Crops
Following several weeks of unsettled weather, including several inches of snow, we are currently waiting for the ground to dry up enough for us to plough in the spring beans and apply the first nitrogen to the oilseed rape.
The crops overall are looking good, if slightly too advanced. The one exception is a few areas of the oilseed rape that were severely damaged by slugs in the early autumn. The contractor sprayed one field of rape in January to control the large amounts of charlock.
Birds
The autumn and winter have been very good for birds on the Farm.
Fortnightly monitoring of the Farm has produces maximum flocks of 398 linnets in September, declining to 162 in January; a record count, 178, of meadow pipits in December and high numbers of yellowhammer, with 121 in January. The flock of linnets is particularly noteworthy, as this is the first winter that a sizeable flock has stayed at the Farm throughout the winter since RSPB tenure began.
The finches and buntings are primarily using the wild bird cover and the two-year fallow, which is clearly providing a sustainable food source. A small number of corn buntings mixed in with the yellowhammers for a few months, with a maximum of 12 being recorded.
Other avian highlights include a kingfisher almost daily at the southern end of the farm, a marsh harrier flying over just before Mark Avery was interviewed for Countryfile, a few brief glimpses of a merlin and four species of owl: tawny, short-eared, barn and little. Skylarks have also begun to give short song flights, but this is surely premature as winter is not over yet.
Typically, in winter, non-avian highlights are rare but good numbers of brown hare have been recorded, along with abundant signs of badger, fox and muntjac.
Visits to the farm
We will be opening the farm to the public for the national farm open day on 10 June. If you would like to come then please register your interest by ringing 01954 267438.