As autumn approaches the estate is becoming incredibly busy, the skies are full of Buzzards filling up for the winter on the relatively easy prey of rabbits and squirrels gathering their stores for the winter.
The following are the inserts in the various nature diaries over the last few weeks:
Farncombe House
25/06/2010 – at 3.30pm I saw a large young red deer walking across the road just before the car park near the security office.
29/06/2010 – 5.45pm A male fox in good condition by the redwood tree outside the kitchen in Farncombe House
30/06/2010 – 8.45am a young fox in car park, took photo not afraid just stood for about five minutes while I watched it
01/07/2010 – 4.45pm a large red deer standing in the woods on the right of the car park entrance
Partridge with lots of babies in the woods
02/07/2010 – 6.45pm Large male fox walked up past the kitchen window
05/07/2010 – Top car park, mother and baby deer seen running into bushes
06/07/2010 – 6.25pm A fox walked past Farncombe kitchen near to the building
8.40pm Vixen and cub were in the courtyard and then went on bank in front of car park
07/07/2010 – 4.30pm Cub fox sat by gardeners shed in full view.
27/07/2010 – Two partridges with a baby were round by Harvey’s at about 7.30pm
29/07/2010 – Grass snake slithering across road by junction to G4S site. Dissapeared into grass on other side of road
17/08/2010 – Deer on far side of tennis court.
Squirrel in top car park
20/08/2010 – Grass snake on steps of covered walkway to Farncombe House
07/09/2010 – Fox on far side of tennis court.
Farm House:
Smallbrook:
18/05/2010 – 2 pheasants, 1 rabbit, 2 bumblebees, 1 partridge
30/05/2010 – Nick and Clive saw a buzzard, young fox and a pheasant, took around 40 minutes.
07/06/2010 – Buff spotted 2 buzzards above Smallbrook being harrassed by a crow.
Saw 2 deer on Willersey fields off Nature Trail and a treecreeper just off the path.
Kestrel on the roof of Brook House
29/08/2010 – There are about 3 dozen 7 spot ladybirds clustered on the ferns around the pond in reception.
31/08/2010 – Bat flying around in Smallbrook. settled on windowsill, put in box and set free outside.
24/09/2010 – Young deer on road at hairpin bend on road leading up the hill, Roe?
25/09/2010 – Nature Trail-Fossils, funghi, deer, buzzards
Foxhill Manor:
16/06/2010 – Woodpecker chipping away at the trunk of tree next to gardeners shed. A crow/Rook/Jay was sitting on a branch about a metre away watching the proceedings.
25/06/2010 – Deer back on bottom back lawn! Geraniums still looking good.
28/06/2010 – Partridge mum and four babies crossing road from coach House towards stables. Smallest babies I have ever seen!
23/07/2010 – Toad standing in middle of road leading into Manor car park. Resisted attempts to move it from harms way, seemed to be clinging to road surface. Looked very dry!
Roe Deer (looked like a doe) standing by hedge at the bottom of the steps overlooked from the Foxhill manor kitchen window. Scratching ear with hind feet.
02/08/2010 – Roe deer mum with two fawns on grass at edge of field next to the drive at the top of the estate.
19/08/2010 – Mr Rabbit bobbing across front drive at Foxhill Manor, what speed!
Foxhill Cottages:
18/07/2010 – One small deer next to the drive around 23.15. No badgers in view.
15/08/2010 – Young deer in woods behind Springfield 8.30pm
21/08/2010 – Squirrel running across ground and up a tree on route to exit 6.30pm
22/08/2010 – Robin singing his heart out on lane to left of Foxhill 7.30am
22/08/2010 – Four rabbits grazing on slope behind house 7am
Picton Lounge
15/07/2010 – 2 Blackbirds on lane before bottom barrier
14/07/2010 – Young fox, top of estate
16/07/2010 – Moth on fire door end of Brook House. Very dark olive green in colour with large red spots on wings
19/07/2010 – Woodpecker (lesser spotted) on the bird feeder behind Picton. Young deer behind Picton.
20/07/2010 – Squirrel in front of Picton and later behind. 2 Great Tits on bird feeder.
21/07/2010 – Dragonflies.
22/07/2010 – Mr. Squirrel was spotted on the wheelie bin outside Springfield House eating a biscuit. Adult and baby deer in field behind Picton House.
26/07/2010 – Two Buzzards above Coach House Area
28/07/2010 – ‘Peacock’ Butterfly inside Picton House
06/08/2010 – 2 green woodpeckers near bottom barrier
10/08/2010 – 2 Young deer in field behind Picton
12/08/2010 – Great spotted woodpecker flying near bottom barrier
13/08/2010 – Deer behind Picton and blue tit on bird feeder
16/08/2010 – 2 Cock pheasants fighting on road going into Foxhill Manor Car park
18/08/2010 – 2 green woodpeckers flying between trees behind Brook House. Jay flying down the estate near bend. Coal tit on birdfeeder.
23/08/2010 – 2 Muntjac’s in back lane near bottom barrier
27/08/2010 – Fox beside road as I drove along grounds
21/09/2010 – Long tailed tit on birdfeeder. Cricket on window frame.
22/08/2010 – Nuthatch near coach house
24/09/2010 – Pair of Jay’s on fence behind Picton.
Farncombe Estate, Broadway 