Freefall gooseander-lings

This gooseander (left hand middle of the photo) hatched out her brood in the gutter of the farmhouse roof...30ft up.
First we knew of it was a loud quacking.
She was in the field, calling her brood together.
We'd no idea where they'd all come from until we talked to a friend. He said gooseanders make their nests above ground. Further investigation - and we spotted the nest high up. Definitely above ground.
These tiny gooseander-lings had freefallen the 30ft to the ground, bounced, got up on their webbed feet and scuttled to their mother. Amazing.
PS - the sheep and lambs wanted their photo taking too...
Cobden Farm B and B website

Nest building

Guess what are building a nest high up in the barn wall?
The pile of twigs dropped on the yard must be too big for the gap...


which is just the right size for a pair of jackdaws.



Cobden Farm B and B website

Our swallows have returned today. Hurray. And only 1 day later than last year. This year, 3 have appeared at the same time (only 2 paused long enough for this photo). Usually there's a lone arrival, with the rest landing later over a few days. We usually end up with 3 or 4 pairs nesting in the farm buildings.
Cobden Farm B and B website

First daffodil of 2010 bloomed on March 22. Two years ago, the first blooms were out on January 31...




Cobden Farm B and B website

New born lamb hunts for milk

My mum's giving me a real good licking...


It's about time I stood up for the first time...


Finally, I'm on my feet. I can smell
milk. Now where is it?

Cobden Farm B and B website

Mums-to-be

Ladies-in-waiting...they're due to start lambing this week.








Cobden Farm B and B website

March 2nd and a pair of marauding gooseanders landed on the pond. They're after the trout that the heron hasn't taken. Our Goose-y is trying to ignore them. And the moorhen (a tiny black blob at the pond's right) is waiting to attack them if they dare get near her nest.

Cobden Farm B and B website