Wednesday 8 June 2011

Today's walk.




In between our fields is a field which belongs to a racehorse trainer; you can see the field in my header at the top of the blog - it is thick with buttercups and our cattle are looking over the fence into it. I reported yesterday that a brood mare and her foal had arrived to spend the Summer there but that they were a very aloof pair.

Well, walking past the field today we were delighted when she came across to investigate, bringing the foal with her. Needless to say the foal was just too timid but if you look at the close-up photograph carefully you will see him just peeping out from behind his mother. It is lovely to be so close to such a beautiful animal and I now have high hopes of making a friendship with her over the summer.

Lower down the same field (a fenced-off footpath leads along the bottom of the field) a sparrow hawk rose off as we approached. I took a photograph of the remains of some poor unfortunate bird - no doubt the raptor will be back to finish off his meal. The farmer couldn't identify it from that distance - we just hoped it wasn't one of the many half-grown lapwings and oyster catchers which are scurrying about at the sides of the fields at the moment. Now that the fields have been cut for silage there isn't so much cover for these young birds and still the parents fly up and down in front of us as we walk round, trying to distract us and to lead us away from their young. There is so much drama going on out there underneath our noses.

On the farm Goldie, my sitting hen, is really sitting tight - low down on the nest and quite unmoving when I open the door to change her water and fill her feed tray. Today is exactly half way through incubation time, so I am beginning to have high hopes of a succesful outcome.

We have just had a short heavy shower of rain but not enough to do any good - we are desperately short here in the East and the drought goes on day after day.

16 comments:

Heather said...

I am watching the weather map and willing rain to come your way Pat. That mare is such a lovely animal and looks quite happy in her new surroundings. Those feathers look very grey in your photo - hopefully the prey was a woodpigeon and not something more rare.

Rachel Phillips said...

East? Yes, well, um. We always call Yorkshire north.

Where you went on your hols is east. And I can tell you it is dry...

Heather said...

I forgot to say that I love the thought of Goldie sitting on a clutch of eggs, and do hope she hatches a nice little brood for you.

Crafty Green Poet said...

I hope you make firm friends with the horses over the summer!

Wishing you plenty of rain. We're getting a lot of quite heavy showers at the moment, but whether that's enough I don't know, as it has been quite dry here too this spring and early summer, though not as bad as where you are

angryparsnip said...

How wonderful that she moseyed over to see you but a field of Buttercups would make me happy and friendly too !
Love Love Love.... the little one peeking around his Mum !

Wonderful walk,

cheers, parsnip

izzy said...

What lovely photo's! and great neighbors-
My cats leave parts of bodies strewn around, sometimes I find things out further that must be raptor work.

FireLight said...

Love the horses! And yes, our nature friends do live dramtic lives compared to our own. I am always cheering for my little backyard gang of birds, chipmunks, suirrels, rabbits, etc. There are a few ominous owls and hawks out there, not to mention the neighborhood cats.
Best of luck with Goldie & with some much needed rain!

Thank you for stopping by my blog. (I left a reply to your recent comment there.)

ChrisJ said...

You are such a good walker. But you do have some beautiful enticements to get you going. I love that photo of the cows looking over the fence! The feather looked to me like a wood pigeon, but not really close enough to say for sure. Enjoy your EAST Yorkshire. I've just finished reading South Riding again. She is such a fantastic writer. I do believe I've met Yorkshire people who are in that book!

Frances said...

Thank you from this city dweller, for a marvelous view of a young foal and its mom, and also letting your visitors know that there might be some little chicks being photographed soon.

I have seen some wonderful photos this week of other newly hatched beautiful bits of fluff on legs. Looking forward to seeing what might be shown here soon.

Best wishes.

Pondside said...

A walk past a mare and foal is a special sort of walk. We had a pair near us last spring and I used to love visiting them.

Cloudia said...

Lovely country-




Aloha from Waikiki :)

Comfort Spiral

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Hildred said...

It's always nice to have horses close by, - the ones over the fence from us in the bottom pasture are not nearly so elegant, but very friendly ranch horses. Would love to send you some of our rain!

The Weaver of Grass said...

This business of North or East has been interesting - thanks for the comments - I shall try to elaborate in another post today.

steven said...

weaver i love the small horse's face peaking out from behind its mum. steven

Lori at Jarvis House said...

Thanks for the lovely walk through your meadow. My daughter lives in Virginia and has a similar view, rolling meadows and pastures. How lucky for you both. Cheers Lori fromthe Jarvis House on Long Island, NY

John Going Gently said...

love the new header