warts an' all

Shep has been having quite a nature feast over recent weeks, first bats then warty things - Toads.

It's hard to believe that I've never been able to study toads spawning before now. Has to be said I was taken aback to find them doing it on 23rd May, I'd presumed they would spawn at the same time as frogs which would be earlier in the season, or mebbes they just thought they'd better have another go - I don't really know but I did appreciate the opportunity to spy on them.

 

Has to be said they seemed very big, but apparently the females are, or so I was told by a knowledgeable friend who had pointed me in the right direction, that being her garden pond.

 

Fortunately the water was clear enabling this shot of Mrs Toad and her strings of spawn under the surface.

 

They have an almost prehistoric look about them when viewed close up, the sort of creature which you wouldn't immediately class as being beautiful; fascinating may be a kind way to describe Mrs Toad.

They seemed quite chilled and unconcerned that a camera was being poked in their face, has to be said though that the Koi Carp living in the pond seemed to be swimming around with a smile on their faces......

T shirt weather

Wow! It's not often in March you find yourself stripped down to a T shirt, this year spring truly is early and if the wind dies down the heat of the sun can really be felt. Has to be said though that it pays not to leave the discarded layers too far away as should the sun go behind a cloud or the wind speed lift the temperature soon begins to chill a lightly clad body.

 

These sheep are waiting for their morning feed, except they weren't exactly waiting. Due to the kinder weather sheep are happy to rake away from troughs. They aren't just hanging around waiting to be fed, there is a bite of grass and they'd often sooner have that than hang around waiting for some cake to arrive. Having said that though they definitely don't say no when cake is offered.

 

These photos were taken a week ago, just prior to 8am, what a glorious morning, it was a real pleasure to be out there viewing the valley on such a clear morning.

The morning chorus is almost reaching a crescendo, curlew and skylark singing their hearts out, garden birds chirping away merrily, woodpeckers tapping with gusto, oystercatchers calling down by the waters edge..... a true cacophony of sound, an absolute pleasure to hear.

There has been so much to see over the past week, almost too much to take in. Ravens tumbling in the sky, red squirrels scooting and chattering in the trees, curlews flying and emitting their plaintive call.

There are goosanders, mallards, mandarin ducks on the water, dippers and wagtails also. Robins, Blackbirds and Thrushes singing their hearts out around the house.

There is one bird however which is proving elusive, a bird I saw much earlier in the winter, made acquaintance with it on a number of occasions but to date it is eluding me, the peewit (lapwing). Maybe I just haven't been concentrating sufficiently - have overlooked the poor souls, but I have to say, they don't seem to be hitting me in the face just at this moment. Their numbers have been dwindling over the years, maybe they're finding the competition from ravens and carrion crows is too much for them or there again, as already said, mebbes I've just had too much to take in and 'missed' them.

Adders have already been sighted, although not by Shep. It will be perfect conditions for them coming out of their hibernation, there is no doubt they will be basking somewhere in a sheltered spot warming their bodies with the heat of the sun.

 

Bumble bees are buzzing, even a tortoiseshell butterfly the other day flittering around the sheep pens.

 

Other things are flying around our skies, many of them. Helicopters, thankfully not the air ambulance type but the armed forces type. With two army bases near at hand there is often action in the skies, at present we are experiencing a lull from the low flying jet aircraft, rather than the scream and roar of jet engines we are getting the buzz and hum of helicopters.

 

I got my eye on this wild honeysuckle coming into leaf yesterday, a sparkly green ness in what would otherwise have appeared a 'dead' woodland. It really seems like the world is coming alive! I've even cut our garden grass, unheard of to cut it as early as this. There was not masses of growth, especially with three dogs having traipsed over it throughout the winter but once it was cut it looks so much tidier which just shows how it must have grown.

Further down the valley lambs are beginning to spring into spring. I called on a friend today and was greeted with "Have you come for a lamb?" When I replied that I hadn't they then enquired whether I would like one anyhow! Too many multiple births had found just days into their lambing that there were a number of pet lambs looking for surrogate mothers. Well I wasn't gonna be one of them, that's for sure! I don't think there are many shepherds out there who would say they like pet lambs, noisy time consuming things they are - having said that though I couldn't help but be curious and go have a peek

 

A noise not heard since last spring, one which easily gets on your wick - lambs blaaring, a choir of them in fact, all with slightly different voices, all saying the same thing - "food"!

Sheep scanning over for another year

Fog caused problems as the scanning season came to a close. There were other minor problems. Scanning on one farm had been rescheduled to accommodate a new shepherd starting his job which found Shep doing jobs arse first (wrong way round) to other years.

I had to leave the gathering out bye to gather and help at a scanning in the Rede. Under normal circumstances out bye would be gathered, scanned and sorted before Shep had to head into the Rede to do the same tasks over there. This year was different.

Moss was getting hot paws that week. I dread to think how many miles he would clock up on those four sturdy legs of his. Between the two farms there were just short of 3,000 sheep gathered forward over a total of about 10,000 acres - he was a happy if not somewhat tired fella.

We were fortunate in the Rede. Very fortunate. It was a hazy day, forever threatening to come in foggy but failing to do so and yet I was aware that it was foggy away out bye and the gathering still wasn't going as planned.

The farmer in the Rede had left all his gathering for the day prior to the scan man arriving - dodgy tactics, but ones which paid off. Luck is on your side sometimes!

Easier ground to cover than that we had been working on days previously and sheep were fit so ran in well, it was also a great help that we could see them - does help!

Two long days were put in, first day saw all sheep gathered forward and held in fields near at hand ready for the scanning man arriving on the second day. As the scan man pulled into the pens early on the second morning the sheep were also heading into the pens, it was a dry cool morning, skylarks were singing their hearts out, a pleasure to be out and about.

Swaledale sheep this time, many of them. All awaiting their turn to go through the scanning crate.

The view Moss had of the proceedings wasn't quite as grand as my view. Makes the sheep look big when you see them from the dogs angle.

Finally scanning was over, twins were shed off to remain in fields, to receive feed and lamb down near at hand, the above is a bunch of twin bearing ewes heading towards new pastures, they won't see their hill ground again until the early summer.

The final two scannings went well. Lamb numbers up on previous years, as in fact most of the scannings have been, the geld (barren)numbers probably aren't down a great deal but the twin numbers on the hill grounds are up, the grassy and mild autumn/early winter saw ewes in good fettle, let's hope that fettle continues into the lambing season.

Travelling home on dusk the sun caught my eye. It was bright red when I first noticed it but by the time I finally stopped to take a photo it was rapidly fading and disappeared just moments after I took this shot, hidden behind a foggy greyness.

LAMBS! Just days after the scanning season drew to a close I passed these lambs just a mile or two down the valley and had to screech to a halt for a shot of them - how the seasons vary!

Moor burning

At the time of writing burning has not commenced in Tarset, but it will and most probably has by the time this post is published. The forecast for the coming week is a dry one. With ground drying rapidly over the past week there will be many considering trying a burn. A moor burn.

There are many factors to bear in mind. Dry weather being one of them, but not too dry. Wind - the strength of and direction of, is another important factor to consider.

The moor burning season runs from mid October through to mid April, there are specific dates which off the top of my head I would say were the 16th but then I am probably wrong so don't quote me on that. The idea of burning being between October and April is so as not to wreak havoc with the nests and young of ground nesting birds such as Curlew, peewit, skylark and many others. The dates also prevent burning in what could be classed as the driest months of the year, or ought I say the summer months are expected to be the driest months.

There is a fair amount of heather in this area as well as course hill grass, all which benefits from being burnt. Both species regenerate, allowing fresh shoots to be enjoyed by livestock. Coarse and woody heather is of little use to many although it does offer cover for grouse as well as other wildlife.

Of course, when you burn you don't wish to burn everything in sight, that would be to the detriment of both the stock and the wildlife. Controlled burning is what is aimed for. Very important in Tarset that the burning is controlled as which ever direction you look we seem to be surrounded by forestry trees and no one would wish to see them go up in flames.

It is now necessary to inform the fire brigade (and the forestry commission if you are near the forest edge) that you intend to burn, this puts them on alert ought anything go wrong and also prevents them from scrambling when 'phone calls from motorists alert them of "moors alight". The fire brigade will not rush to douse the fire unless you call them back and request assistance. When you are content that the fires are out and you are finished for the day you notify the fire brigade that all is well, job done. Then should they get a call from a passing motorist they may well act upon it.

I was talking to a farmer tonight who informed me that the fire brigade wish to come and practice on his hill - what a lucky fella! Apparently they have an argo cat and misting device for putting out hill fires. I'm intrigued and would love to find the time to go along when they're busy, mebbes I'll be able to find time.

I have had to hunt in the archives for these photos, the above was taken in March 2010, the snow lying would act as a natural break, something to halt or slow down the face of the fire. The face of a fire is a horrendously hot place, the only way to control the fire is to beat the sides down (put them out) and head towards the face, beating it down from the outside edges as you go.

Natural breaks are used such as rivers, wide streams, very wet mossy areas. Many now use toppers behind 4wd tractors or smaller brush cutters behind quad bikes to cut the growth of grasses and heather and hopefully make a break in that manner, it has to be cut fairly fresh however or the fire may well find dry matter to run across and continue it's inferno on the other side.

A frightening place to be if you think the fire is getting out of control. Burning heather can see flames higher than yourself, if the wind picks up in strength or changes direction it can cause a great deal of trouble. The heat is unbelievable. It pays not to wear modern day fleecy clothing as that easily melts from sparks hitting it, sparks which can be blown in the wind and start another fire yards from where you are.

Many of us who have been involved with moor burning will recognise the smell of burning hair, it is not unusual to lose the hairs off the backs of your hands, although there are now very good gloves and face masks available to use which take a lot of the discomfort away from the job.

The conditions are becoming nigh on perfect for moor burning at the moment, the deciding factor will be the wind, how strong it is and from what direction it is coming for some. We will wait and see how much smoke rises this coming week.

Still alive!

It would appear some are missing the musings of Shep. Well I ain't snuffed it, not been on holiday either, nowt exciting other than I've been busy. So this is just a quick posting to allay any fears that I may have gone AWOL (or worse).

The saying goes "no peace for the wicked" and believe you me, I have often asked my mother why I was born wicked!

Having just downloaded pictures off the camera which seem to go back a week or two I can see that I have been busy - taking photos if nowt else!

Much has happened, but most importantly the days are pulling out, it is light by 6.30am and up to 6.30pm. I awaken to the call of the curlew these mornings, a grand sound which marks the beginnings of springtime. The peewits (lapwings) are gracing us with their company and the skylarks have been going ballistic for weeks now, they are such a cheer to hear out on the hill.

Believe it or not but the snowdrops are now well past their best, crocuses are passing over too with the daffodils budding up well and soon to show their spring cheer.

Puddles and wet holes have been filling rapidly and not due to rain water either, in fact the ground is still drying. A fairly dry spell has been the order of the day for some time now, windy and colder weather of late is speeding up the drying process, mind you, there is still much drying to go...............

yup! The frogs have been busy, in their usual place and at the usual time, there were some days the water was absolutely boiling with their activity, I passed them one day and had never seen so many frogs legs sticking out of the water at once, some sort of wild froggy orgy no doubt, unfortunately time did not allow me to stop and snap the sight for you all, it is however stored in my mind and still gives me cause to smile!

Scannings are finally over for another year, horn burning, pre lambing innoculating, dosing, hopefully some stone walling are all on the agenda for the following three weeks before I head off lambing. I just can't wait to get away into those borders, see them cheviots again and have 6 weeks of peace and quiet, the way the time has been flying lately it won't be long before my wish is granted.

Caterpillars in February?

Monday 5th February was a cold one. The wee bit of snow we'd had over the weekend could still be seen thanks to the frosts experienced during the nights. It was only a wee bit of snow though, nothing to get excited about. Driving with caution was the order of the day due to that f word again - Frost (what other f word were you thinking of?).

We had actually only had a minus of two degrees during the night, quite a warm one considering just a couple of days previous it had been -10. Was still a crispy day though.

Whilst out on the hill I spotted a hairy hubert, a name I have been brought up with for hairy caterpillars.

Quite a large hairy hubert it was, lying stretched out in the sunshine. It seemed strange to see a caterpillar on such a cold, frosty morning, away out on the hill. I couldn't help but disturb the beast, just to check it was indeed alive and not frozen to the spot.

I may add I got a bit of bracken stalk to poke it with, having been warned that these hairy caterpillars may 'sting' or cause an irritation to the skin, a fact I do not know whether true or false as I've never picked one up to find out, wiser to follow advice given years ago me thinks!

As seen by the above photo it was indeed alive, it very kindly curled up into a ball to confirm the fact to me. I then decided it would be kinder to leave it in peace.

I've been googling and have concluded this is the larva of the fox moth whose habitat tends to be moorland, especially heather and sphagnum moss ground. It is not unheard of to find them basking in the sun on February days. So there you have it, I disturbed a sunbathing caterpillar on a winters day! How unfortunate was that caterpillar? thousands of acres to choose from and it chose a spot I was passing, bet it felt it was having a bad hair day!