We can now announce that all four kestrel chicks have fledged and are learning to fly around the fields near the farm. The smallest of them hung around the box for a couple of days longer than the others but even he/she has taken the plunge and left.

Against the odds, eight mallard ducklings have hatched and fledged from the buzzards’ nest their parents took over. The blue tits on the third camera have also fledged at the weekend as have the wrens in the workshop. So it’s good news for all of our chicks this year!

And it’s not only the birds that are busy. This is the time of year when the sika deer hinds are calving and a few very young calves have been spotted amongst the heather already.

If you come across one, it is best to leave them alone as the mother will be close by even though you may not be able to see her. Calves can often be left on their own for a couple of hours at a time so there is nothing to worry about as everything is usually fine.

The really nice thing about the sika at this time of year is their rich spotty coats, which are a bit different to their dark grey/brown winter coats.