We had a day on the farm cleaning up today, which was rather sad.
It was a cold and blustery day – you can tell it was blustery from the angle of the feeder in the picture, but you’ll have to take my word for the temperature.
We spoke to the lady who is moving in to run a project, agreed a price for the polytunnel and found out that she is now on version 9 of her plan for the site as the farmer and incoming tenants keep changing their minds about what she can have. That’s life on the farm – you pay your rent and you get messed about.
It seems that the architects will be flattening the allotment area – all the herbs, the rhubarb and the keyhole beds are under threat. The plan is to erect a selection of yurts and garden rooms.
According to the internet there were two Waxwings in the neglected orchard in Flintham so we went to look for them as it’s only the next village. We didn’t see any, though there were plenty of Fieldfares about.
Best bird of the day turned out to be a Redpoll perching in a tree by the Ecocentre when we pulled up. That’s now the seconf redpoll we’ve had at the centre and the first for this year. I managed one blurred photo before it flew away.
Fieldfare
In the afternoon we tried again – no Waxwings, but there were about 60 Fieldfares with a dozen Blackbirds and a single, silent, Long-tailed Tit.
We have waxwings occasionally on our farm. It doesn’t seem that we have Fieldfares here, but a few other species of thrush.
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/species/birds/bluebirds_thrushes.asp
I feel for you and Julia regarding the farm. I wish there was a way to take those herbs and planting with you. Sometimes when one door closes, another opens. Wishing for a better one for you.
Great website and interesting birds. We’re having a few weeks off and then we’re going to start opening those doors! 🙂
What an uncomfortable time you are having at the moment! I hope (and am sure) you will feel better once you have left the farm completely and can concentrate on looking forward instead of looking back. You and Julia appear to have so much to offer – so much knowledge and so many skills that I am sure you will find something satisfying to do very soon.
Yes, I’m looking forward to getting away and making a fresh start.
🙂
The waxwings are a great treat when you see them and a great disappointment when you don’t. Since I hardly ever see a waxwing, I am going to try to stop thinking about them.
Yes, frustrating birds. 😉
I wonder how long the new tenant will last
We lasted five and a half years, which is three years longer tham anyone else has managed. I’d like to see her succeed but I’m already worried she’s been messed about already.
Yes
Can you rescue the plants? I’m always upset when a garden is destroyed… all that work, all that fertility 🙁
Yes, we have rescue plans for next week – plants will be lifted, the soil from the keyhole beds will be moved and the two bins of good compost will be redeployed. We will bring a lot of the plants home and the rest, plus the soil and compost will go to the incoming project.
It hardly seems appropriate to ‘like’ this post given what’s happened at the farm.
I don’t often see Fieldfares (I know that they are common visitors), but I have seen and managed to photograph some this week. Redpoll and waxwings I’ve only ever seen once each.
Yes, it’s strange how it can so hard to see common birds – I’ve only ever seen 3 redpolls – one about 30 years ago and 2 in the last couple of months.