Good morning all if anyone's up yet .... the wind's not quite so strong this morning although there's still the occasional howling in the chimney. It's cooler though, down to 4C overnight and it's stuck there at the moment - the sky's clear and full of stars.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Hello Fritillary ah, those were the days - Pa had a dairy farm (Dairy Shorthorns and Red Polls) when I was small - then when my children were young I had a herd of dairy goats - I loved my quiet time milking in the morning when no one else was up, with the robin coming in to the barn to get some of the feed.
What sort of cows have you got?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
and re the Blackbirds, I am pretty sure of my knowledge as I seem to recall Mr Packam delivering this info on spring watch one time. I used a very poor version of the metaphor that he used, although the blackbird chick that can be identified as stumpy, maybe they don't migrate when young or perhaps...just perhaps they know where they've got it good
TBH, scientists and bods of all general instruction tell us what they've learnt and we accept it but really, isn't there always room for exceptions to the rule? Humans don't all travel to the same holiday destination at the same time every year, we don't all wear the same clothes or do the same things. Obviously birds are a species of fewer needs but there must be the odd occasions when nature doesn't call?
Two are holsteins but have Brown Swiss in them. And Candy is a daughter from a shorthorn . We did have a dairy shorthorn but she got TB.She was heavy in calf to a shorthorn and we had hoped for a heifer calf as her last two had been bull calves, but I am afraid she had to go.
is a great explanation for any who were wondering...
I was both right and wrong
Scandinavian blackbirds come here for the winter, but on the whole, our UK blackbirds do just fine all year round. so KEF...keep doing what you're doing. they love it!
Good morning Wintersong I was a little confused for by 'I am Dove' - my mind went to 'I am Spartacus' and 'Je suis Charlie' and it took me a moment to realise that you were telling me you were awake LOL
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Wintersong - thanks for that article - I remember Springwatch or Autumnwatch talking about migrating blackbirds but I was pretty sure that some UK blackbirds migrate and some hang around where they know they're well off. Interesting article - especially re the Norfolk blackbird that goes to Devon for it's holidays - this Norfolk bird goes to Cornwall for hers
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Posts
Good morning all
if anyone's up yet .... the wind's not quite so strong this morning although there's still the occasional howling in the chimney. It's cooler though, down to 4C overnight and it's stuck there at the moment - the sky's clear and full of stars.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Hello, I am up. Going out shortly to milk our three cows and feed the calves
Hello Fritillary
ah, those were the days - Pa had a dairy farm (Dairy Shorthorns and Red Polls) when I was small - then when my children were young I had a herd of dairy goats - I loved my quiet time milking in the morning when no one else was up, with the robin coming in to the barn to get some of the feed. 
What sort of cows have you got?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I am Dove
Flynn's an early riser
Have a lovely christening Panda
and re the Blackbirds, I am pretty sure of my knowledge as I seem to recall Mr Packam delivering this info on spring watch one time. I used a very poor version of the metaphor that he used, although the blackbird chick that can be identified as stumpy, maybe they don't migrate when young or perhaps...just perhaps they know where they've got it good
TBH, scientists and bods of all general instruction tell us what they've learnt and we accept it but really, isn't there always room for exceptions to the rule? Humans don't all travel to the same holiday destination at the same time every year, we don't all wear the same clothes or do the same things. Obviously birds are a species of fewer needs but there must be the odd occasions when nature doesn't call?
Two are holsteins but have Brown Swiss in them. And Candy is a daughter from a shorthorn . We did have a dairy shorthorn but she got TB.She was heavy in calf to a shorthorn and we had hoped for a heifer calf as her last two had been bull calves, but I am afraid she had to go.
Okay, re blackbirds...this article http://www.rspb.org.uk/makeahomeforwildlife/advice/expert/previous/blackbirds_migrate.aspx
is a great explanation for any who were wondering...
I was both right and wrong
Scandinavian blackbirds come here for the winter, but on the whole, our UK blackbirds do just fine all year round.
so KEF...keep doing what you're doing
. they love it!
Good morning Wintersong
I was a little confused for by 'I am Dove' - my mind went to 'I am Spartacus' and 'Je suis Charlie' and it took me a moment to realise that you were telling me you were awake LOL
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Fritillary - bad luck about losing the Shorthorn
they're lovely.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Hahaha, nice one Dove
sorry...in answer to your question which I took so long to write...Fritillary manage to say hello and feed her cows as well
P.S sorry about the cows Fritillary...I'll shut up now
Wintersong - thanks for that article - I remember Springwatch or Autumnwatch talking about migrating blackbirds but I was pretty sure that some UK blackbirds migrate and some hang around where they know they're well off. Interesting article - especially re the Norfolk blackbird that goes to Devon for it's holidays - this Norfolk bird goes to Cornwall for hers
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.