It’s nearly over, for another season. Grass is growing and the birds are singing and soon, in a day or two, the cattle will be moved onto fresh, spring pasture. There’s always a sense of freedom at this time of year. Free as a bird, maw, free as a bird.

At the byre this morning I found Sean the bull attached to the side of the cattle crush by his nose ring. He must have been rubbing his head against the crush and by accident caught his nose ring on one of the little slots designed to hold the restraining bar. It was easy enough to work the ring back and free him. But what if we had been away for the day?

 

Perhaps its time for the ring to go.

 

Here’s a photo of the offending piece of cattle jewellery.

Looking out the kitchen window a shadow swooped over the garden and landed on top of a fence post. A rather majestic hawk stood surveying his hunting ground (our garden). By the time it took to grab a camera he (or she) was gone. Sure it was Hen Harrier.

This is an update. Not so sure now. More likely it was a Goshawk. Sorry.