Spring and summer...

From this:

to this:

Cobden Farm B and B website

The fox went out in broad daylight...

Young Mr Fox was inches away from the hens.
Just as well the chain link fence was between them or he'd've been even closer.
And in broad daylight too.
Cheeky.

Cobden Farm B and B website

Don't know who was more startled - the curlew or me.
It flew up just in front, as I walked round the field checking the sheep.
And there, lying in the grass, were...

All pointy ends of the eggs angled into the middle of the nest, just as they should.
Though my bird nesting expert says there should be four eggs...

Then the curlew came back. And the sheep wondered what was going on...

Cobden Farm B and B website

And, finally, before today's snow melts away

 So, where has all the green grass gone? Young sheep's first snow.
(The white line is the telephone wire...)

 Looking down from the breakfast conservatory to Sabden valley.

Cobden Farm B and B website

 Snow, mist and sunshine make the little birds busy...

 Longtailed tits swoop in altogether...then fly out altogether.

 Shy chaffinch decides whether to sample the food.

 Bluetit has a rest before attacking the fat balls again.

 Robin's the boss, keeping an eye on everything.

 Nuthatch samples the nuts, while the bluetit waits its turn.

Nuthatch and great tit this time.

 Finally got some photos of the timid woodpeacker...

... And another one




Cobden Farm B and B website

Autumn down the List

Lucy-dog is sniffing the air for rabbits...

...she isn't interested in the glorious Autumn view down the field we call the List

 

...neither is Gipsy, who's just sniffing for anything.

 Cobden Farm B and B website

DUCKS and DRAKES to the rescue.
Our pond was covered with a green weed for much of the summer - even though it's fed by spring water.
Throwing in a bale of barley straw was an option to get rid of the weed 'blanket'
Then a flotilla of more than 20 ducks turned up from the village lodge.
They dived in.
And tucked in.
It took them a couple of weeks to eat it all.
Thank you ducks... and drakes.

GOING...

GOING...

GONE...

Cobden Farm B and B website