Pause a minute, listen and smile

[glow worm]

31st March 2020. Our first Blackcap back and more Chiffchaffs

 

[Lazy Sod]

A pair of moorhens are nesting in our 100 sq. metre garden pond. Mrs. Mallard, who is nesting elsewhere, visits every afternoon for a wash and brushup and then waddles across the lawn to hoover up the birdseed that Mrs. LS puts out for her. Mr. Mallard spends most of the day here.

There are about 100 goldfish in the pond. Last week a little egret started fishing and became a bit of a pest. Chasing it away only sent it to a tree close by. Eventually it took the hint and it's not been here for several days. A kingfisher comes to fish occasionally, but we don't mind that.

 

[primmiemoo]

Chiffchaffs, skylarks. Saw long tailed tits flitting in and out of full-flowered furzes. Brimstone and red admirals.

Any number of violets in the hedges, and flowering shoots coming on early purple orchids.

The only things not flourishing are the tadpoles mis-laid in the routs in a lane that always dry up.

 

[som farmer]

I often wonder if we really appreciate our work place, it changes with the seasons, very few days are the same, just got in from moving elec fences, it is a really nice day to be outside, then think of all the poor baggers that are in lockdown in the cities, it would certainly drive me nuts ! But primmiemoo is right, wild flowers coming out in bloom, birds are singing, blackthorn well out now, that's usually the last fling of winter, and time to reflect, in the fact, that we can move round our farms, and life, for most of us, is carrying on as before, with minor disruption. Mind you, when it's peeing down with rain, and strong winds, I might say the opposite !

 

[primmiemoo]

I think there will be some lovely urban gardens started during this strange situation. Isn't the RSPB encouraging urban bird watches from gardens and through windows?

 

[glow worm]

Enjoyed a few pre breakfast minutes in the glorious sun after milking... This is my garden bird count. Blackcap; Chiffchaff; Blackbird;Song Thrush; Robin; Wren; Dunnock;
Nuthatch; GS Woodpecker; Blue, Great, Coal,Marsh Tits; Chaffinch;Goldfinch; House Sparrows; nearby Raven; high above, Buzzard; Pause, shut your eyes and listen everyone. Just for a minute, forget all the negative pressures of farming, all the disasters that you've delt with and the ones yet to come, and appreciate how lucky we are.

 

[Working from home]

The view from my farmyard this morning. So I did just exactly what the title says!!

 

[glow worm]

Am I the only one who hasnt heard a Willow Warbler so far this year? Please tell me they havent vanished like the Spotted flycatchers did years ago. Plenty of Swallows and House Martins, busy, busy, busy, building nests and even, rare for us, several pairs of Blackcaps but Chiffchaffs very few and far between and Willow Warblers none. A moment of vindictive pleasure today as I saw the first Cabbage White butterfly sussing out our veg patch where I have NO INTENTION of planting anything that would interest it after several years of total devestation dispite all sorts of defences and netting etc.

 

[jack6480]

Luckily spotted these whilst drilling at the weekend

 

[som farmer]

having shot 1,000's of rabbits over the years, we lost our rabbits 8 years ago, wiped them right out, saw 2 today, the first for a very long time, quite chuffed, sought of 'missed' them, strange really. They were an everyday pest. But it is surprising how much wildlife is on our farms, mostly we don't have time to enjoy them,

 

[glow worm]

I only realised when I saw a bat a couple of nights ago that i hadnt seen any for ages ( used to have loads) Tonight i saw two. Love is in the air?!!

 

[som farmer]

one bit of livestock caught me out, needed a bit of pipe, kept on the roof of a shed, had to lean over a ditch, and stretch, all very easy, except I need two sticks, and not very steady, and knew I shouldn't, but..stepped right on a hen pheasant sitting, fell over, nearly # myself, but I did get up on my own.

 

[primmiemoo]

Am I the only one who hasnt heard a Willow Warbler so far this year? Please tell me they havent vanished like the Spotted flycatchers did years ago. Plenty of Swallows and House Martins, busy, busy, busy, building nests and even, rare for us, several pairs of Blackcaps but Chiffchaffs very few and far between and Willow Warblers none. A moment of vindictive pleasure today as I saw the first Cabbage White butterfly sussing out our veg patch where I have NO INTENTION of planting anything that would interest it after several years of total devestation dispite all sorts of defences and netting etc.

Pleased to report Willow Warblers here. They started singing early, I think.
Also Marsh Warblers, scolding from practically every clump of Encroachment. (Really needs a match and controlled burn in that area this year.)

There's a Chiffchaff holding territory in the garden. They don't normally come so near the hovel.

 

[som farmer]

one bit of livestock caught me out, needed a bit of pipe, kept on the roof of a shed, had to lean over a ditch, and stretch, all very easy, except I need two sticks, and not very steady, and knew I shouldn't, but..stepped right on a hen pheasant sitting, fell over, nearly # myself, but I did get up on my own.

easy for me laugh now, but at the time, could have easily been a major issue, son was cross enough when he saw the pipe, good job he didn't know the rest ! But, another lesson learnt, the hard way !

 

[primmiemoo]

easy for me laugh now, but at the time, could have easily been a major issue, son was cross enough when he saw the pipe, good job he didn't know the rest ! But, another lesson learnt, the hard way !

I'd have been cross like your son was, too, but you're here to tell the tale ? ☺

 

[som farmer]

I'd have been cross like your son was, too, but you're here to tell the tale ? ☺

its fun living dangerously, occasionally !

 

[SLA]

Seen a pair of pheasants with chicks today first of the year, would of been a lovely photo if the phone hadn’t had a tantrum.

 

[som farmer]

funny how we notice all these things, but are classed as the worst offenders for destroying the country side., under the heading, intensive farming.

 

[MrNoo]

Stunning day here today, air seemed so clear and sky so blue!!!

 

[pgk]

Noticed since working in house a whole series of birds each day in the front garden starts with black birds and pigeons, followed by crows, then starlings, thrushes, sparrows, blue, great, and long tail tits, wrens, Robin's and gold crests, just waiting for sight of the wood packers who usually put in an appearance. Seems reduced road traffic may be responsible?