Life coming, Life going

It seems a long time since we planted the seed that led to tonight’s dinner

The salad we planted today should be ready a bit more quickly

We have some new arrivals

Hatched two days ago, ten chicks from fourteen eggs is a good brood. This one almost made it

struggling for over a day before it gave up.

A more mysterious fatality was this Red legged Partridge

which we found in one of the duck pools, where it may have been some time. This is not a species we have ever seen round here so whether it had been dropped from a great height or arrived by other means is a puzzle.

Another first today is visual evidence of possible nesting intentions – for the first time in this box which we have had up for several years

Some other glimpses of developing life

Ready, steady, sow

As the light fades this evening, a blackbird commands its territory

Its that time of year for everyone from ducks

to water boatmen (and boatwomen?)

Encouraging noises have been heard from the vicinity of the owl box

and the frogs’ heads start is showing progress

The potting shed has been fettled

soil is being prepared

and seeds are on the go

The poultry have been enjoying some chickweed

Some other Springings:

Turning the corner

There may still be snow on the hills

but after an interminable time of rain and wind the skies are clearing

and light of an unfamiliar hue is allowed through

The lambs have to adjust, having previously thought they had been born to an aquatic species

As our eyes lift, no longer blurred by drips, we see new growth all around

The frogs have expanded their breeding ground into the polytunnel

and the Thrush is on territorial sentry duty

As the day ends this moon makes its first appearance

and we hope the imminent equinox will truly take us into Spring.

New Life

It has been windy

but new life continues

and grows

and blossoms

Getting closer

It has been very wet… and rather chilly…and a bit grey…

…time to zoom in a bit a look a little more closely.

The willow flowers are doing their silky thing

and then opening out into a mass of yellow anthers

Hazel catkins look a bit more spiky up close

Inside a hellebore

and who is living in this daffodil?

Only just noticed this blossom has started

Love in the Lake

Down in the Lake things are moving

heads are surfacing

limbs are stretched

and the chase is on

Once round the reeds

and down to business

Soon the shallows are filling up

But the next morning there is evidence of casualties in the night

These provide a good game of chase for the hens

and swallowing challenges for the ducks

We decide to use an infrared camera overnight to see who is attracted to this tender fare.

The frog eyes show up bright under the camera light

First visitor of the night:

Later, number two arrives

and then the third diner

Thankfully frogs seem to work on a theory of superabundance in their breeding so as to take their place in food chains seriously.

March brings breezes loud and shrill…

As Sara Coleridge observed:

March brings breezes loud and shrill,
Stirs the dancing daffodil.

Bit more than a breeze today

Birds needed to be quick to catch the feeders

Although the new “small bird” feeder, stuck firmly to the kitchen window, was well patronised

And as for the daffodils – not so much stirred as laid prostrate

Only at low levels could normal activity carry on