We have all settled down after the excitement of The Big Show - going about our daily duties and the oldest cockerels and pullets are studying hard for their final exams at Poole Tree College. We have promised them that they can go for another Big Day out just before Christmas - if they work hard and try their best. It seems to be a good incentive as they are diligently reading and making notes late into the afternoon. It seems to be getting dark so early - sometimes around half past two on a rainy day - but we are nearing the shortest day and then things will start to improve! If somewhat slowly at first. The Oak trees have shed almost all of their leaves over the last ten days - leaving only the younger trees and saplings with any on at all. At first they provided a lovely thick brown carpet and Honey loved to gallop through them and toss them in the air. But after the recent rain they are soggy and Dad had to rake the ones in our yard yesterday before he could get his Leaf-Blower to pick them up.
The well-chewed Fox Toy!
The old pond is starting to fill up from the rainwater that has drained off the fields and the berries of the Holly and the Hips and the Haws are still providing a meal for Mr and Mrs Blackbird, Robbie Robin and their friends. The Fox makes his visit regularly and each morning Mum puts his Toy on the top of the bank by the path to Wattlebury School and sure enough next day it is always re-arranged. We have seen him playing with it and he throws it in the air and pounces and rolls around in a world of his own.
Every morning Mum puts it back for Mr Fox
We aren't actually sure which Fox will settle on Wattlebury Down yet and which one will go up to Wattlebury Cottage. They are trying to establish their territories and later this month will be looking to find a mate to settle down with.
After all the visitors and babies and noise of the summer it seems all seems very quiet and we get to know the remaining animals quite well. And we can see them now the trees are bare - we can see the Roe Deer grazing in the field with Lois and we can count the jackdaws sitting high in their trees - and even clearly see Mrs Jenny Wren weaving amongst the black and spikey hedgerow. The Ivy is quite magnificent though and amongst the flowers the green berries are forming. These berries will turn a beautiful dark-purple colour when they are ripe and the greedy Mistle-Thrush will gobble them up when the other berries have all been eaten or have fallen. The flowers of the Ivy provide a rich supply of honey to winter moths and those brave insects which have survived past the autumn. In fact it has been so mild that we are still seeing tiny flies and insects hanging around our yard. Neddie and Seagoon delight in springing as high as they can to try and catch them. Gordon and Sylvia xxx
After all the visitors and babies and noise of the summer it seems all seems very quiet and we get to know the remaining animals quite well. And we can see them now the trees are bare - we can see the Roe Deer grazing in the field with Lois and we can count the jackdaws sitting high in their trees - and even clearly see Mrs Jenny Wren weaving amongst the black and spikey hedgerow. The Ivy is quite magnificent though and amongst the flowers the green berries are forming. These berries will turn a beautiful dark-purple colour when they are ripe and the greedy Mistle-Thrush will gobble them up when the other berries have all been eaten or have fallen. The flowers of the Ivy provide a rich supply of honey to winter moths and those brave insects which have survived past the autumn. In fact it has been so mild that we are still seeing tiny flies and insects hanging around our yard. Neddie and Seagoon delight in springing as high as they can to try and catch them. Gordon and Sylvia xxx