It was with great excitement that we first saw a barn owl in the meadows during the autumn of 2023. This autumn we have realised that there are now two barn owls hunting here, one with a ring on its right leg and the other without. Here they both are, putting their right legs forwards for inspection:

As soon as I knew that there were two of them, I could no longer resist ordering a barn owl nest box because I am forever an optimist in such matters. This box has now arrived and, like the two we already have up in the wood, it is very roomy and made out of sturdy recycled plastic:

A good site for the box in a copse of trees between the two meadows had been identified which would have a clear view out over the second meadow once we’ve hacked everything back a bit:

The heavy box was hauled into position with a mixture of winching up on a rope and pushing from below:

And here is our new barn owl home, ready for viewing by prospective tenants:

In the autumn, barn owls were appearing on the cameras every night. They are being seen much less frequently now, but are still occasionally here and I hope they might notice the new box:

A camera is now trained onto the box so, if there is any interest, we will know:

As we were working in the copse, a little chiffchaff was flitting in the trees above our heads, searching for insects. Although most chiffchaffs leave Britain in the autumn to overwinter in`Southern Europe and North Africa, an increasing number are now staying here instead, as I suppose this one must be:

We have bought a new trail camera, a Browning Recon Force Elite HP5, which is more than double the price of the Crenovas that we usually use. It has only just gone out into the meadows, but this seems to be a reasonable shot to have taken in pretty poor weather:

I am pleased to report that there have been no further heron sightings since the scarecrows went into action at both ponds:

Sparrowhawks have been very much in evidence this week:

And the ringed kestrel as well:

Tawny owls are being seen and heard too:

In the wood, we are hoping that the tawny owls will nest in this box next year. They nested in here in 2022 but have lost out to squirrels since then. Nice to see one showing an interest now though and hope that we will be lucky again in 2025:

The winter work in the wood kicked off this week with a first session of clearing the marjoram glade. Every year we cut down the dogwood that grows strongly there because, if left, it would quickly overwhelm all the wonderful marjoram. The dogwood has grown vigorously and tall this year but is still easily sliced through with the hedge cutter:

Bringing in the woodland butterflies and moths to the marjoram is what it is all about, and here are some that we have seen in previous summers:

Progress was made this week but it is quite a large area and it will take three or four more sessions before this job is completed:

As we worked, the winter sun was shining on the surrounding silver birch trees that are already covered in catkins. Now that the trees have dropped their leaves, the catkins will release pollen that can waft around freely, unimpeded by the foliage.

We were under observation by a little robin as we laboured on:

And the dog was quietly supervising from the comfort of back of the car:

I hate to see this poor chaffinch with what I think must be Chaffinch Viral Papilloma on its foot and leg. I’m not sure I’ve seen one as badly affected as this before:

The days are depressingly short at this time of this year, but this does have the benefit that we are awake to see the glorious sunrises over the sea such as this one this week:

Only another sixteen days now until we are over the tipping point and inexorably heading towards spring.