Fridays Fauna (and a fishy tale).

This morning when we looked out of the window into the field at the rear this is what we saw.

 The left hand side of the field has been ploughed, but the vast majority of said field remains with barley stubble.

The deer head off to the woodland.


I have mentioned before the big dips in the field.  One of which has filled with water and created an enormous pond.

So we now have ducks!  I did see the farmer some days ago marching round and hands on  hips and shaking his head as he examined this pond.  You really cannot win against nature!  Bit less barley this year, but hey, he can always shoot the ducks.

The hare doesn't mind what is underneath his feet.

And a trout beneath the Ospreys feet.  The DP has been asked to try and find where the Osprey is getting its trout from.  The male was seen eating a pike (!)  Above is the female.


We will not be telling anyone where the nest is.


Just have to tell you a funny story, well I thought it was.  Many years ago when I was living at home with M and D.  D who ran a garage, petrol and repairs, was often given stuff.  One day he was given a pike.  Freshly caught.  Mother sniffed and said "Put it on the floor."  So he did, laid on I seem to remember, The Barnsley Chronicle.
Mother continued preparing her speciality,  savoury mince, which was basically mince and peas swimming valiantly against a tide of very watery gravy.  As she stepped over the pike to dish up it jumped up and bit her.  (We managed to ditch the mince without anyone noticing.)  (Altho I did consider giving it to the pike as a reward.)

In sickness and in health.

Our new woodland.

Eight Silver Birch and one Rowan.  These were purchased at Howford Farm, Strichen.  This is a plant and tree centre run by my friends Moira and Gammack.  They also run a training centre for adults with special needs.


This bridge is a listed building, possibly Roman.  The farm has a wonderful setting by the River Ugie.

Every year, since its inception, The Rotary Club of Central Buchan holds its duck race at Howford.

Here are the ducks being launched.

And on their way.


As you can see it was not a very nice day, but I didnt care, I was in the barn with a wood burning fire and a bottle of red.  The DP reckons to be an ace photographer, so let him get on with it!


Also, delivered today, courtesy of B&Q our new shed.  This is a very kind thought from the DP, and is to house the garden tools which currently are in MY shed and I fall over regularly, that is over the garden fork and spade etc.  Not from any red wine, of course.

Unfortunately the trees and the shed are to sit there for a while.  The DP has a sore throat, and I have YET ANOTHER B***** chest infection.

However he can still manage his dawn patrol, and met this hare.  He also managed to collect my antibiotics.  Tho he probably infected me in the first place, so fair dos.