A sunny week in late June means HAYTIME

Tractors were buzzing round the fields at the end of June / first three days of July as farmers made hay (and silage) while the sun shone for longer than usual.

Both ends of Sabden Valley look like patchwork quilts.

Cobden Farm B and B website

Nuts about nuts

The tree acrobats - grey squirrels - are out in force. They're bringing their young on training sessions: How to eat the nuts from bird feeders. Then, as soon as they dash off, the little birds fly in for their turn.






Cobden Farm B and B website

Cuckoo returns at last

The cuckoo is back in our bit of Sabden Valley for the first time in around five years. It was cuckoo-ing like mad the other evening. A lovely sound that's good to hear again.



Cobden Farm B and B website

Roe deer and fawn

John spotted a roe deer with its fawn among the trees below the farmhouse this morning. It's the first time we've had a mother-and-baby visit.




Cobden Farm B and B website

Lambs races

Would you like to see an O-lamb-ic Games race

Lapwings return

We spotted a pair of lapwings playing in the sky above the farm yesterday. It's the first time in many, many years that they've appeared in our bit of Sabden Valley. Let's hope their chicks hatch out OK.


Cobden Farm B and B website

Gooseander family 2011

Ten days earlier than last year, that gooseander hatched out a brood of 11 on our farmhouse roof. They jumped 3oft off the roof onto the field, then set off with their mother for Sabden Brook. You can just about see them in these photos...



Cobden Farm B and B website

Orange tip butterfly

An orange tip butterfly arrived in our garden this week. According to our book, they aren't usually seen in Lancashire - especially hillside country. Any further information welcome!

Cobden Farm B and B website

Breakfast time viewing

A cock pheasant (now where did that come from?) and rabbit were having their 'breakfasts' at the same time as our bed and breakfast guests this morning...

Cobden Farm B and B website

They're back...

Uh - o. They're back. That pair of goosanders. They've just done a fly-past over the farmhouse roof. Which probably means they're planning to nest up there again this year. At least we'll know what to expect this time.



Cobden Farm B and B website

November 6 2010



December 6 2010

Same tree - a month between photographs!




Cobden Farm B and B website