Broadgate Farm B & B and Cl site

Broadgate Farm Bird Hide

2011-07-28T08:48:00.000-07:00

During you stay at Broadgate Farm you can visit our bird hide which overlooks the scraps on the next field which encourages wading birds or admire the views of the local area.

Honeysuckle on the farm

2011-07-23T07:16:00.000-07:00

Flowering honeysuckle not only gives us a lovely smell and colourful flowers to admire but is ideal for the birds and bees.

Vacancies at 'Bug Inn'

2011-07-12T01:27:00.000-07:00

Situated next to the stream in a quiet shady part of the garden insects and bugs can also enjoy the benefits of staying at Broadgate Farm.

Lapwing Chicks

2011-07-10T23:58:00.001-07:00

Whilst Brian was bringing the cows into milk this morning he saw some lapwing chicks in the field next to the house, he thought they were about 2 weeks old.

From our Nature Diary

2011-07-10T23:54:00.000-07:00

17th June 2011
we have seen lapwings, curlews, snipe, swifts and swallows whilst walking here today. What a nice quiet place to visit.
2nd July 2011
Farmer busy in fields, plenty of black bales, there are lots of crows, seagulls, along with curlews, lapwings and many small pheasants.

Sand Martins

2011-06-22T00:51:00.000-07:00

Sand Martins at Broadgate Farm

Many thanks to David Melville for taking these photo and allowing them to be used on our blog

More photos taken by a visitor

2011-06-21T06:08:00.000-07:00

21 st June 2011, Longest day, damp showers all day
but these bird don't seem to mind.

Photos of bird life round the farm

2011-06-20T12:37:00.000-07:00

These photos were taken on the farm by a visitor who has been staying

Supper at Broadgate Farm

2011-06-19T12:03:00.001-07:00

The woodpecker is back regularly

and

A family of bullfinches enjoy a quiet supper at the same time.

Excerpts from Nature Diary

2011-06-19T10:54:00.000-07:00

20th June 2010
lovely site, beautiful views, good length dog walk,
viewed curlews, oyster catcher, rabbits, hare, blue tit, great tit, buzzards, chaffinches, swallows, house martins, lapwings, curlews and whinbrells.
30th June 2010
Dusk after a long hot bright day,
seen whimbrells, hare, rabbits, buzzards, pigeon, swifts, crows,seagulls, chaffinches and ' a black bunny'
2nd July 2010
lots of rabbits, curlews, lapwings, and owl, bats and great views
25th October 2010
Very frosty over night, but sunny and blue skies during the day, saw a flock of swallows, woodcock, lapwing and pheasants.
26th February 2011, by Anne and Peter B
We just love the walks up here, everything is available to see, all you need to do is keep watching.
24th February 2011
3 lapwing and 2 buzzards
25th March 2011 by Gavin T. RSPB
27 curlews, 8 lapwing, goldcrest, oyster catchers and curlews
7th May 2011, Jim Southport
3 buzzards, curlews and pheasants

A Beautiful Summers Night

2011-06-07T12:32:00.000-07:00

Our resident woodpecker enjoys a quiet supper just outside our new garden room.

Mother Duck and Family

2011-05-09T03:16:00.000-07:00

A mother duck and new family enjoy a swim on the stream at the side of the farm house but decide to make a rapid exit when they spot me taking this photo

Spring is here

2011-04-27T02:32:00.000-07:00

A pink picture

Easter Sunday Treat

2011-04-27T02:22:00.000-07:00

This new born calf was the centre of attention for walkers as they passed during their walk on Easter Sunday.

Interent access finally restored, Free WiFi is available to all Bed and Breakfast Guest

2011-03-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

After weeks of only being able to access the internet by using the public access points in the libary we are now back up and running.
We now have a high speed wifi internet access in the farm house which is available for use by bed and breakfast guest.
If you like to know more about how our connection was made please email for details

TWO LOCALS ENOYING AN AFTERNOON PONY TREKKING

2010-06-29T09:28:00.000-07:00

Steph from the pony trekking centre has an afternoon ride with Frank and Janet

2 DUCKS ENJOYING A WALK

2010-06-29T09:11:00.000-07:00

Only a few feet fron the back door of the farm house 2 duck were seen recently walking by!

PONY TREKKING

2010-05-18T01:33:00.000-07:00

WHY NOT GO PONY TREKKING WHILST YOU VISIT BROADGATE FARM.

www.braedens.co.uk

RSPB visit on Tuesday 6th April 2010 when a 'REDKITE' was seen

2010-04-15T06:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Anne

Suzanna and I saw 24 Lapwing whilst doing the first of 5 Lapwing survey visits for the RSPB's Lapwing Recovery Project. Last year at about the same time there were 29 birds so perhaps the cold winter has taken its toll on some of the birds. At least 3 were on nests and we almost trod on one of the nests in the small field just to the east of the farm house (see photo).

By my reckoning this and probably 3 other eggs will be ready to hatch any time from 2nd to the 11th May.

Other waders on the farm included 25 Curlew feeding in various fields on the farm and a pair of Oystercatcher in the field in front of the bird hide. We also saw at least 9 hares.

But the most exciting sighting was a RED KITE. This was really unexpected and appeared over our heads at the same time as a Buzzard. Single Red Kites winter almost annually somewhere in Bowland but the nearest breeding area is Harewood House in Yorkshire. Other than that you would have to go to the Black Isle in Scotland, Wales or Cambridgeshire to see a Red Kite. The Kite wasn't wing-tagged so we will never know its true origin.

Jean Roberts.

New Single Room

2010-03-24T05:28:00.000-07:00

We now can offer a newly refurbished single room which has the luxury of a private separate bath room complete with an electric shower over the bath.

AN OWL SHELTERING FROM THE COLD WINTER SNOW

2010-01-22T08:31:00.000-08:00

PHOTO TAKEN APPROX 3rd JANUARY 2010 DURING SNOW

WINTER WONDER LAND

2010-01-22T08:17:00.001-08:00

Broadgate farm on a snowy day, 9" in 2 hours

Photos taken at Broadgate on 21st December 2009, even the bird feeds were covered in snow!

WINTER WONDER LAND

2010-01-21T08:32:00.000-08:00

Coldest night was 12th January 2010 when the wind chill dropped temps to -15.7 degreesC.

Birds Viewed by a visitor to Broadgate Farm

2009-06-18T00:42:00.000-07:00

Hi Anne & Brian,

Sorry we have not got back to you sooner we have been rather busy. Thanks for a pleasant stay. As promised here is a list of the birds we saw whilst walking in the area roughly in a 5 mile radius as seen over 7-8 June 09 ;

blackbird, song thrush, magpie, jackdaw, carrion crow, curlew, buzzard, woodpigeon, house sparrow, lapwing, swallow, house martin, wren, kestrel, hedge sparrow, partridge, pied wagtail, goldfinch, mallard, chiffchaff, pied flycatcher, spotted flycatcher, dipper, grey wagtail, chaffinch, blackcap, robin, nuthatch, blue tit, willow warbler, greater spotted woodpecker, pheasant, merlin, siskin, coal tit, green finch, bullfinch. We hope this is of interest to you .

We look forward to our next visit.

Regards Ken & Shirley ( casual birders & walkers)

2009-06-15T07:25:00.000-07:00

This woodpecker is busy feeding in the garden.

Birds Feeding at Breakfast Time

2009-06-05T04:47:00.000-07:00

Guest watch the bullfinch feed at a window feeder whilst eating their own breakfast

What a cheeky chap!

Visit by RSPB Project Officer on 4th June 2009

2009-06-04T14:11:00.000-07:00

Today's walk round the farm:

First birds seen were two juvenile Pied Wagtails being fed by one of the parents. At the farm the Swallows were busy feeding their young. The House Martins have built nests on the farm house and 6 birds were seen hunting insects over one of the fields. House Sparrows were chirping noisily in the outbuildings. Then it was onto the hide to check on the progress of the Lapwings. There was just one pair left in the "hide" field and they obviously had young as they were getting a bit agitated on my approach but all the other Lapwings had disappeared. Next it was on to Broadgate Wood which was a lot quieter than last visit but some birds were still singing including Mistle Thrush, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Chiffchaff and Treecreeper. A Great Spotted Woodpecker called. 4 juvenile Mallards stayed motionless on Winsnape Brook until danger (i.e. me) had passed. The fields beyond the wood were a riot of buttercups and, in the sunshine, Painted Lady butterflies and a Small White were nectaring on the flowers. Just one Lapwing, one Redshank and one Curlew were seen in the far field.

Visit by RSPB Project Officer on 16th May 2009

2009-05-21T15:02:00.000-07:00

I saw 16 Lapwing in the survey fields at Broadgate on my visit on 16th May. One pair definitely had young in the field near Bleasdale Tower as the adults were alarm calling and dive bombing me. The chicks were too well hidden so I couldn't see how many there were. I couldn't see any chicks with the 7 Lapwing in the field that the hide overlooks but it's possible that they were hidden in amongst the rushes or in the longer grass. The other possibilities are that the cool and very wet weather in the intervening 3 weeks has taken its toll on chicks or, a more optimistic possibility given the fact that there were fewer Lapwing than on the last visit, is that the chicks and parents have wandered off into the non-survey fields. As with many farms in Bowland Lesser Black-backed Gulls are constantly cruising around looking for a meal and 3 flew over the "hide" field whilst I was there.

Other waders seen on the 16th included 4 Snipe, Redshank, Oystercatcher and 3 Curlew.

It's so peaceful at the farm that I could hear a Cuckoo in the distance. Broadgate Wood was alive with birdsong from Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, Robin, Blackbird, Dunnock, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Wren and Woodpigeon. A Buzzard soared over the wood. 4 Sand Martin hunted for insects in the lee of the wood whilst Swallows flew around the farm yard. House Sparrows chattered in the bushes near one of the barns. Birds near the stream included Grey Wagtail and a Grey Heron. Other birds on the farm were Goldfinch, Jackdaw and a single Carrion Crow.

I managed to see a Roe Deer this visit. Finally, there were at least 11 Brown Hares. They seem to occur in just about every field!

Birds Feeding

2009-05-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

A wide selection of garden birds enjoy the feeders in the garden, guest enjoy watching them from their rooms and from the breakfast room window.

RSPB Lapwing Survey

2009-04-29T00:14:00.000-07:00

I visited Broadgate on 24th April to do my Lapwing survey and found a total of 23 birds i.e. 11 pairs or so in the survey fields. However, you can't just divide the number of birds by two as some males may have two "wives" so 23 birds might represent a number of triangles instead of pairs!

Whilst I ate my packed lunch in the car it was so enjoyable watching the Swallows flying down to a puddle in the farmyard to collect mud and bits of straw to make their nests. One pair squeezed through a tiny gap at the top of the barn door to get to their new home.

I've never seen so many brown hares in one area before. I was hoping that some would box as I've never seen them do that before but I'm still waiting.

Besides Lapwings and Swallows I saw:
22 Meadow Pipits in one field (probably on passage), Curlew, Oystercatcher, Mallard, Pheasant, Mistle Thrush, Siskin, Wren, Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Blackcap, Blackbird, Kestrel, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, House Sparrow, Goldfinch and Reed Bunting.

Jean Roberts

The Green Tourism Business Awards

2009-04-23T10:28:00.000-07:00

Received my Green Tourism Business 'Silver' Award today at Hornby, had an excellent day out, very good speakers and excellent lunch

for more details about Green Tourism log onto http://www.green-business.co.uk/

Extracts from nature diary in bird hide

2009-04-22T02:04:00.000-07:00

21st March, quiet peaceful day following a misty start. Lapwings swooping
28th March, RSPB lapwing today, saw 2 buzzards
7th April, Plenty of phesants, 4 or 5 pairs of lapwings in field to south of bird hide
9th April, A lovely sunset with lots of birds in the field behind bird hide
9th April, lots of birds, lapwings, redshank, spotted redshank, snipe, culews, woodcocks, whimbels, along with plenty of hares and rabbits

2009-04-21T09:15:00.000-07:00

Cooler today, but dry
Busy rolling and chain harrowing fields, missing the lapwing nest, there are not as many as last year but still quite lot. Buzzards have been sited in the area which will not help the other birds.
House martins are busy in the building with their nest.
I have been tidying the garden up. The blossom is still not out.

House Martins Arrive

2009-04-20T09:04:00.000-07:00

Even though its only 20th. April the weather today has been gorgeous, warm and sunny again.

Saw the 1st house martins yesterday, always a sign of warmer weather. they are busy today re-building their nest in the farm buildings and round the eves of the house.

The garden birds are busy feeding from the new bird feeders in the garden

2009-04-02T01:50:00.000-07:00

A clear crisp start to today, then the sun is shining and its a lot warmer,

List of birds seen today; pheasants, curlews, lapwings, wood pecker, blue tits, buzzards, magpies

hares are plentiful

Drier and Warmer

2009-03-31T02:01:00.000-07:00

Easter is just round the corner so it's nice to see a drier warmer day, the grass is looking greener.
The birds are busy building nest, a heron was busy in the stream yesterday afternoon, my dogs disturbed it.

British Summer Time Starts Today

2009-03-29T12:15:00.000-07:00

A cold and frosty start to a bright sunny day

We had a RSPB bird count today, but I've just seen 2 buzzards near the wood, this would account for the lapwings disappearing from the fields.

The Clocks go Forward Tonight

2009-03-28T10:49:00.000-07:00

When its the time of year to put the clocks forward by one hour it is beginning to feel more like spring is hear.
Lighter nights will attract the birds to nest
Hares are plentyful on the fields. The flowering red current bush is in full flower in the garden.
If the weather is ok on monday I think its time to mower the grass for the first time.
There have been plenty of walkers today, the scouts have been out in force, walking from Scorton to Waddacre in groups of 6

2009-03-26T02:51:00.000-07:00

A cold wet and windy morning but the lapwings keep swooping, a pair of ducks in the lapwing field seem to be sitting

How the Weather Changes, BUT it's only March

2009-03-24T04:23:00.000-07:00

From Sunday you really wouldn't think the weather could change so much. Yesterday was very cold, wet and very windy at times. I felt sure it was blowing sleet in the wind at times. Pity any small lambs that have just been born, what a shock for them.

Today is sunny again with quiet a chill in the wind but at least it's not a windy as yesterday.

April and warmer weather are just round the corner thankfully.

Mothers Day

2009-03-22T10:36:00.000-07:00

I left a new nature diary in the bird hide yesterday, hope no one destroys it.

It's been a busy day, cards, flowers and a plant for mothers day

Quiet cool outside, re-lit wood burner yesterday, just shows its not that warm. You wouldn't think so by the daffodils and blue sky!

Green Tourism Business Visit

2009-03-20T07:26:00.000-07:00

Just had a visit for my grading for green tourism business, now waiting for report. I will post results in due course.

It a lovely sunny spring day, the birds are singing at about 5.15am, it's nice to hear them after the cold winter days.

I think the lawns are going to need cutting soon.

Nature Diary

2009-03-19T11:17:00.000-07:00

Just been to collect nature diary from bird hide, only to find that some children have destroyed it, such a pitch when last years date and bird seen were all in it. Will have to think of some other way , might even have to make site adult only, this would be such a pity!

If you have any simple ideas how to solve this please comment.

Just seen lots of curlews in the field at the side of the farm track. small birds have not found food in window feeders yet, but sprinkled food on floor, this has all gone.

Warm and Sunny again

2009-03-17T04:45:00.000-07:00

From the window its warm and sunny again, quite a chilly wind when you go outside.
The lapwings keep swooping today, the smaller birds are collecting nesting materials.
Spring must be here!
Green Business Tourism Assessment on Friday

Spring is here

2009-03-16T01:28:00.000-07:00

Another beautiful morning, mild and sunny, birds pairing over lapwing fields

Warm and sunny

2009-03-15T06:33:00.000-07:00

What a warm and sunny spring day! The daffodils are ready to burst into colour.
Brian has been putting up bird boxes, an owl box and a bat box. A bird feeder has been placed on a living room window.
We can all now wait for the birds to nest.
Spring seems to have arrived

Spring day

2009-03-10T09:47:00.000-07:00

Hares boxing earily this morning, a cool but sunny day, also seen a buzzard today, lapwings pairing up.
Keep planting hedges and trees.