Looking after small things

Sometimes we worry about losing track of the small things dependant on us.

Thankfully Claire has taken responsibility for some

and she is doing a grand job teaching them how to peck

(Although we of course have to take care of Claire. Today she was set up with a nursery in the woodshed as it was a bit chilly outside)

We wish we had given her more eggs rather than hedging our bets. This was the only one of hers that didn’t quite make it

In the incubator hatchee number one

is trying to coax out some company.

If it does they will need the brooder so Minor Ducklings have moved out to a shed

where they seem to be settling in

Major Ducklings also seem happy in their quarters

now that they have a day shelter.

Bees, of course, are an enigma

are they dependent on us or are we dependant on them?
We make our first inspection and are heartened to see pollen being ferried in

The colony must have orientated itself.

Meanwhile the lily moved to the Lake is trying to surface a flower

and nearby we spot a new flower in the meadow.

We will have to add it here – when we know what it is. Can you help?

Pethan eraill yn y tyddyn heddiw:

and what is happening in Colchester

Hen v Machine

Claire has been sitting here for three weeks

Well, longer actually as she had been broody for a few days before we decided to give her some eggs. We have never used a broody for hatching before. We did try a while ago but were so concerned about the hen losing condition we moved the eggs to an incubator.

Claire has sat motionless for 23 hours and 50 minutes every day, only emerging for a quick feed and comfort break.

And today, underneath her, we have

Meanwhile indoors

we also have signs of life

Watching the Bees

We have a new way to spend our time

Looking closely

as this morning we were brought ten thousand new living things to take care of

Meanwhile, because we have an incubator full of hen eggs due to hatch this week, the Lower Ducklings have to move out of the brooder and into the run previously occupied by the Upper Ducklings who, in turn, have to move in next door to the Real Ducks

They inspect their quarters

While Lucky and Unlucky, the grown up drakes next door, have a good look

—

Paucity and Plenty

Vole

and Mouse

were not impressed with the food supplies today.
Their feeder has been invaded by the sparrow community

trying pretend it is hard to satisfy all their fledglings

Meanwhile we feel the flow of Plenty

although we have to make sure inhabitants are rehoused

Hints of Plenty to come with beans in flower

and preparations continue for maybe future flowing honey

The Lake lilies are settling in

and irises are brought to join them

complete with inhabitants

A chance to test the Lake’s depth

and visit its residents

Borrowed power

A change in the weather means that the previously hot ewe

finds herself a little bit chilly in the rain

Other neighbours look in

The slight dampness leads to a four-hour regional power cut.

Not many critical needs here. Elders can be wrapped up

But three-quarters of the way through their incubation these do need power

A quick neighbourly visit brings us supplies

We relax

Lilies and Strawberries

There are three things in life which it is hard to have too many of.

Sheds. obviously, compost bins

and ponds.

Of these (so far) we have the two-foot tub, the four-foot prairie garden pool, the woodland pond and – The Lake

here seen in context at the bottom of the meadow with the pigs at the top and the beehive in waiting.

The four-foot pool currently contains enough water-lilies to fill a lake so today we moved some of them there

The recent heatwave has advanced the outdoor strawberries before their time so tonight, ahead of rain with its accompanying slug army, we harvest a few

Pethan eraill yn y tyddyn heddiw:

One day we will learn how to cook Chard but in the meantime we are happy just to look at it

Pea plants are a very individual shade of green – and it is not pea-green

Also

Peak Light, Peak Heat

The fat old sun, having swept round through 263.85 degrees during the course of the longest day,

finally decides to sink, barely three degrees short of north-west

We wash out the day’s toil

and breath in the solstice scent

While noting the fly in the…

The boldest fledgling swallow contemplates leaving the woodshed

and the sheep next door wonders if she will soon be able to shed her winter coat

We spot a different coloured damselfly

Bert has a lie down

While Bina wonders if he will ever be interested in her

Damsels not in distress

The other day we might have been so excited about this

that we were a little dismissive of these

They didn’t care as this morning the Lake was a dancefloor of happy couples

Less happy is a solitary Red Admiral

who has been mooching around for many days, even driven to seeking human company – settling on our clothes and close to our tools as we work today. As the day ends we think we glimpse a second individual plus we rejoice in two Peacocks, brought here through the post, cavorting in courtship.

Having thirty identical clean pallets is a bit like getting a meccano kit for Christmas. What shall we build?

We sketch out some compost heaps

and experiment with a wine siphoning zone

Sweet June

The heat is on and the lesser ducklings have their first outing to their outdoor paint tray

In the woodshed, up under the metal roof, the young swallows are a little warm

We open the doors to let in a little more air.

Trying to give a boost to our butterfly population we have brought in Peacock pupae and are now releasing the adults

This one heads straight for the wisteria and tucks in to the sweet nectar

We start harvesting sweetness

to make our own nectar

and complete final preparations

to collect future sweetness

Meanwhile Mrs Bumblefoot continues to survive

and silage cutting starts

Other June sweetness:

Happiness is Libellula depressa

Earlier this year we brought water to the bottom of the Meadow

Insects dutifully turned up…
Pond Skaters, Water Boatmen, Diving Beetles, and small shiny things that zoom round in circles.

Damsel flies are nice

Coenagrion puella moves in

And then today

We read “Libellula depressa is often the first dragonfly to colonise new habitats such as newly created ponds” so this is the first… others to follow?

We read “They characteristically return to a favoured perch, in the sun” and we watch as, for several hours, it repeatedly circles the water and returns to:

We read ” When a female enters a male’s territory the male will fly up and grab the female. Mating occurs on the wing and the pair are in tandem for only a brief period, often less than a minute”

He waits