Invasion

Our bees are under attack

We set up a decoy

which draws some of the fire…
…and also attracts other callers

brought out by a warmer day than of late.
She moves on to enjoy the last flowers of the white buddleia behind the Lake

to be joined by a Painted Lady

Over the Lake itself

a late calling Dragonfly

and a new Damselfly – the Emerald

These have been doing well recently

The scything of the Meadow has started

– should be finished by Christmas.

At the moment the cut grass is going to the pigs where today Bert and Dinah have been whispering sweet nothings through their chink

Down in the wood the hydrangea is coming on

An official harvest from today

and also a bit of foraging

which ends up in a jelly

(The ghost of a hare here echoes a real live one seen on the uplands this morning)

A Day of Movements

First thing this morning this Newt moved into the birds’ water

so we moved her down to the Lake

Cagney and her brood

Moved in with Yum-Yum

and the other two Little Maids

The Cayugas moved down to the Broccoli patch

– just for the day, to deal with the slugs

We moved everything out of the Wood Shed

to make room for wood.

The Guinea Pigs winter quarters were prepared

for their move back and the Chicks, who had been living there, moved out into the Guineas’ old lawn-mower

Our largest cared-for Hedgehog was given the opportunity to move on

and the Winter Hoggery was prepared for any who might need to move in

The Mysteries of Zea Mays

Dinner tonight

Chicken Pie with our own Tarragon, Leeks

and…

Sweet Corn

On a whim, earlier in the year, we bought a tray of “mini” Sweet Corn plants.

We thought mini meant the size of the plant but when they hit the roof of the polytunnel

we realised that was not the case.

Mini corn meant that the ears needed to be harvested while small. So today we did

Dinner tonight will not include this

which we found secreting itself at the edge of a polytunnel

It might not quite be a candidate for the heaviest marrow at the show on Saturday

but it will make a meal.

Suggestions for next year

We marked our card

and went down to The Institute

to register our intent to lay our beans on the table (and tomatoes, and courgettes)

Feeling this occasion lacked the opportunity for us to exhibit all our wonders, we were able to suggest to The Committee some classes for inclusion next year:

Ducks most able to plot an escape

Duck with most exciting face

Bonniest Duckling

Most Translucent Pea

Duck with Ducklings At Foot

Chilliest Pepper

Most Exciting Aubergine

Bonniest Boar

Most Handsome Squash

Most Unusual Wines

Duck Eggs

Elder Flower Champagne

Chicks with the Featherest Feet

Moth and Nasturtium

Jerusalem Artichokes

Plums

Drop Of Water in An Interesting Place

Citrus Fruit

A Pair Of Pears

Best Fed Caterpillar

Welsh French Beans

Sharing the Bounty

It is a good job we have neighbours who can share our daily crop of runners

They will probably help us with these too

These are for the birds

But these are for us

Through the Bedroom Window…

We don’t need to read this to know things are different now.

We can remember buddleias covered in Red Admirals, Tortoiseshells and Peacocks.

Now, as we look through the bedroom window, we see lots of Whites – Large and Small

and are happy to share the nasturtiums with their caterpillars

So today we are happy just to see

One Peacock

One Tortoiseshell

and one Painted Lady

Plenty

Some of today’s pickings

Multiple accommodation units and visiting predators

The number of animal runs requiring daily attention seems to be increasing by the day.

Cagney and her two (! – and one is not even hers) chicks have a protected run within the lower poultry zone

They are not lonely as James, the other ducks, and the hens too all come by for a chat.

Nearby the Three Little Maids are making themselves at home behind the Buzzard Proof Fence

The five incubator hatchlings now have a day house outside

using the Guinea Pig run vacated when those occupants moved in here

Both cared for hedgehogs are thriving and now have runs outside

We set up the night camera last night to see if the badger was still visiting…

He was.

Plus early morning brought this visitor

looking around for her breakfast

This run might be very temporary

One of the Cayugas had been disappearing into the bushes and last night stayed in there. Investigation showed a clutch of fifteen eggs which she was attempting to sit on. Today we retrieved the eggs and set up this home – although unsure which duck was responsible for a while we tested two of them (it was a bit like the Judgement of Solomon) However, come bed time, neither was very interested so we are thinking of calling the whole thing off.

New arrivals

We travel over the hills to the delightful world of Trees and Bees to collect some young Muscovies

who make themselves at home behind the Buzzard Proof Fence.

Checking the defences

and inspecting the accommodation

Jessie enjoyed her first day out but needs recovery time with her new rawhide chew

Meanwhile in polytunnel Zenith

Plus:

The Buzzard Proof Fence

A few hundred yards across the valley is the Buzzards’ home. We love to hear their mewing and see them in the sky. Not so pleased when they visit the poultry – last week one was on the ground in their run.

The hens can spot them coming

and Cagney’s (non-identical) twins are safe behind bars

But with the imminent arrival of more young ducks, protection is needed

During construction Jessie keeps the ducks in order

Meanwhile the blackberries are here