Starting from number one there are five new photographs on the Photo page from Lynne.
We are doing a lot of underground drainage work on the Farm for the next couple of days and will be working quite late into the night. So until Thursday we wont be able to put any new photographs on the Photo page or do a Diary.
SWAN AT THE WELSH WILDLIFE CENTRE
GOOSE AT THE WELSH WILDLIFE CENTRE
SWANS AT THE WELSH WILDLIFE CENTRE
POND SKATER
ORCHIDS
LYNNE
Starting from number one there are five new photographs on the Photo page from Lindsay. There will be five from Lynne tomorrow.
Glen Coe,the Highlands of Scotland. Lindsay.
Rannoch Moor one of the most inhospitable and dangerous places in the Highlands of Scotland. Lindsay.
Going off to catch the fish.Mallaig harbour,North West Scotland. Lindsay.
The Butt of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides North West Scotland. Lindsay.
The atmosphere was so clean the rocks were covered in these lovely lichens.The Butt of Lewis. Lindsay.
We are still finding it hard to believe that there are Geese back on the Lake. We have been thinking of where they may have nested. For sure it was the pair of Geese that were back and forward on the Lake while the first pair were incubating their eggs. There is no where that they could have nested without being in as much, if not more danger than the first pair of Geese. the first pair had the refuge of the Lake if they thought that they were in danger.
Last night we tried to make the Lake safer than it was for the Geese. We put up a gate on the far bank on the left hand side. Where we put the two gates on the far bank on the right hand side to try to protect the first Geese, we have put up another gate next to them leaning against the post that the camera is installed on, it is going into the Lake for about three feet. On the nearside we have electric fenced a large area as we did with the first pair. To get to the Geese a Fox would have to climb over gates, get a shock from the electric fencer or go into the Lake. All options will make some noise that would hopefully make the Geese take refuge on the Lake, that is of course if it is a Fox. Other than sitting up all night with them, there is nothing else we can do, and I am not into that one.
On our way to Minehead there are a pair of Geese with seven Goslings. They are about ten feet from a busy road with a supermarket opposite. They are living on a stream no larger than ours. The Gosling had hatched before our first pair, up to a couple of days ago all have survived.
A joke sent in by Elsie.
It is hard to find a joke today without a dirty word or two in it, but here is one:
Two tall trees, a birch and a beech, are growing in the woods.
A small tree begins to grow between them, and the beech says to the birch,
“Is that a son of a beech or a son of a birch?”
The birch says he cannot tell.
Just then a woodpecker lands on the sapling.
The birch says, “Woodpecker, you are a tree expert.
Can you tell whether that is a son of a beech or a son of a birch?”
The woodpecker takes a taste of the small tree.
He replies, “It is neither a son of a beech nor a son of a birch.
It is, however, the best piece of ash I have ever put my pecker in.”
Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on the Photo page from Vicky. There will be five from Lynne tomorrow.
Sheep eating the fresh cut grass at Denbury. Vicky.
Deer in the valley at Denbury. Vicky.
Ewy and the Lambs when she came down to outside the Denbury. Vicky.
Head of the Peacock at Denbury. Vicky.
Ewy and the Lambs when she came down to outside the cottages at Denbury. Vicky.
I should think that anyone who has seen the Goslings on the Lake must as been as, well I really don’t know what words to use, shocked, surprised, flabbergasted I really cant believe it, there has got to be some other explanation. Going by the size I can see on the webcam they look the same Goslings that went missing, and for sure the nearest Lake to the Farm is well over a mile away.
This morning one of our Holiday guest told us that the Goose had returned. I went to feed her this afternoon at about 2.pm. There was no sign of any other Geese or Goslings on the Lake. After I had returned to the Farm House there was an almighty commotion as a Goose attempted to land in the Farm Yard, it was being chased away by a number of Doves. It is starting to sound bizarre to me, and I am here. Thinking that it was the Goose and she was flying towards the Lake I turned the Lake webcam on to watch her landing. I left my private view of the Lake on, and pair of Geese came into view, and then two Goslings came into view, I then put the webcams on and on the near Lake webcam I saw another Gosling. I returned to the Lake. When I saw the Goslings close up it was obvious by the slightly smaller size than those that went missing.
Where this new family has come from I have no idea, other than it is the other pair of Geese that were coming and going as the first pair were incubating their eggs. They must have nested very close by. What ever it would not have been very far away, maybe in the small pond next to the large Lake, and they had stayed well hidden, but surly we would have seen them. There were a number of our Holiday Guest fishing the Lake last week, they didn’t say they had seen any Geese. The only other place that they may have nested is in our fields across the lane, at the end of our drive. The Stream passes in those fields, the grass is very high in the first one, they could have stayed well hidden there.
We only removed the electric fencing two days ago. We will put it back up and take other measures to try to protect them and do all we can to try to keep them from being taken as the last family were, but I don’t think that they will survive, what ever we do.
A pair of Tufted Duck have also come on to the lake. They have been here for three days. One of the Moorhens doesn’t seem best pleased to have them as company. I hope he doesn’t frighten them away.
Starting from number six there are five new photographs on the Photo page from Lindsay. There will be five from Vicky tomorrow.
A Fulmar on a nest amongst the Sea Pink at Dunnet Head,on the Isle of Lewis in the Hebrides.Scotland. Lindsay.
Sea Pink grows all over the high cliffs on Dunnet Head,Isle of Lewis. Lindsay.
These beaches were beautiful and so clean.Isle of Lewis,Hebrides,Northern Scotland. Lindsay.
These sheep were well fleeced.No comments Robin!!Perhaps the fleece was used in the Harris Tweed.? Lindsay.
He was keeping an eye on me!He had a good set of horns which I wouldn’t have liked to have been on the other end of!! Lindsay.
Starting from number onethere are five new photographs on the Photo page from Lynne. There will be five from Lindsay tomorrow.
A FRIEND OF A FRIEND HAS A FARM WITH HORSES AND ALPACAS WE TOOK THESE WHEN WE VISITED LAST WEEK. LYNNE.
We have had to move the Bird feeders today to try to stop the Squirrels from using them. The amount of Squirrels using the feeders this year has got out of control. There has been as many as five Squirrels at a time on the feeders and the Birds are not getting a chance of feeding on them. Both feeders are now on poles with Squirrel guards on them, but a couple of the Squirrels have managed to get on to the feeders by climbing up one pole and jumping across on to the top of the guard on the other pole. Earlier this week one of our Holiday Guests had seen ten Squirrel at once along the track where the feeders are placed. That is to many. There are also Squirrels using the Bird feeders around the Lake. Soon after moving the feeders we noticed more species of Birds using them. We will put a Squirrel feeder in another place and show them on the webcams, it may even make me start the Squirrel obstacle course that I have been promising for ever. It will be some thing to see at the end of the Summer.
Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on the Photo page from David. There will be five from Lynne tomorrow.
Baby camel that was born in march of this year at Cricket st Thomas wildlife park. David.
Barn owl taken at Cricket St Thomas during a falconry display. David.
Lady and her foal. David.
Emmi and sox. David.
Baby lemur being carried by its mum taken in lemur wood at Cricket St Thomas. David.
Starting from number six there are five new photographs on the Photo page. There will be five from Vicky tomorrow.
2 x Moth in the kitchen. Kev.
Here’s a picture with a difference, the eye of a fly. Kev.
Just remembered that I promised to send you this pic of one we caught at Denbury. Carol.
CHEEKY SQUIRRELS. THE ONE PEEKING OUT IS IN MY DRESSING GOWN POCKET. LYNNE.
Peter has moved the USA Osprey camera today. It is not in the best position that it could be and he will need to move it again in the next week or so. The house in the background belongs to his neighbour, I am not sure that they would be to happy. But at least we can now see the chicks.
I spoke to the person who looks after the Turtles on the US Virgin Islands this afternoon. Permission will be needed from US Fisheries and Wildlife Services who control the area, for the cameras to be installed. The person that I spoke to is keen about the idea, so we will have to wait and see. As you can see from the new paper report below that I got from the Internet, a camera at the location would be a good security measure, as well as letting the world see the Turtles in real life. When I spoke top Michael who we are doing the under water camera with, he told me that those involved below could well be looking at a 15 year prison sentence.
Six men charged with killing sea turtle on St. Croix
By CHRISTINE LETT
Saturday, May 24th 2008
ST. CROIX – Six Estate Whim men were arraigned in V.I. Superior Court on Friday for killing a hawksbill turtle on the south shore of the island late Thursday.
About 11:20 p.m. Thursday, police arrested; Joseph Cornelius, 37, Paul Aldrick, 24, William Dominic, 37, Ustus Harry, 35, Vibert George, 34, and Vibert George, 20. The men were each charged with harming, taking and possessing a federally protected marine sea turtle. Bail for each was set at $1,000.
According to Police Department and Planning and Natural Resources Department’s enforcement officers, the six men were driving along the south shore Thursday night when police officers spotted them. Officers initially suspected of them being immigrants entering the island illegally, according to DPNR spokesman Jamal Nielsen.
Nielsen said that when the officers approached the truck they saw the spiny lobster and 100-pound hawksbill turtle. The turtle had been speared through the head and neck and strangled with a rope.
Veterinarian Dr. Bethany Bradford and visiting students from the University of Georgia conducted an animal autopsy that determined the turtle was a healthy male close to 50 years old.
Police also spotted five lobsters – four of them juvenile lobsters – that also had been speared.
According to DPNR’s Environmental Enforcement Director Carlos Farchette the six men face a local fine of up to $400 for each juvenile spiny lobster that was speared. For the killing the hawksbill turtle, they each face up to $600 in fines and up to one year in prison.
The men likely will face federal charges for harming an endangered species. Farchette said a NOAA Fisheries representative is expected on island next week to assist with the investigation.
Federal crimes for harming endangered species carry stiffer penalties.
Claudia Lombard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologist, said the men could each face up to $250,000 in fines and up to a year in prison.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife is one of the leading government agencies working to protect the endangered sea turtles that migrate and nest in the Virgin Islands. The goal is that someday the turtle population will grow to the point that they are no longer considered endangered.
Three of the seven species of turtles nest here – the hawksbill, green and leatherback turtle, Lombard said. Sea turtles are not only protected in the U.S. and its territories, through the federal Endangered Species Act, but globally as well, she said.
In the Virgin Islands, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, DPNR, the National Park Service and several non-government agencies have established ongoing programs throughout the territory to protect adult turtles, turtle eggs and hatchlings from threats such as poaching and predation.
“In order for the Virgin Islands to do its part in protecting turtles, we have to abide by the law,” Lombard said.
Starting from number one there are five new photographs on the Photo page, all sent in by Lynne..
CARVED WOODEN SQUIRREL AT PICTON CASTLE. LYNNE.
BEE ON CRAB APPLE BLOSSOM. LYNNE.
FUNGI ON A TREE STUMP (THE BOTTOM ONE LOOKS LIKE A SNAKES HEAD). LYNNE.
ELLIE AFTER A SWIM. LYNNE.
CENARTH FALLS. LYNNE.
One of the two nesting Swallows that we have the cameras on must have hatched yesterday by the way that the parent birds are feeding them today. I shouldn’t think that the eggs in the other nest wont be long from hatching. As for the Robin she hardly sits on the nest at all. I cant imagine that her eggs will hatch. I hope that I am wrong.
I spoke to Peter in Delaware this afternoon, he hopes to move the USA Osprey camera higher tomorrow so the we can see into the nest. He told me that their are two chicks in the nest. If all goes to plan we shall be able to see inside the nest tomorrow. We are going to send Peter a pan tilt and zoom camera, the type we use on the Farm and other locations that you see the cameras move. With the camera he hopes to be able to show more of the wildlife that there is around Indian River Bay. The name Indian River Bay does get my mind working overtime. The new camera will be sent to him within the month.
I also managed to speak to Michael in the Virgin Islands this afternoon. A permit is needed to put a camera into the sea. The people who issue the permits are helping Michael in the application, and can see no objections to it. We are having a new camera fitted into the under water enclosure that will go into infra red mode as it get darker. It should prolong the time that we will be able to see the sea life as it gets darker.
Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on the Photo page, all sent in by Vicky. There will be five from Lynne tomorrow.
Badger taken at Denbury. Vicky.
Peacock at Denbury. Vicky.
Badgers taken at Denbury. Vicky.
Willow and Gypsy at the horse field gate. Vicky.
Great Spotted Woodpecker at Denbury. Vicky.
All the Horses are now in the main Horse field to run together, other than Breeze who has been put in an electric fenced area in the field until we believe that the Mares and Breeze will get on together. We know as Emmi is new to the herd, and has never run with all of the Horse, that when we let Breeze out of the fenced area there will be a bit of running around and bickering to sort out the pecking order. Those now running together have all settled down with each other. Emmi is making sure that Willow and Gypsy are keeping their distance from the Foals. In a short time Emmi will allow them to get nearer and the Foals will want to be with the younger Fillies.
As the weather has warmed up we have started to leave all of the Horses out of a night bringing them in for a short time in the mornings and evenings for their feed. Now that they are being left out they let us know when they are ready to go back out. They also know what time we are meant to bring them in as most times they are waiting at the gate. We would hope for them to be out until the Autumn, only bringing them in if the weather is continuously bad. With the Horses being out we don’t have to muck out the stables very often, that really does make a change.
The Robin nesting outside of our kitchen door doesn’t seem to be sitting on her eggs as much as she should. I don’t think that it is us going in and out of the Farm House that is disturbing her or she would not have chosen the place to nest in the first place.