• Birds & Wildlife Spotted at Mill Hill Farm 2022

Across the site we have a number of different habitats from grass to arable land and lakes to woodland. These bring us a lot of both resident and visiting bird and wildlife species. Listed below are those spotted during the 2022 season

In 2021 we saw the successful raising of four goslings and a young Oystercatcher. The Oystercatcher family continued to fly overhead regularly for a while. The Turtle Doves returned and could be heard purring in the trees.  Thriving hedgehogs were seen on a nightly basis on the campsite.   

In 2022 the geese returned and produced  6 goslings which eventually flew away to start a new life.  The Oyster Catchers hatched off 4 chicks and we have seen one raised to full size.  Swallows, House Martins and Shoveler Duck have also been spotted as well as Turtle Doves.  The Shoveler Duck produced a brood of 8 chicks.  Sedge, Reed and Garden Warbler plus Reed Bunting also successfully nested again this year.  Red Kite and  Marsh Harrier have been seen overhead.  Unusual bird sightings in 2022 include Nightingale, Cetti's Warbler, Green Sandpiper, Osprey and Common Crane.

Duck success stories : Our continued feeding programme to encourage wildfowl has resulted in an increase in the Duck species range.  Not only do we now support Mallard but other less common species, such as Shoveler, Gadwall, Tufted Duck and Teal. We would love to see them return again for the winter.

We are working on increasing the depth of the scrape in some places, whilst maintaining the nature of a scrape.  The aim is to hold more water in some parts and protect against possible drought and prevent it totally drying out in the future.