A wildlife extravaganza!

Our friend Ron came up last week and we all went out for some great walks and watched any amount of wildlife. We were strolling in the valley following Nutscale Water towards Chetsford Water and saw a couple of herds of hinds really close by in the heather. A cuckoo was really shouting and we were able to watch it several times flying on ahead of us sometimes being chased by a small song bird. Further on there was a duck with her brood of beautiful ducklings bobbing along in the water – the first brood I have seen this year.

The population of birds has exploded up here. When we sit in the conservatory, sometimes a pair of beautifully coloured goldfinches come and start to feed on the grubs on the grass and they have now started to appear with their young. Ron saw a brood of bullfinches out in the lane and the house martins have started to re-build their nest on the house. The sparrows are continuing to do their dive bombing stunts in and out of the veranda as they bring food for their increasingly hungry family. Julie and Lori who are staying at Horner campsite have told us that when they take the puppies for a walk in the evening the swallows will dive in between them and the pups as they disturb all the insects.

Lucy has embraced her new independence of being able to drive with gusto! The proud owner of a little Peugeot 206, she is now able to take her friends out and about and go off by herself without having to ask to be taken everywhere. It has bought her such freedom (and I have got my car back)!

When Derek sold Bally he said that he wouldn’t bother getting another horse as one was enough…… well if he did it would have to be at least 12 years old, a middleweight who has seen it all. Within 2 months he is the owner of a 6year old throughbred ex-racehorse called Rupert (this could be something to do with Lucy’s influence however)! Never talk to me about women changing their minds more than men as it’s just not true! He is an absolute sweetie (Rupert I mean) who has settled in well and is already part of the family.

The landscape photo is taken from our neighbours’ field looking down through the Avill valley towards Timberscombe and the Channel