Month: May 2008

Categories
webcams

There are four new photographs on the Photo page starting…

There are four new photographs on the Photo page, starting from number six. Nearly out of photographs.

My tulips, planted over the last two years….Anjela Connecticut.

This may be blurred if it is no good just scrap it.This was mother bird sitting back on the nest at 9.00am.Note the feet at the top of the picture,it is bigger than the chick. Lindsay.

Cygnet and Swan from Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset. Lisa, Eastleigh, Hants.

The River Thames, from the Thames path near Abingdon. CH.

Sorry no Diary tonight as we are trying to get the new Valley camera set up with the computer.

Elsie If I remember I will put the Sheep on tomorrow. When we have Holiday Guests the wire that we use for the Sheep we use so the our Guests are able to watch the webcams in the Cottages.

OUR HOLIDAY COTTAGES NOW HAVE INTERNET CONNECTIONS.

Categories
webcams

There are four new photographs on the Photo page starting…

There are four new photographs on the Photo page, starting from number one. Nearly out of photographs.

A perfect winter sky in November, near Oban.There was the most horrendous storm the day after.You could hardly stand up! Lindsay.

The Woodpecker…..Anjela. Connecticut.

I had NEVER seen a starling in our garden! On Friday evening, Chris looked out and saw a couple on the patio. Yesterday, however, there was a mini invasion of at least 12!! They took over the place! Even the local Robin was looking somewhat shocked, and he is usually quite aggressive towards visitors! I’d put out some meal worms – some dry and some rehydrated on a plate of water and within moments they’d all disappeared! It was quite amazing to watch! They were gathering up maybe six at a time in their beaks! So I put out some more, on the patio and on the bird table along with a scattering of birdseed. And they came back to scoff the lot!! I’ll just have to see whether they stay around! Julia.

Red squirrel on the Isle of Wight. Lisa, Eastleigh, Hants.

Last year Ewy would just hang around with Breeze when they were in the Horse field. When we put the Mares and Foals in the field she has been getting very close to them. Since putting Willow and Gypsy in the field last night, she has started to latch onto them as well, this evening when we fed the Fillies in the field Ewy tried to eat their feed with them.

It seems that Emmi is going to be the leader in the field until we introduce Breeze. She wont allow Willow and Gypsy to close to Lady and the Foals, she lunges at them with her ears laid back on her head every time she thinks that they are to close. It wont be to long for the Fillies to get close to the Foal, and for them to run with them for part of the time. Willow has a few scrapes to her chest where she fell over yesterday when we turned them out into the Horse field. I should think that she did hurt herself, but she seem fine today.

The Goslings are getting a little to independent. They are going off on their own to the annoyance of the Goose who has to follow them, if they are not careful the Fox will get them. We took the battery off of the electric fencer to recharge it, to make sure that the fencer would give a good shock if the Fox decided to try to get through it. Whilst it was on charge It looked as if the Goose and the Gosling may have got through it, as they were grazing on the outside on the left hand side of the fenced area. I don’t think that they had walked around the Lake to be where they were, if they did and they do it at night they will definitely get had by the Fox.

Categories
webcams

I thought he was a beauty Somebody s prize bull…

I thought he was a beauty.Somebody’s prize bull!.He was near Sumburgh Head in the Shetland islands. Lindsay.

My favourite squirrel. Anjela,Connecticut.

Here are a couiple of photos I took the other evening. Until two days ago, I had NEVER seen a starling in our garden! On Friday evening, Chris looked out and saw a couple on the patio. Yesterday, however, there was a mini invasion of at least 12!! They took over the place! Even the local Robin was looking somewhat shocked, and he is usually quite aggressive towards visitors! I’d put out some meal worms – some dry and some rehydrated on a plate of water and within moments they’d all disappeared! It was quite amazing to watch! They were gathering up maybe six at a time in their beaks! So I put out some more, on the patio and on the bird table along with a scattering of birdseed. And they came back to scoff the lot!! I’ll just have to see whether they stay around! Julia.

Cygnets at Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset. Lisa, Eastleigh, Hants.

My Penny Farthing Planter that my Son and Daughter -in-law bought me for Christmas. Quite a talking point. Elsie.

We let the two Fillies Willow and Gypsy out into the main Horse field this afternoon. As usual with the young Horses it was like a rodeo with the pair of them bucking, tossing and generally going mad with the excitement of going out into the field after being in for the Winter. Racing about both Fillies slipped over. We saw Gypsy and it wasn’t a bad fall, but Willow went down in one of the hollows in the field and we didn’t see how she fell. From the distance that we were away from Willow, and the way we could see her head and legs rolling about, just over the top of the hollow, it looked as if she had seriously hurt herself. After over a couple of minutes she got up and the two of them started going around the field at full speed again. They eventually came back to the gate. Willow started to flail her legs out in front of her and lifting her head as if she was in a lot of discomfort. She also had a nettle rash over a lot of her body. For getting for over an hour Willow looked in a lot of discomfort. We checked her over and there was no signs of any injury. She has started to show less sign of the discomfort she had been experiencing and it could well be that it was the nettle rash that was causing the problem. She is now grazing with Gypsy and we will put Breeze and Arnie out with the Fillies at about 8.pm. I should think that Breeze will start herding the Fillies around, but they are quick enough to keep out of her way.

Touch wood the Goose and Gosling have managing to stay alive. Of a night time they spend a lot of time on the water, the Gosling staying very close to the Goose as if they are expecting danger. It could be that the Fox is on the prowl and the Goose knows it. The electric fenced off area that we have put on the near bank seems to be helping. That side of the Lake poses the worst danger area, as Fox are able to get very close to the lake in the bushes. On the far side of the Lake the stream gives a lot of protection, and with the gates we have put at right hand end, it hopefully will give the Goose and Goslings the time to get in to the water before they are attacked. The Magpies still are a danger during the daytime.

The USA Osprey webcam is working again. Unfortunately the nest is higher than where the Osprey chicks can be seen. I should think that there are chicks in the nest as the adults were sitting on the eggs before the Locks Ospreys. The Peter in Delaware had left the webcam working whilst he was away on Holiday for a week, but by all accounts there was a Hurricane in the Indian River Bay area whilst he was away. The Hurricane caused a power cut that made the computer to go off.

Categories
webcams

There are five new photographs on the Photo page starting…

There are five new photographs on the Photo page, starting from number six.

We thought she looked a bit unusual. Lindsay.

Ducks in a pond in Connecticut. Anjela Connecticut.

The grannys bonnets are in my garden. Barbara.

The first is my dog , Pepper, enjoying an ice cream. PM.

Newstead Abbey. Nottinghamshire. Judy.

Sonny went to his new home this morning. We don’t like parting with any of our Horses. In Sonny’s case it was that we got him to be a companion pony for Smuggler until we had the time to break him. We really needed to break Smuggler last year, but although Sonny was a very well put together Dartmoor pony, and that we were also giving him away free, no one except for the people who took him today had made any inquiries for him. We believe that he has gone to a good home. The two children that Sonny is for came when he was collected, they were very keen on Sonny and they do have other Horses so he wont be on his own. Mind you we would not have let him go to any one unless Sonny had a companion. The people who have taken Sonny will need to have him gelded, that will cost in the region of two hundred pounds, and of course they will need to break him, so they will be putting a commitment into him.

Both Smuggler and Sonny knew something was happening that they did not like, as they started to call to each other as we were loading Sonny into the Horse trailer. It was quite easy getting him into the trailer, and it would not have caused him a lot of stress. We managed to get him to follow a feed bucket and within fifteen minutes he was in the box. He kicked the side of the Horse trailer once the back was closed. Both Horses then started to call to each other more. It is sad and we do feel sorry for them. They have been together for four years, since they were both about nine months old. When we got Sonny he was only days away from going to be slaughtered. A lot of moors ponies do finish up this way, as there are very few homes for them. Some years the ponies bring very little money in the pony sales straight from the moors. Many bringing little more than a pound or two each. At least Sonny was saved from that fate and is now going on to a new life. Both Smuggler and Sonny will miss each other for a while. We have taken Smuggler from the top paddock in to the stable yard that Breeze and Arnie are kept. He has been calling for Sonny all day, but will settle quickly once he get use to his new stable friends.

We put Lady and Emmi and their Foals into the Horse field this morning. They both seemed very pleased to be together. There was no squabbling and they stayed close to each other all day. Within a few days the Foals will start to play and run with each other.

Categories
webcams

There are five new photographs on the Photo page starting…

There are five new photographs on the Photo page, starting from number six.

We thought she looked a bit unusual. Lindsay.

Ducks in a pond in Connecticut. Anjela Connecticut.

The grannys bonnets are in my garden. Barbara.

The first is my dog , Pepper, enjoying an ice cream. PM.

Newstead Abbey. Nottinghamshire. Judy.

Sonny went to his new home this morning. We don’t like parting with any of our Horses. In Sonny’s case it was that we got him to be a companion pony for Smuggler until we had the time to break him. We really needed to break Smuggler last year, but although Sonny was a very well put together Dartmoor pony, and that we were also giving him away free, no one except for the people who took him today had made any inquiries for him. We believe that he has gone to a good home. The two children that Sonny is for came when he was collected, they were very keen on Sonny and they do have other Horses so he wont be on his own. Mind you we would not have let him go to any one unless Sonny had a companion. The people who have taken Sonny will need to have him gelded, that will cost in the region of two hundred pounds, and of course they will need to break him, so they will be putting a commitment into him.

Both Smuggler and Sonny knew something was happening that they did not like, as they started to call to each other as we were loading Sonny into the Horse trailer. It was quite easy getting him into the trailer, and it would not have caused him a lot of stress. We managed to get him to follow a feed bucket and within fifteen minutes he was in the box. He kicked the side of the Horse trailer once the back was closed. Both Horses then started to call to each other more. It is sad and we do feel sorry for them. They have been together for four years, since they were both about nine months old. When we got Sonny he was only days away from going to be slaughtered. A lot of moors ponies do finish up this way, as there are very few homes for them. Some years the ponies bring very little money in the pony sales straight from the moors. Many bringing little more than a pound or two each. At least Sonny was saved from that fate and is now going on to a new life. Both Smuggler and Sonny will miss each other for a while. We have taken Smuggler from the top paddock in to the stable yard that Breeze and Arnie are kept. He has been calling for Sonny all day, but will settle quickly once he get use to his new stable friends.

We put Lady and Emmi and their Foals into the Horse field this morning. They both seemed very pleased to be together. There was no squabbling and they stayed close to each other all day. Within a few days the Foals will start to play and run with each other.

Categories
webcams

There are five new photographs on the Photo page starting…

There are five new photographs on the Photo page, starting from number one. Getting short again.

Kevin one of our Holiday guests from last week is a keen amateur Photographer. I told you of his new wildlife photography website www.kevswildlifephotos.co.uk a couple of nights ago. He sent through a number of photographs this afternoon, that he had taken on the Farm. to put on the Photo page. I thought tonight you would like to see five of his photographs on the Photo page.

The Gosling when there were three. Kevin

One of the apple tree in Denbury Farm Orchard. We have never seen so much blossom on one tree as this. If they all of the blossom grow into apples I reckon the tree will collapse. Kevin.

The Goose and the three Goslings. Kevin.

Thornton playing football. Cardiff could have done with him today. Kevin.

Lady and her new Foal. Kevin.

Some time tomorrow morning we are going to put Emmi and Lady out together with their Foals in the Horse field. Putting two Mares out together for the first time with their Foals can some times invite trouble so we will need to watch that there is not an argument between the two Mares. When we put them out we will have the webcam on, so that you can see them.

Although there are Swallows starting to nest in the barns that I have installed the webcams in I think that they are using nest in different places. I will trey to find the time to move them tomorrow.

Categories
webcams

Newstead Abbey Nottinghamshire Judy We thought she looked a bit…

Newstead Abbey. Nottinghamshire. Judy.

We thought she looked a bit unusual. Lindsay.

Ducks in a pond in Connecticut. Anjela Connecticut.

The first is my dog , Pepper, enjoying an ice cream. PM./

The grannys bonnets are in my garden. Barbara.

Categories
webcams

There are five new photographs on the Photo page starting…

There are five new photographs on the Photo page, starting from number eleven. Getting short again.

Butterfly in my garden in Connecticut. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. Anjela Connecticut.

Mallard ducklings,there were 10 for her to look after. Lindsay.

Feeding the Robins in the lane near my house! PM.

Photo of one of three bearded dragons that belong to my boyfriend. Vicky. Derby.

Newstead Abbey. Nottinghamshire. Judy.

One of our Holiday Guests was watching the Geese on their live webcam monitors that we have installed in our cottages, when a Fox nearly had the Goose last night. By all accounts it was only inches away. Although he went to the lake to make sure that the Fox had gone, it may have returned to take the Gosling that was missing this morning. The Fox may not have been responsible, but with the help of our holiday guest we electric fenced around the area on the near side bank that Goose and Goslings lay out on. We could well be putting the danger in another area, but it seems to be the most dangerous part for the Goose and the Gosling, as other than a small leet, that would be easy for the Fox to cross there is no protection. On the far bank there is a five to six foot drop into a stream making it a less dangerous area. I am not convinced that it was a Fox that took the Gosling last night. It could have been a Magpie. What ever it was, it will try to take the two remaining Goslings and the Goose.

We have found a new home for Sonny our companion pony for Smuggler. We have been trying to re home him for quite a while. We have had a number of enquiries for him, but we had to make sure that he was going to the right home. Sonny is going to a family in Devon who have two young children and two more ponies. So hopefully we have let him go to the right people. We need to break Smuggler as a riding horse and he will need to come down from the paddock in to the stable area. Although both Smuggler and Sonny have been well looked after, being in the paddock away from the stable area they have been deprived of attention. Both really like to have a fuss made of them. The family taking Sonny will be able to break him themselves and it is good for both the family and Sonny to get use to each other.

Categories
webcams

There are five new photographs on the Photo page starting…

There are five new photographs on the Photo page, starting from number six. Getting short againg.

These are the two birds I spotted near the airport – possibly Grouse? Julia.

This bird the rose- breasted grosbeak- is a very rare visitor to my feeder. I have seen it twice in my 15 years of living on the east coast of America. It arrives for about 20 minutes and is
very placid- Then feeds and flies away. Anjela Connecticut.

This tulip was called Ivory Floradale.I thought it was rather nice. Lindsay.

This is a photo of a Aberdeen Angus taken near Ripley in Derbyshire. Vicky, Derby.

Peacock. Judy.

One of our Holiday guests has been playing football. Unless you had seen it with your own eyes you would not have believed what you were seeing. His opponent was Thornton. Thornton pushes the ball along with his head and seems to enjoy every moment. We have not played with balls with him, so he must have picked it up from Tass and Kye when they were playing with the ball. The Holiday Guest took a photograph of it, but he did not bring the lead with him to download the Camera. He will email it to me when he gets home.

After Thornton’s morning feed he waits by the Farm House kitchen door to go out around to visit the Lambs in the Sheep pen. Yesterday he stayed with them for most of the day, grazing the area close to the pen. The other Lambs and Ewes have accepted him, with the Lambs he is just one of the gang wandering and playing around the Farm. The Lambs are a pain with the garden plants, They try the taste of all of them, I think that there favorite are Pansies. Thornton leaves the gang a couple of times during the day, returning to the Farm House when his feed is due. If the door is closed he bleats and knocks at the door with his feet. No one has taught him that. If the door is ajar he will push it open and in he come as do Tass and Kye and nags at the nearest person to him to give him his bottle. After his feed out he goes to rejoin the Lambs. He always returns of a night but decides his own time. A couple of times we have gone to look for him when it is getting late of an evening. If he is ready he follows us in. If he is not he come back bleating and knocking at the door. It must have been the rain, for today he has been in and out all day. Just now he is sitting very quietly in the kitchen by the sink. You have got to see it to believe it.

Lindsay has asked what Bats she could see on the Farm. I would be pretending if I said I knew. By chance one of the Holiday guests has a gadget that tells you what they are by the noise that they make. He told me earlier what they are. If I remember correctly the Bats on the Lake are Pipistrelle, the others are Noctule. I should think that there may well be other types. The ?Farmhouse loft is full of Bats. I tried a couple of years ago to try to get them on the webcams, but we didn’t see one on the webcam. If we sit outside latish on Summer night we see the Bats coming and going from the roof.

A piece from Elsies local.

Swans cause a flap for rush-hour drivers
Comment
RUSH-hour traffic was brought to a standstill when two swans and their cygnets wandered across a busy road.

Passers-by rushed to stop cars as the six birds tried to cross the busy Claremont Road roundabout in Newcastle city centre today.

Vehicles on the sliproad for the city’s central motorway were stopped in both directions for several minutes.

advertisementThe swans were ushered in the direction of nearby Leazes Park. and once there they headed for the parks lake.

Radio producer Steve Drayton, 47, was cycling to work when he saw the swans.

“I saw the traffic backed up in all directions. At first I thought there had been an accident then I saw the swans,” he said.

“They were being ushered across the road by two ladies from the roundabout where it seems they had roosted for the night.

“But they were heading for a slip road so I jumped off my bike and helped steer them back towards the park.”

Categories
webcams

There are five new photographs on the Photo page starting…

There are five new photographs on the Photo page, starting from number one.

Photo of nesting Herons at Attenborough Nature Reserve in Nottinghamshire. Vicky, Derby

Wild Turkeys(really strange looking birds) in Anjela.

The white shrub is outside my window, in my neighbours garden. Barbara.

Tulip beds at the tulip mania festival. Lindsay.

Gardens At Newstead Abbey. Judy.

We put Lady and her Foal into the Horse field for the days. It was important for Lady to start moving after her having the stitches. She had a few canters around the field that caused her to discharge fluids from the stitched area. In the stable the Foal seems a little subdued, in the field he soon got out of that and cantered keeping up with Lady. I put the webcam on so hopefully some of you managed to see them.

I missed seeing the Fox around the Lake last night, but I managed to see the couple of entries on the Forum about it. I could not see the Goose or the Gosling when I panned the camera around the Lake so we went to the Lake to take a look. We soon saw the Goose. I should think that the Fox did have a go at her as she was in the middle of the Lake with the Goslings motionless. I checked on them one evening last week, before we had started to feed them. They were on the bank of the Lake. I got very close to them before they got into the water. If it was a Fox looking for dinner for sure the Goose would have been killed. The problem would be that the Goslings would not have known any better, and they would have followed the Goose.

We have started to put the wire in place for the new valley camera. The distance from the Farm House to the camera is over 300m. Putting it up through trees and a good 50m along the pathway that the Badgers use to get from one part of the sett to another is very painful with the bramble and nettles. I am hoping that it will work with the wiring that we have put in as it differs from what we usually use. Once the new camera is up and running it will hopefully be a lot better than what we have installed at the moment. Focusing the camera when following the Deer is quite difficult and a bit hit and miss. The new camera has like the other cameras, has automatic focus.

One of this weeks Holiday guests has been helping to run the wire. He is a keen amateur photographer with his own website www.kevswildlifephotos.co.uk check it out there are some good photographs on the site.