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Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

Three photographs of the work being done on the Stream bank.

Black Squirrel finding his nuts in mid winter BETTY CANADA

Our snowdrops do really come up in the snow, from our garden Feb.09 BETTY CANADA

I have put 3 photographs of the work being done on the Stream to stop the erosion. You may be able to work out the problem we have. The baskets that you can see are a metre high, a metre wide and two metres long. The are six baskets on the bottom row covering just over twelve metres and two on the top row. They are now filled with over 34 tonne of stone. The baskets will hold the bank from falling any further in the spot where the problem is the greatest. Through the rest of the length of the stream, about ninety metres there are over three hundred 2.4 metre post that are going to be driven into the stream bed. Behind the posts a very strong metal netting will be placed behind them. This will stop any more erosion. To hide the structure Willow will be planted. The Willow roots will bind all of the soil to give the bank strength.

The Swans are still getting on well together and the injured Swan is still looking well. The new Swan is not in quite the good condition as our Swans are. It is probably because our Swans where hatched at the Wildlife Park and were free as near as they would have been in the Wild and would have eaten naturally. The new Swan came from a small Wildfowl breeding centre and would have been fed a certain times through the day. He will soon change.

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Starting from number one there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number one there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

JUST A FEW FLOWERS PICTURES. LYNNE.

The rain hasn’t helped the workmen doing the Lake. Once again the Met Office got it wrong. For the past four days I have been coping their forecast from their website and also the local weather. I am sure that I don’t need to tell you that over the past four days they got the forecast correct on one day. Yesterday the local forecast on the web was sunshine and cloud. It said the same this morning until about 10am when it told us that we were in for heavy rain. It had already been pouring down for two hours. Despite the rain the stream bed has been levelled and the bottom layer of baskets that will hold the stone are in place.

As long as all goes to plan the new Cob Swan will be collected tomorrow. To save it any stress we will probably let it straight onto the Lake when it gets here. I may just decide to let the resident Swans get use to it for an hour as the top layer of basket for the stone are not going in the Stream until Wednesday. They measure 2m x 1m x 1m large enough for the new Swan to go into for a short period as long as it does not get stressed.

Reading up on Black Swans last night, it told that Black Swan are the only Swans that will live with others amicably during the breeding period. That may just make me decide to keep the two pairs.

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There are photographs but I have just finished work and…

There are photographs but I have just finished work and have not had the time to alter the size of them to put up. If you know how re-size photographs we need them to be 640×480. Some of you may.

TOMORROW I WILL BE FEEDING THE BADGERS AT 8.20pm.

Work starts tomorrow on supporting the stream bank to stop the erosion that is risking the Lake from finishing up in the Stream. At the end of last year we had a so called experienced erosion expert look at the problem. Fortunately we did not use them the sort the problem out as what they identified as being the problem was not. The problem that was wrongly identified was erosion by the stream at the bottom of the bank. The problem we have is the weight of the soil at the top of the bank that is exaggerated when we have heavy rain over a prolonged period, as we did in July. It is causing the top of the bank to collapse causing large parts of the bank from top to bottom fall away. The walkway in between the Lake and the Stream is narrowing so we have got to do the work as soon as we can. So it will be started tomorrow.

There is a stretch of over 25m that has to be supported with metal baskets up to 2m high filled with stone. It will need about 40 tonne of stone. It will need the top of the baskets to the top of the bank and back filled with soil. Another 90m of the stream will be staked about every 30cm. Behind the stakes there will be heavy galvanized netting. That to will be back filled with soil. Willow will be put in the soil next spring to let a willow bank form. We then need to hope that it will solve our problem.

This afternoon when we walked around the Pond next to the Lake. Tass and Kye found the scent of where an Otter had entered the Pond. They also found the bone of an Eel that the Otter had caught in the Pond. It is an easy food source for the Otter and I will need to electric fence the Pond as I have the Lake as there are Large Fish in the Pond. What also has concerned me is that inside the fenced Lake area we noticed a path where something had entered the Lake. It may be the Swans although I have not seen them use that place. I have altered the infra-red lamp to light the area and I will record the webcams so that if there is anything in the area using the path we will know what it is. It will be on webcam three after the Badgers. Let me know on the Forum if you see any thing.

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Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

Last year I discovered to my delight a hole in my lawn where some bees had set up home underground Jordan, was in his glory. I tried to get some good shots but couldn’t manage it for love nor money. But I came across this one today whilst looking through my photos. Its pretty clear for me. Karen Stoke.

When we lived in Bath, just a short distance from our pub was The Cross Bath. Every year, a duck (called Gertrude, I think) would return to raise her brood – here are some pictures I took at the time. Incidentally, when they were planning to “update” the whole Roman Bath complex, there was a netting placed over the Cross Bath to prevent the ducks from getting in. This did not deter “Gertrude” who managed, with the help of the WWF, to raise one last brood before the reconstruction could take place.
Julia.

Broad Bodied Chaser Dragonfly. Bob.

We have lost the first Gosling from on the Lake. Last night before I went to bed I went as I do every night to check to make sure that the Electric fencer was on and working. It was not on. On walking around the Lake I could only see five Geese. Being so dark I could not see what they were. I checked around a wide area for over an hour as there was a possibility that now that the Goslings are practicing flying the missing may have flown from the fenced area. On checking the electric fencing there was no sign that any predator had come through the fencing. A good indicator would be that the wire would be loose, none was. On my way back to the Farm House close to the Lake I heard a large splash from the stream that runs along the length of the stream, the Lake is fenced from the stream to stop any thing from getting to the Lake from the stream. I could see nothing in the stream when I searched with my torch.

My first job this morning even before feeding the Horses was to see what Geese were on the Lake. I found the Gander and five Goslings. Just after 9.30am I went to the Lake again and found out from one of our Holiday Guests who was fishing that the Goose had flown back onto the Lake at about half an hour before. I have checked around all the areas where a Fox or Otter may have taken its prey but have found no signs of the missing Gosling. I would have expected to have found some feathers.

I really don’t know what has happened to the Gosling. There are a number of scenario’s. one with the fencer not being on an Otter has got into the Lake area and escaped with the Gosling along the stream. A Fox may have jumped the wire and taken the Gosling. The Gosling may have flown over the wire and been taken by a predator or may even be lost.

If the Gosling has been taken by a predator I have myself to blame. I believe that I put the electric fence on when I last left the Lake. I rarely forget, but it is a possibility yesterday as I was back and forward showing those of our new holiday Guests who were here to fish how to turn the electric fencer on and off that I turned the switch the wrong way. I don’t believe that any of our guests went to the Lake after me as the rain was quite heavy.

My guess would be that an Otter got under the lower wire. An Otter would have touched the wire but as the fencer was off it would have taken no notice. Whilst taking the Gosling the Otter would have frightened the Goose who flew away. And of course I heard a heavy splash from something in the stream. There is a slim chance that the Gosling flew off and the Goose followed. It is just a guessing game. But for sure if it was me I wont do it again.

Our Goose with the stitches is doing well. She is having a little difficulty getting about in he pillow case, but it is stopping her from pecking at the injury.

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Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

There are no more photographs for tomorrows Photo Page.

Never seen a red frog before this one was uncovered this weekend while trying to sort my back garden sue.

The Geese on the lawn.

First venture in to the Stream.

A little more confident.

Odd looking creepy crawly sent in by Elsie.

The Geese were very wary about going into the Stream. They waited by the side with little enthusiasm. Finally I coaxed them in but that didn’t set them alive. I waited for half an hour to make sure that they were OK and went in for a cup of coffee leaving one of our Holiday Guest who volunteered to keep an eye on them. Twenty minutes later the rather concerned Holiday Guest was at the Farm House door trying to explain that she had also gone in doors for a cup of tea and on checking that the Geese were alright had found that they had got out of the Stream and one was missing.

We searched around for ten to fifteen minutes expecting to find one had got over the Sheep netting and was in one of the Fields but it was no where to be seen. It was in my mind that this was the first one that the Fox had got when we heard a honking from the Stream. The missing Goose was tangled in the Sheep netting and was unable to get out of the Stream with the others. She was well and truly tangle up where she had been struggling. Eventually I freed her, but she was a bit weak, very wet and unable to climb the bank so I carried her to the lawn. She soon dried out and looks none the worse for her ordeal. Harriet felt a little guilty for not watching them. I told her it was just unfortunate and that the Geese cant have a baby sitter for the rest of their life.

What seems to have happened was that one of the Ganders had been trying to mate with her, whilst trying to get away she had got caught in the netting. The Geese didn’t go back into the Stream. They are not use to being able to get in to water.

Whilst the Geese were out on the lawn yesterday we tidied up their Stable and found eight eggs. Ali together we have had fourteen eggs from them since we have had them. There are three in the incubator that are fertile so they have been a good purchase.

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Starting from number six there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number six there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

ALL TOOK AT RUFFORD COUNTRY PARK. LYNNE.

We let eight of our Geese out yesterday. It would have been the first time that they had ever had the chance to graze. To our surprise it wasn’t that difficult to get them out of the stable that they have been kept in since we got them a couple of weeks back. We put them onto the lawn area by the Holiday Cottages where it was easy to fence them in with sheep netting. They looked lost and didn’t really know what to do at first, but soon realised that the grass was what we had been cutting and giving them over the time that they have been here. The lawn is a large area and I don’t think that they could believe that they had all that freedom. The lawn is by the side of the Stream. This part of the Stream had been widened and made a bit deeper by previous owner of the Farm. This afternoon we have fenced off an area on the other side of the Stream so that the Geese can go into the water tomorrow. Getting the Geese back into the Stable of a night was also a lot easier that we had thought, it was just a case of walking behind them. If they strayed slightly, a little movement to our left or right put them in the right direction. That was until Thornton decided that he would help tonight. He is normally out with the Sheep until a little later, so we were taken by surprise when he turned up as we were getting the Geese in. The Geese were a little surprised too and went in the opposite direction that we were sending them. After chasing Thornton off the Geese soon went the right way.

Elsie, the Male Gander is still on the Lake. He disappeared a couple of times during the day. (May be he is playing away) but is always on the Lake at night.

Michael the SWT IT person was up at the Fall of the Clyde today. It was his intention to get the Peregrine Falcon webcam working, but unfortunately there was a problem. It may have been a faulty part that I sent. I posted a new party today, so with a bit of luck the webcam should be going next week.

We have managed to find a Sponsor for our egg hatching webcam. Some years ago a Veterinary who did an inspection for the suitability of our facilities for Ostriches, now runs a Incubation Sales business. Banbury Cross Incubators. By chance I found the business and recognised his name. He is going to supply us with a hatcher and various other bits that we need. He is a working Veterinary and has suggested that we may be able to broadcast operations from his Surgery. I will look into it over the next week and let you know more. The Veterinary still works with Ratites (Ostriches, Emu and Rhea) so we may be able to get an egg or two from those species.

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Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

Attached are a few photos from Cornwall for your website.

A couple of beach scenes from Polly Joke,

a calf spotted on Cubert

Common and a couple of spring flowers to complete the set. Sue Ogilvie

The Barn Owl Nest Box webcam was turned on today. Just before 5.30pm I saw that the Owls were mating, so it should not be long before we see an egg.

The camera that we have supplied is a colour/ mono camera that if there is sufficient light should go into colour mode. I think you will all agree the picture quality is far better than that of last year. A microphone has also been put into the nest box. As soon as time can be found the Trust hope to get it going.

The main Stream that meanders its way through the Farm, also runs very close to the side of the Lake. In places little more than eight foot apart. Unfortunately the past few wet years has caused the Stream to run faster and harder than normal, causing quite a lot of erosion. It would not be so bad but the stream runs at the bottom of a six foot bank with the top of the bank being level to the water line of the Lake, so the erosion has to be stopped.

We had an extortionate quote on stopping the erosion at the end of last year. It made me think that there must be an alternative way of doing the work needed. The intention was to do it my way during the Summer. Last week we had a visitor to the Farm and we spoke about the erosion and he suggested Willow Spiling, assuring that it was a very easy procedure. It was one of the extortionate quotes, that on making inquiries from Willow Growers will cost only a fraction of what we were quoted.

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Starting from number six there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number six there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

Clumps of snowdrops, Hothfield, Kent. Jill (Epping)

Konick ponies on Hothfield Heathland. Jill (Epping)

Nuthatch on bird feeder – sorry for poor quality, taken through window! Jill (Epping)

We have a Stream or you may call it a Brook that meanders its way from one end of the Farm to the other. It has for hundreds of year if not for ever. It was one of the criteria when we were looking for a Farm property. In the Summer other than when there is very heavy rain it gently meanders it way through the Farm. In the Winter it can become a raging torrent that on one occasion the two foot wide stream became a forty metre river that came down the Valley like a monster wall, flooding all in its way including the Holiday Cottages. Fortunately it is classed by the Environmental Agency as a one in a hundred year incident.

This Winter with the heavy rain and snow there was a lot more water coming through the Farm than when we had the Flood, so the Agency were probably right and we will never see the like again. At one point the Stream goes under a country lane than that splits the Farm in two, flowing into pleasant pastures that we planted Marsh Marigolds, Flag Iris and other Water Plant along the side of the Stream. It makes a pleasant Summer walk after the hay is made. This year the heavy rain and melting snow has caused a great amount of fast water, that has brought with it a lot of river bedding of stone and sandy soil. Eventually it has caused the tunnel under the Lane to block causing the Stream to flood the lane, although not particularly deep the flood did cover a large area of the lane.

Last week we had a visit from the Council asking if they could enter the Pasture Fields to clear the river bedding and sandy soil from the tunnel to stop the flood. We inspected and agreed on the work that would be required, with last Friday or Monday gone being the day that a digger would do the necessary work. The digger never arrived so I believed that I would be told of an alternative day.

As we pass through the Farms gates we can see into the Field where the digger would be working. Although it was right in my line of sight, I truthfully did not see it as my eyes were directed to what only be could called an unsightly carbuncle a hundred yards long on the side of the Stream. I could not believe what I was seeing, there was a bank of at least a hundred yards of river bedding and sandy soil eight feet from the side of the stream and nearly a foot deep that had covered all of the plants that were starting to come above the soil. On reaching the Stream it only got worse for the digger had dug into the side of the bank making the Stream to look like a land drain that you would expect to see on a flood plain. The Stream in that Field was now a small river.

To say that my language to the digger driver was blue would be an understatement, I wanted to hurt him for the damage he had done. He told me that is what he was told to do. Even an idiot would have known he was making an environmental mess. I told his Boss when he arrived what had to be done, but as I am writing the Diary I reckon that I could well have made a mistake. Part of the river bedding and sandy soil will be put back into the Stream with the remainder being flattened on both sides. I now realise that this will stop any rain water from draining from the Field into the Stream. I will need to look at it in the morning, but on thinking this is not going to solve any problems and the Council are going to be in for a costly job to put the damage right. If it can ever be put right.

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Starting from number six there are five new photographs on…

Starting from number six there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.

After reading about Penny Chicagox3’s sighting of sandhill cranes I thought I would send in a pic of the Common Cranes that visited Dungeness when I was there back in August.

Also sending in a pic of the narrow boat I used to be the proud owner of – taken in a snowstorm -moored up near Northampton on the Grand Union Canal.

Third pic is of a Rosy Underwing moth – a very rare visitor here – and one that I was credited on the mothsofdungeness website as finding with two of the male wardens. Jill xx.

The inside of Bradford Town Hall, it is very beautiful. Elsie.

How would you like this little pony for Arnie Elsie.

I cant believe that there have been so few Deer in the Valley this year especially after having the back end of the Rutting season last year. I can only put it down to the electric fencing that was used for the Cattle that we allowed our contractor have at the far end of the Valley. The area beyond the far left hand side. I cant imagine that no Deer use the Woodland that we have just acquired. As soon as I get time I will try to fix an ordinary camera up with an infra red beam so that if any thing breaks the beam it will take a photograph. Trouble is that we are so busy at the moment I am having trouble finding any spare time.

Hopefully next year when the ground dries out I will see if there are any areas in the wood that have a good size clearing to be able to put a small Lake in. There is only one are that the stream runs through that we will be able to put a small Lake, It is close to the Valley and will encourage more Wildlife including deer to the Valley. It is also very boggy that is a good sign that there are underground springs to fill the Lake with water. It would be preferable to use springs to fill a Lake or Pond rather than a stream, as stream fed Lakes and Pond tend to fill with sediments and need for the sediment to be taken out, some times as much as the soil that was taken out to make Lake. The Lake will also help drain the boggy area in the wood.

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There are five new photographs on the Photo page starting…

There are five new photographs on the Photo page starting from number eleven sent in by Clive.

Iffley lock about 2 miles down-stream from Oxford. Clive.

Iffley lock weir stream. Clive.

Iffley Church. Clive.

Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar, this was about 3″ long, and found in the garden. Clive.

A steam ploughing engine at the 2008 Great Dorset Steam Fair. Clive.