Linda Watson, click
here to update your pages on AuthorsDen.
Blogs by Linda Watson
No swallows at Low Arvie 9/13/2010 1:33:34 AM
Hi
The swallows have left us and everywhere is very quiet after three months of chatter chatter on the roof and the velux windows. That means that autumn is well and truly with us. Only last week I saw the last batch of fledgings leave the nest and the parents were desperately trying to fatten them up for their long flight. I hope they make it. We had six or seven nests this year around the farm and I counted at least fifty birds gathering for their migration. Now we have to face the winter before we see them back at Low Arvie.
One night last week, I was woken by a family of Tawny Owls outside the bedroom window. One on the roof, one on the cattle shed and two on the wall. I guess it was the parents and two babies just out of the nest. They were calling and calling to each other for about two hours. I could only make out their shapes in the darkness but it was quite thrilling to think that they were born here on the farm, although I couldn't find the nesting place.
I haven't seen the Barn Owl for a week or two and I have only ever seen one, so I am not sure what's happening with him (or her).
So now we are left with a few chaffinches, the robins and the tits (blue, great and coal)- they remain faithful through the winter and Richard will start feeding them soon.
Today he is going to fetch the bull ready to make our next year's calves. I am not sure who he will be - maybe a German Galloway. We have to be careful to check out the genetics, so that we don't in-breed with our Ladies.
We have had no more calves yet. The weather has been good for two weeks and I was hoping to get a few of the calves while it was warm, but the forecast is for rain and wind for the next week. However they are hardy creatures, even when first born, so they should be fine.
