Top Lodge

Deep in Rockingham Forest, where red kites fly and wildflowers bloom... 

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  • And they are off.....

    The kite chicks that is. They have finally taken the plunge and are now no longer on the nest. over the last couple of weeks they had only been appearing at infrequent intervals. Usually just after the parents had dropped some food off at the nest. Mum...
  • Hop to it!

    If you've been meaning to come to Top Lodge to see the kite chicks on the nest, you'd better get your skates on. The three chicks are getting ever more adventuresome. In preparation for their first flight they have taken to 'branch hopping'...
    Published 07-06-2009 2:24 PM by chris andrews
  • I am not a number!

    I'm a free...... kite? Our three red kite chicks are now sporting their very fetching wing tags. These light plastic tags clip over the kites' wings and allow them to be identified from a distance. Reports of their movements will help us understand...
    Published 06-18-2009 2:59 PM by chris andrews
  • One out, all out!

    The great news from the centre is that our blue tits have fledged. Of the eight chicks, four left yesterday and the remaining ones left today. They can still be seen around the centre though, being fed by their parents. As can other baby birds such as...
    Published 06-05-2009 3:23 PM by chris andrews
  • Lets go spy a kite

    I'm pleased to announce that the red kite nest camera is back up and running, with three fluffy chicks on the nest. They look to be about a fortnight old and we look forward to watching them grow up, probably leaving the nest towards the end of July...
    Published 05-29-2009 12:21 PM by chris andrews
  • Cracking News!

    Great news from the blue tit nest camera. For the last day or two mum has been getting increasingly restless on the nest. Then this afternoon when she moved over to take some food from her partner, we saw a little pink squirming blob, in amongst the eggs...
    Published 05-15-2009 3:20 PM by chris andrews
  • Duck a la Orange

    No, not a new item on the menu of the Top Lodge cafe. But instead a reference to a new visitor to the pool in front of the wildlife hide. A pair of mandarin ducks (mandarin, orange.... oh suit yourselves) have been frequently spotted. These ducks were...
    Published 05-14-2009 11:45 AM by chris andrews
  • Six of the best

    I am pleased to announce that our blue tit family just expanded. The female had been spending longer and longer in the box and when she came off the nest today we saw six lovely little white eggs. Keep tuned for more blue tit news, and hopefully soon...
    Published 05-02-2009 4:30 PM by chris andrews
  • Big Brother, with birds!

    Thats how one young visitor described our latest attraction here at Top Lodge. We have installed a blue tit nest box on the side of the shop. Inside the box is a camera which sends back live footage of the goings on inside the box, back to our big screen...
    Published 04-27-2009 11:09 AM by chris andrews
  • 'Special K' becomes a visitors' favourite

    If you come to the Top Lodge centre you may very well see a kite drifting overhead. If you do, chances are it will be the bird that has been nicknamed 'Special K'. Why the odd name? Well, it is really called Purple K, the name referring to the...
    Published 04-10-2009 4:08 PM by chris andrews
  • Now you see them....

    True to form, the red kite chicks have been popping on and off the nest for all of last week. At anyone time, visitors could see anything from an empty nest to all three youngsters, sitting around and bickering. Some of the spats have been quite fierce...
    Published 07-22-2008 3:35 PM by chris andrews
  • A clean sweep

    In the last post to this blog we reported that the eldest chick had flown the nest. We are pleased to announce that all three chicks are now airborne. The youngest chick hung on in the nest for ages, but finally went on 11 July. The chicks do reappear...
    Published 07-14-2008 10:07 AM by chris andrews
  • We have lift off!

    The exciting news is that the eldest chick is now airborne. It has been keeping us all on tenterhooks for the past few days by hopping around on branches near the nest and disappearing from view. But finally on Monday it took the plunge and made its maiden...
    Published 07-02-2008 10:59 AM by chris andrews
  • Out on a limb

    The chicks are still in the nest, but the largest one is getting increasingly adventurous. When its not too windy it often spends time hopping out onto branches next to the nest, and then vigourously flapping. Probably much to the relief of its siblings...
    Published 06-24-2008 11:23 AM by chris andrews
  • In a flap

    The chicks are continuing to grow, and are fast losing their downy white feathers for something more adult looking. They've also taken to standing on the edge of the nest, vigourously exercising their wings. All very important to build up muscles...
    Published 06-16-2008 4:26 PM by chris andrews
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