A Delicate Matter………

I found out a month or so ago that our Muscovy ducks employ a method of reproduction that we humans may consider “conventional”. Almost unique, they are among only three percent of avians that do not use the “Coital Kiss” when mating.

Every morning our drake Boris likes to ahem, attend to his ducks and this morning was no exception.  After completing his duties he was seen strolling across the orchard in a self appreciating manner, his ample appendage trailing behind him. He remained in his revere until one of the hens got her eye one of the biggest worms she had ever seen…….

Well, my eyes were watering, Boris was running too quickly for me to see his!!

 

Dandelion

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A boring, common as muck dandelion in the fleeting sunshine this morning. Add a little sparkle from the tumbling burn behind and a here we are, just a little more interesting…….

Doris Duck

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Spring is Springing!

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Spring has finally sprung up here in Darkest Northumberland. Well it is the first day of Summer after all……

Waskerley Reservoir, North Durham Moors.

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I had a quick visit to the osteopath in Durham this afternoon to have some running repairs. Durham was wonderful as ever.

On the way home I took a detour onto the North Durham moors to see the last of the snow. It is years since I drove along the road from Castleside on the A68 to Edmudbyres Cross, the highest point of the road to Weardale. Wild and unforgiving countryside, I had almost forgotten how beautiful it is up there. When we were kids we used to come up here for picnics in the ancient Ford Anglia, “LTY 459″‘ (three gears and no synchromesh, but a big metal sun-visor!)  Incidently we drove up to the Ardnumurchan Peninsular in that car, it only took twelve hours…..!!

This is Waskerley Reservoir where along with Hishope and Smiddy Shaw reservoirs, we used to play and paddle before the Health and Safety zealots got involved….

The Proud Mum!

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Anyone can be a Vet Student!

Lauren has just finished a couple of weeks of lambing placement at a local farm and will occasionally break her embargo on photographs of herself if she is accompanied by one of her newborn charges.

Right of Way?

I was looking at some pictures yesterday, taken at the end of January when we had our last decent fall of snow up here in Northumberland.  Among them was this photo that Hilary took of Jack and Colin the Cream Legbar cockerel having a tense moment over who had right of way along one of the pathways dug into the deep snow in the garden.

After a brief standoff, they both made a dash for it!

And order was restored……

Winter Blues, in Spring?

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I have lost count of the number of times I have passed these trees just up the road from the cottage and thought that there was a good picture to be had.

I have tried on many occasions and taken a few ok shots but a last minute dash the mile drive away after doing the animals, a tricky walk over the snow covered brash in the recently felled forest and bingo , got it!

North Road, Slaley

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I drove home from the cottage the “long way round”, the countryside is so different in the snow.

These fields, more or less abandoned in the autumn due to the very wet ground conditions looked so stark in the thinning snow and heavy sky. I hope we have a dry spell of weather soon or the local farmers are going to have a rough year.

Duck-duck

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Duck-duck is thoroughly enjoying the sun this morning after yesterdays snow and freezing temperatures.