The Sebright Club
  • Welcome
    • Our Committee
    • Site Map
  • In The News
  • Fact
    • A Potted History
    • More about Sir John Sebright
    • Breed Standard
    • Breeders Directory
    • Show Dates & Results >
      • 2020 Results
      • 2019 results
      • 2018 results
      • 2017 Results
      • 2016 Results
      • 2015 Results
      • 2014 Results
      • 2013 Results
      • 2012 Results
      • 2011 Results
      • 2010 Results
    • Reading Matter
    • News Articles
    • Sebrights At Home
    • Artist's Corner
  • Photos
    • Photos 2018
    • Photos 2017
    • Photos 2016
    • Photos 2015
    • Photos 2014
    • Photos 2013
    • Photos 2012
    • Photos 2011
    • The Federation 2011
    • The National 2011
    • The National & Federation 2010
  • Fiction
    • Gordon & Sylvia's Diary
    • The Red Fluffy Earmuffs
    • A Seasonal Tale
  • Fun
  • Store
  • Contact Us
    • Membership Form

Kit and Kate Kite

31/7/2015

 
Picture
Kit Kite circled over us yesterday morning
We are honoured (and a tad unnerved) to having been selected as a suitable breeding spot at Wattlebury by a pair of Red Kites. Kit Kite was a lone figure from early spring - but as he didn't leave the area, we guessed he probably had a mate close-by. Honey (the littlest hound) first alerted us to Kit as he circled over her, showing more than a little interest in her small proportions. Mr Buzz had similarly done this some years ago. Was she a weasel? Was she a long rabbit? They were both very curious. For poor Honey it was attention that she would rather not have invited!
Picture
And was soon joined by Kate Kite
Likewise, as Kit circles over the yard studying us intently, some of us freeze, some of us make a strangulated choking noise and some of us (me) bolt into the nearest open doorway. Not that I am a wimp - but from the look of those talons and beak - I am certainly not hanging around to count the feathers! Pauly Turkey, although one of our largest and plumpest, is very frightened and dives into cover as fast as her inadequate body-to-leg-ratio pins will carry her. The only person who isn't fazed by Kit is Harry the Peacock who bravely flies to the top of the stables and stays guard.
Yesterday however, Kit was joined by Kate and the two of them circled over us. Their babies should have fledged by now, but will still be relying on their parents for a steady supply of food. Suddenly out of nowhere Mr Buzz skimmed overhead followed by a mob of jackdaws and crows. Kit and Kate simply rose gracefully to a higher level and left them far below. It takes Mr Buzz a few more circles to rise that high! And the Mob lose interest at that height. Mr Buzz is a bit put out as he now has to compete for the carrion and worms and small creatures on his patch!
Gordon xxx

Picture
Mr Buzz (centre stage) tried to shoo the Kites off his patch and then the Jackdaws and Crows mobbed poor Mr Buzz!

So what's this about then Drongo?

30/7/2015

 
Curious to find out more about the three babies that Naomi is proudly running around with, I quizzed Drongo.
"So what exactly has been going on here, Drongo?" I asked.
He looked over his shoulder before replying -
Picture
"A little indiscretion, I'm afraid Gordon. A rather foolish dalliance. You won't tell Reuben, will you?"
Well, it wasn't for me to tell Reuben. But I would have thought that little Rosecombs with gold feathers was a bit of a give away.
"We call them Donna, Moira and Norman" said Drongo proudly.
Picture
And it was obvious that they were very much loved as Drongo protectively ushered them on their way -
Picture
- Reminded me of my little faux pas a while back and what characters Neddie and Seagoon turned out to be! Gordon xxx

Blek le Rat

29/7/2015

 
It is a little bit chilly this morning - at least for July - but a beautiful, bright and sunny one. That cold wind of yesterday has dropped and we are making the most of the early bugs around our little farm.
Picture
The bright sunshine sparkled on the top of the maize in the big field
Picture
Yes a beautiful morning in Wattlebury
Drongo is keeping his three babies in check. They are cheeky little fellows - they actually remind me of Neddie and Seagoon - and they scamper after Naomi Rosecomb as she scans the yard for tasty morsels and calls them insistently. Mum looked on a mission as she fed and watered us. No dithering. What was afoot?
"Today I am going to paint the living room at Wattlebury Cottage, Gordon!" she announced.
Oh dear. I had visions of orange, orange and more orange. Mum likes orange.
"Magnolia. Nice and warm and neutral."
Well, that's a relief.
"With perhaps a bit of orange by the fireplace."
Aaah. And with that Mum scurried around like Blek le Rat and with a farewell wave to us all disappeared in a matt emulsion haze. Gordon xxx

Mickey and Monica

28/7/2015

 
Mickey strode purposefully down to the yard this morning, tut-tutting as he swayed menacingly towards us.
"You must understand, Gordon, it is not you that I am cross with."
I found this slightly, but only marginally, reassuring.
"It is Monica."
Aaah. Yes, Monica is the bane of Mickey's life. She lives in the old Land Rover and waves at Mickey through the windows as he precariously dangles from the roof to watch her antics. She will insist on wiggling her whiskers at him from the safety inside. Monica does not venture out often - and is extremely careful whenever she does - as she has a plentiful supply of yummy food right on her (inside) doorstep. Richard the sheep farmer keeps his barley in there. Mum keeps peanuts and rolls and other delicacies for various creatures in there. And Mickey's food is kept in there.
"My Food Tin was left slightly ajar the other week and she snuck in and left bits of baler twine and chewed up paper in my biscuit!"
Mickey's tail swished fiercely from left to right and right to left. We watched nervously - just in case he forgot we were his friends as he relived the moment.
"But this morning! Well - look at this Gordon! Who does she think she is? And how many more Monicas are there? And I can't get into the Land Rover!"
Picture
To all intents and purposes this looks like a pristine roll
Picture
But when Mum turned it over - it had been shelled out!
Picture
Mickey stared through the front window
Picture
and there were the missing peanuts and remains of Mickey's biscuit
Picture
Mickey stared through the back window
Picture
and there were even more peanuts and remains!
Mickey looked slightly relieved now that he had vented his anger and frustration and he sat down, more calm and collected.
"We need a plan."
I was rather concerned with the 'we' bit.
"Uhm I shall give it a lot of thought, Mickey," I conceded. "Dad will be cutting logs again soon for the winter and driving the Land Rover around the fields. He could drop Monica off in a field."
"That is one possibility. I was rather thinking of something more - urm - permanent though Gordon."
I nodded in agreement so as to appease Mickey, whilst meantime feeling rather squeamish!
Gordon xxx

Good Morning Master Yaffle

25/7/2015

 
We have just had a most welcome visitor - Master Yaffle. He has a diet of ants, ants and more ants. The Green Woodpecker is quite shy normally, however after the heavy rain we had yesterday he was very bold and came to a well known ant nest in Wattlebury. The ground had just moistened enough for him to be able to dig his beak in and extract a few yummy ants.  He licked up some adult ants and their larvae with his long tongue - that apparently can wrap around to the back of his head!  He seemed a very yaffable chap - just starting to grow his red feathers on his black moustache - and we watched quietly so as not to disturb him from his foraging. But all too soon enough he bobbeddy bobbed away with his musical laugh echoing over the field. Gordon xxx
Picture
Picture

Goodbye Dear Friend

24/7/2015

 
Picture
It is with great sadness I have to break the news to you that our dear, loyal and most learned friend, Harvest the Duck, has gone to the great Library in the Sky. I have flicked back the parchment of my Diary to 26th January 2011 when we first starting writing of our family and friends - and saw that we thought Harvest was pretty ancient then! No one knows how old she was - she would never tell us - but we think she was about 16 or 17! She will be missed by everyone at Wattlebury Farm as she took us all under her wing and provided, in her own inimitable style, warmth and care and love. When we were babies, or needed looking after - Harvest was always there for everyone of us.
However, before she fell asleep - most peacefully I must say - cuddled up with Bernie the Buff and Pauly Turkey - she passed on her wisdom and Library to our three new recruits - Lucy II, Jemima II and little Josie. They will have big webbed feet to fill, but we are all confident that they will carry on Harvest's legacy with aplomb.
Let me introduce them to you:
Picture
This is Josie. She is the only baby Call Duck that we have bred this year!
Picture
She is extremely intelligent, very sweet and pretty and she is already flicking through Harvest's collection of books and studying hard
Picture
Here we have Lucy II, Jemima II and Josie. Mum and Dad's friend gave them some eggs for eating and they put them in the incubator. Out popped two beautiful Aylesburys. We could turn the clock back a few years to when we had Lucy, Jemima and Joshua. How strange!
Picture
Penny Peahen - Harry's new girlfriend - inspects the drain cover that the new recruits had been tasked with cleaning.
Picture
Work done and time for a dip. Penny looks on whilst Pauly Turkey scuttles off
Picture
But hey! What's this Drongo? I think you might have been getting a bit too friendly with Naomi Rosecomb!
Au revoir bonne amie  - La Bibliothecaire extraordinaire. We will all miss you very much. Gordon xxx

    About Us

    Hello! My name is Gordon and I am a Gold Sebright and my best friend is Sylvia. She is a Silver Sebright. We live with our foster parents on a small farm in the country.  We thought that we would put our take on life and what we get up to through the year into a diary for you. All the characters are real and the events are a true record,  interpreted with a modicum of poetic licence. We hope you enjoy it. Love Gordon and Sylvia

    You can also follow us on Facebook -
    Gordon Sebright
    or on Twitter -
    @GordonSebright
     
    or email me - Gordon@sebrightclub.
    co.uk


    Archives

    December 2018
    April 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    November 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011

Website by Gordon Sebright