Pause a minute, listen and smile

[Lazy Sod]

The moorhens nesting on our garden pond hatched 7 chicks about a week ago. We're looking out for preditors.

 

[n.w]

Watched assorted song birds chase a cuckoo today, and wondered why, if they all are aware of and dislike the cuckoo's so much they put up with their chicks.......maternal instinct ?

 

[glow worm]

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

Last year walking through Exeter, I saw all the crowds walking down the main street, pavements covered in chewing gum, headphones on, carrying non disposable cups of coffee, totally wrapped up in their 'bubble', with a mind blowing number of fast food outlets everywhere with strong cooking smells mingling with traffic smells, and also totally oblivious to all the Swifts screaming round the buildings and a beautiful Thrush in the Cathedral close. I wonder what they 'see / hear / smell' when they come into the countryside.

 

[thorpe]

Nothing like that up here yet. But last night, walking back to my house after feeding lambs at 10pm. I stopped on the road and star gazed... beautifully clear night you could see every star in the universe


First time it struck me theres not a single aeroplane in the skies flashing away (we live below the main flightpath to Prestwick, before all planes turn to head for the USA). I can get lost looking up anyway, but in the middle of lambing I found renewed love for the sky at night

last night plenty going in to east midlands kept mrs thorpe awake

 

[Eiddwen]

Watched assorted song birds chase a cuckoo today, and wondered why, if they all are aware of and dislike the cuckoo's so much they put up with their chicks.......maternal instinct ?

Can't blame the offspring for the crime of the parent.....?!!!

 

[Daddy Pig]

found my post knocker covered in sh!t, its right next to the Barn owl box we put up last year so set up the wildlife camera lastnight

 

[glow worm]

Wall to wall sunshine; strong barmy breeze; almost instant sunburn if not in shade; breathing in fresh cut grass, just cant beat it; perched on gate admiring the view; distant sounds of mower; a Willow Warbler at last, had almost given up hope of having any; curious shiny heifers up to investigate stupid prat on top of gate and oh, they look good: 2 deer taking the mick sunbathing in the middle of the silage field; and I'm enjoying my 'pause' moment and appreciating what I can see, hear and smell. Negative thoughts I'm sure will come tomorrow or 2 days time when a cold blast is forecast with frosts and maybe even a flurry of snow .. for heavens sake!! .. but for now, its lovely. I just hope Corvid 19 dosnt change our lives for ever and the people coming down from up country to their 2nd homes or to go on the beach, dont bring a bill with them that we'll all have to pay.

 

[uztrac]

Thirteen hares this morning on a field of spring barley,acting as though it was March and not May,lovely sight.

 

[glow worm]

Thirteen hares this morning on a field of spring barley,acting as though it was March and not May,lovely sight.

Never seen that. Only ever singles. That must be a wonderful sight. Haven't heard anything lately about the report a few months ago that Myxomatosis had been identified in Hares. I do hope that either isn't true or that is was a very isolated case. I remember seeing it in rabbits and it was just awful.

 

[thorpe]

our agronom ist came back in the yard yesterday he said ive just seen 6 hares yes i said we see them most days, hes the same chap who sajd last july oh a swallow! they were sitting there second sitting then . he must of been playing golf in spain the prev 6 weeks. we just get the spray sheets emailed,

 

[glow worm]

Wall to wall sunshine; strong barmy breeze; almost instant sunburn if not in shade; breathing in fresh cut grass, just cant beat it; perched on gate admiring the view; distant sounds of mower; a Willow Warbler at last, had almost given up hope of having any; curious shiny heifers up to investigate stupid prat on top of gate and oh, they look good: 2 deer taking the mick sunbathing in the middle of the silage field; and I'm enjoying my 'pause' moment and appreciating what I can see, hear and smell. Negative thoughts I'm sure will come tomorrow or 2 days time when a cold blast is forecast with frosts and maybe even a flurry of snow .. for heavens sake!! .. but for now, its lovely. I just hope Corvid 19 dosnt change our lives for ever and the people coming down from up country to their 2nd homes or to go on the beach, dont bring a bill with them that we'll all have to pay.

I posted that just over a year ago. Yesterday was the first time we had seen any sun for weeks. No sitting on the top rung of a gate this year. Far too cold. Too wet for any silaging. No song from any Willow Warbler and the Chiffchaff's stopped singing a month ago. I saw a report on TV yesterday from an American travel agent that London is no longer the top destination for a foreign holiday. Its now Cornwall! Negative thoughts were definitely winning but a bit of warmth and blue skies lifted the soul just for a day. It was such a lovely day compared to the previous weeks. My pause, listen and smile moment yesterday .. one House Martin. From 14+ pairs last year to nothing this year until yesterday. Such joy over one bird! I'm definitely loosing it!

 

[Forkdriver]

I think you are getting it, not losing it.

 

[Jimdog1]

I posted that just over a year ago. Yesterday was the first time we had seen any sun for weeks. No sitting on the top rung of a gate this year. Far too cold. Too wet for any silaging. No song from any Willow Warbler and the Chiffchaff's stopped singing a month ago. I saw a report on TV yesterday from an American travel agent that London is no longer the top destination for a foreign holiday. Its now Cornwall! Negative thoughts were definitely winning but a bit of warmth and blue skies lifted the soul just for a day. It was such a lovely day compared to the previous weeks. My pause, listen and smile moment yesterday .. one House Martin. From 14+ pairs last year to nothing this year until yesterday. Such joy over one bird! I'm definitely loosing it!

I definitely appreciate the wildlife around me more as I get older. The return of the swallows signals spring for me. Skylark's singing is always an excuse to pause, listen and take a look around me.

 

[wr.]

My day was made yesterday when a hare leapt out of the spring barley and ran up the tramline infront of me.
Heard the cuckoo Tuesday evening which was a fantastic end to the day.

 

[jondear]

I posted that just over a year ago. Yesterday was the first time we had seen any sun for weeks. No sitting on the top rung of a gate this year. Far too cold. Too wet for any silaging. No song from any Willow Warbler and the Chiffchaff's stopped singing a month ago. I saw a report on TV yesterday from an American travel agent that London is no longer the top destination for a foreign holiday. Its now Cornwall! Negative thoughts were definitely winning but a bit of warmth and blue skies lifted the soul just for a day. It was such a lovely day compared to the previous weeks. My pause, listen and smile moment yesterday .. one House Martin. From 14+ pairs last year to nothing this year until yesterday. Such joy over one bird! I'm definitely loosing it!

We haven't seen any House Martins at all lots of swallows .But a few appeared yesterday . Lovely to hear them .

 

[uztrac]

I have not seen any swallows so far this year,nor martins or swifts.Cuckoo was around about 6 weeks ago.
Everything seems very late this year.

 

[glasshouse]

Its 1816

 

[Campbell]

Suddenly like the jungle these last few days, constant bird song a fledglings crashing around all day long....

 

[Forkdriver]

Suddenly like the jungle these last few days, constant bird song a fledglings crashing around all day long....

Ruining the peace of the country.

 

[glow worm]

I was really envious of my OH a few weeks ago when he heard our 1st Cuckoo for years .. and then I started to wonder .. really? why?! When you think of their nesting habits, they are no better than a magpie really!!