas The Tank Engine is visiting the NNR. Yippeeeee!

Weekly Ramble

2007-10-05T00:08:00.000-07:00

Took advantage of the lovely autumn weather to ramble from the cottages down to Kelling Quags yesterday morning. As usual plenty to see on the way. Noticeable influx of Robins over the last couple of weeks. Small flock of Redwings noted in berry laden Rowan on the edge of Kelling Heath. Green Woodpecker on the path from the cottages to the heath. Further on watched juvenile Sparrowhawk unsuccessfully trying to hunt rabbits in a field on the edge of the heath. Trying to bite off more than it could chew I fear. Evidence of the myxomatosis virus seen. Noticeable that the number of rabbits in this particular field has declined over the last few months. In the pasture above Kelling Quags Skylarks and Meadow Pipits with Kestrel above being mobbed by Rooks/Jackdaws. Great Black Backed Gull over as well. At the coast relatively quiet. Solitary Little Stint and Redshank on one of the sea pools behind the shingle ridge. Stonechat on fence post. The Quag itself quite busy with wildfowl. Teal, Shoveler, Mallard and Shelduck in residence. A significant twitch also on at the Quag with several birders looking to tick a Barred Warbler. As I write another cracking morning with large movement of Pink Footed Geese over Bessingham on the way out to their daytime feeding out east. What a fantastic place to live!!

Latest Comments From Our Guestbooks

2007-10-01T14:21:00.000-07:00

Just some of the nice comments we have received from guests who have stayed at Bridge Cottages over the last few weeks-: G & S Aug 07 A lovely cosy cottage in a beautiful location. Well equipped and comfortable. L & J Sept 07 A very lucky find. Perfect for discovering North Norfolk. A very friendly welcome and thanks especially for the marmalade. S & M Oct 07 A lovely cottage. Very relaxing short break. Very welcoming. You have thought of everything.

Kelling Quags

2007-09-16T02:57:00.000-07:00

This weeks 'ramble' was a short amble around Kelling Quags.

Situated next to the shingle coastal bank below Kelling, this freshwater marsh reserve, covering 14 acres (5.7ha), has been a reserve since 1984. It is the most easterly of the long chain of coastal fresh marshes in North Norfolk and is one of our favourite walking destinations from Bridge Cottages.

A good two hour round trip on foot from the cottages but it is only a couple of minutes by car to the car park in Kelling village from where it takes a further ten minutes to reach the Quags on foot along a a green lane.

The Quags are usually very quiet with only the odd walker or birder to be seen and seem far removed from the busy spots further along the coast at Cley and Salthouse.

There is always something of interest to view especially in the autumn and spring. When I visited this week there was a nice group of Black Tailed Godwits on the flooded part of the meadows alongside a pair of Knot, Little Gull, two Spotted Redshanks and a small number of Teal. A sizeable and very noisy charm of Goldfinches were feeding on the dead thistle heads. A Comma butterfly was noted amongst the brambles.

Over the past two years a Bittern has been occasionally seen amongst the sedge bordering the water meadows and a Spotted Crake attracted the 'serious' birders in 2005.

For most of the year though it is a very quiet and tranquil spot.

It is also possible to sea watch from the shingle bank which is only a couple of minutes walk further along the track.

A return trip to the car or cottages via Muckleburgh Hill rewards you with fine views along the coast to Blakeney Harbour and beyond.

North Norfolk Railway Steam Gala

2007-09-10T01:28:00.000-07:00

The annual late summer Steam Gala on the North Norfolk Railway - 'The Poppy Line' seems to have been a real success this year. The gala timetable was operating from the 31st August until the 2nd September.

Holt Station, which is only a very short distance from Bridge Cottages, was absolutely packed with enthusiasts and visitors when I went along to see some of the engines for myself on the Saturday.

The real star of the show was David Shepherd's loco 92203 'Black Prince' which was making a guest appearance on the line. Built at Swindon in 1959 at the end of the steam era it is one of only two British Rail 9F class loco's still running.

Even at the relatively sedate speed it was allowed to reach on the NNR it still made for a very impressive sight as it passed by Bridge Cottages.

Thanks to Ian Bosworth for the photo shown here which was taken from 'our' Bridge 299. Ian and his family were enjoying their summer holidays at Bridge Cottages whilst the gala was in progress.

Bridge Cottages are a great base for an extended visit to the North Norfolk Railway and we are always happy to provide information about the special events that are organised by the railway throughout the year.

Fish 'n' Chips

2007-08-28T04:27:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the simple things in life seem to bring the greatest pleasure.

It was really grim up here on the North Norfolk coast last week but late on Friday afternoon the sun finally broke through the gloom and the clouds and rain disappeared. We took the short drive to Wells-Next-The-Sea when Sue got home from work.

After scrumptious fish 'n' chips from Plattens on the quay we walked out along the embankment running alongside Wells harbour towards the sea. Not a cloud in the sky. A bright red sun setting behind the pine trees along Holkham beach and the mist starting to creep out over the marshes. Just a perfect end to the day.

On the way home we followed up a recommendation to try the Three Horsehoes pub at Warham just up from the coast at Wells. Worth the detour. Very atmospheric old pub with lots of space to sit outside on a summer's evening. Looks a great pub for the winter though. Very cosy with a great menu full of Norfolk goodies such as suet pudding.

Wells and Warham are about 20 mins in the car from Bridge Cottages.

Norfolk 'n' Good. The latest views from Bridge Cottages.

2007-08-18T09:31:00.000-07:00

Just some of the recent comments posted in our guestbooks by guests who have stayed at Bridge Cottages over the last few weeks-: W & T & family Jul 07 What a truly wonderful cottage. Perfectly situated, beautifully decorated..........we really enjoyed our stay and will be back!!! F,A & C Aug 07 "We have thoroughly enjoyed discovering North Norfolk and coming 'home' to Bridge Cottage. It is perfectly located........"

Meet the management!!

2007-08-16T03:29:00.001-07:00

The first of a short series of profiles of the team responsible for the smooth running of Bridge Cottages. Meet the 'Ducks' (alias Ronnie & Reggie). The 'Ducks' have been in charge at Bridge Cottages HQ for the last eight years and kindly allowed Paul & Sue to join the team in 2006. They have a very 'webs off' management style and have delegated the day to day running of the cottages entirely over to Paul & Sue. Don't be fooled by their cute? appearance. They are hard task masters and have something of a reputation locally. It is rumoured that they are wanted for questioning by the local 'old bill' for-:

Demanding food with menaces on a regular basis.
Stealing grain from neighbouring households and local bird tables.
A number of reported assaults on the local pheasant population.

They have a love hate relationship between each other but persistent rumours that they are the only gay ducks in the village have been hotly denied!!

2007-08-15T04:49:00.000-07:00

A 'big sky' day in North Norfolk today. A blustery southerly wind keeping the rain clouds moving by. Took this mornings ramble from Bridge Cottages HQ here at Bessingham. Still very quiet on the birding front. Hardly a bird in the sky or anywhere else for that matter! House Sparrows busy in our front garden. The odd Yellowhammer, a brace of RLP's the ubiquitous Wood Pigeons but not much else. Even the swifts seems to have decided that it's time to start heading south. Still plenty of wildlife to see however. Meadow Brown, Large White, Red Admiral and several Gatekeepers all on the wing. Also a new butterfly for me a Green Veined White along one of the field margins. Also a first for my Bessingham ramble a male Banded Demoiselle looking rather exotic as it hawked along a hedgerow. (Some distance from the nearest stream and pond) A couple of females of the same species close by as well I think. Then I inadvertently flushed four Red Deer from a partially harvested field of Barley. Two hinds with last years young? Not an uncommon site around these parts but still great to see. Having only just moved back to the country I am still amazed that such big beasts seem to thrive in a very arable farming orientated area. We have also seen Roe Deer and Muntjac (in the garden!) at Bessingham over the last year. The same three species of deer have also been sighted at or close by Bridge Cottages. We have watched Roe Deer in the field at the rear of the cottages. Muntjac seen in Bridge Road and by recent guests in the woods adjoining the cottages. We also had a very near miss with a Red Deer hind when driving down to the coast at Cley earlier this summer. Just goes to prove that there is lots of wildlife around these parts even outside of the RSPB,NWT Reserves etc!

Bridge Cottage Ramblings

2007-08-08T13:52:00.000-07:00

Monday 6th August 2007 The first 'rambling' posted here! Took a stroll from Bridge Cottages down to the coast at Kelling Hard this morning. Not too much to report on the wildlife viewing front. High cloud hanging around but still a lot of butterflies on the wing. Small Skipper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and Red Admiral all active on Kelling Heath. Peacock, Painted Lady and Large Whites at Kelling Quags. Birding very quiet only a solitary Golden Plover of note by the coast. Willow Warbler on Muckleburgh Hill. Sparrowhawk above. Great views along the coast towards Blakeney and beyond though as the sun broke through. Young family staying at no.3 this week had a great day 'crabbing' at Blakeney harbour yesterday. The boys enjoyed themselves so much that they are planning to have another go today. PS