At least I think it's Saturday? Awful morning on the hill, high winds and intermittent squally showers. To compensate the ponies were towards the western entrance just off the main path, cunningly using the contours and brambles/hawthorn as a wind block. Didn't look too pleased, but overall looked well and no obvious concerns.
The ponies were not far from where they were yesterday - Flam and Kat were grazing about 150m from the far gate, with Doune independently munching blackberry leaves about another 150m further west. All close to the Morestead Rd, and there were some pieces of rubbish which had clearly been thrown from cars (Grrr!). I removed what I could but not before Flam had decided to play with a discarded (paper fortunately) coffee cup. Otherwise, all seemed well, and troughs were fine. I passed the cattle on St Cath's - infuriating that they were so obvious today, but I see that Karen was pleased!
Occasional snatches of song thrush song - can spring be far behind?
Quite a blustery day. The ponies were close to the Morestead Rd fence, about 100m from the far eastern end of the top track. They looked well, and were briefly distracted by my arrival, but soon went back to grazing. Troughs were full.
2 ponies were by the corral, no 3 was down from the water trough. All looking fine, trough full.
Found the ponies right up the far eastern end by the water tanks. They were looking really good and inquisitive to see me. Flam had her tail caught in a bush, but not enough to inconvenience her.
The roof of the beehive has been broken off, not sure if it's vandalism or ongoing works?
Merry Christmas everyone. The ponies were at the bottom gate waiting for me . It was drizzling but it did not seem to bother them one bit. All seemed well.
I did my check this afternoon, because of a morning commitment. I set off along the top path, and met someone who knew Colin, and he told me that the ponies were a little further along and just down the hill. Really? Not a sign! A good 45 minutes later, I found all 3 on the lower path about 300m down from the corral. They were friendly and in good form. Both troughs were full, and so all well.
Found the ponies up by the beehive, with the lesser spotted Colin in attendance. I had begun to think Colin had migrated along with his butterflies.
The ponies all look great, hooves and coats in great condition.
The 3 ponies were visible from the trough by the corral, half way between the top and bottom paths. They all looked well. Kat, or it may have been Flam, got a bit inquisitive but backed off when I pointed my stick. That trough was full. We didn't check the top one.
We're around over the holidays to do our regular fortnightly checks.
Ponies in fine fettle. Found them down the bottom side of the corral, just noticed one as I was walking in, otherwise I could have spent ages searching up the top side for them.
A dry day at last. The sun was out and the ponies were at the top of the site near the road. They were enjoying the sun on their backs. The troughs were full. No concerns.
Ponies were about 100m from the main gate and corral, dining on a mix of grass and hawthorn berries. Flam and Kat came to say hallo. They all looked a bit bedraggled in the rain, but it didn't seem to bother them. Trough was full - I didn't check the far trough in the circs.
The ponies were oblivious to the light rain. They were near the top of the hill between the path and the road. All looked well.
Grrrrrr. They said a LIGHT rain was forecast!!
Fortunately the ponies were fairly easy to find.
Colin went up very early this morning to check the ponies and break the ice as there have been no posts since Wednesday. They were all fine :)
Ponies were elusive this morning. We separated to search and Hiromi found 2 together and eventually the 3rd about 50 meters away looking rather dejected. They seemed well. Both troughs ok.
There really is something quite therapeutic about these ponies…..
Arrived on the site feeling rather miserable with the damp cold weather but after spending time with the ponies I left feeling much uplifted. I finally took pity on one of the ponies, the paler one who let me untangle her mane and forehead from a bundle of burrs. Once she was aware of what I was doing she was patiently content for me to spend about 20 mins freeing her up. So thank you Jayne for bringing them on site.
3 red kites soaring high above Deacon Hill proved a lot easier to spot than 3 more substantial and earthbound ponies. A walk along the top path proved fruitless, and so I went down and took the path which rises slowly back to the corral. Again, no success. I went down to the bottom, and headed eastwards, and nearly at the end, there they were, where I had been about 40 minutes earlier, much more interested in food than my arrival. They looked fine, if a bit comical with burrs stuck between their ears. Troughs both full.
There were birds around today, maybe thanks to the better weather - redwings (no doubt competing with the ponies for hawthorn berries), long-tailed tits, a pair of buzzards, and the S Water lake is indeed attracting a few things inc gadwall and shoveler.
Well I went up the hill and came down again. I am afraid they were hiding from me. But Jayne and Colin arrived so I left it to them to find them. Nick
Ponies were right by the top gate. Startled by traffic but otherwise fine. Both troughs full, not overflowing.
We checked the cattle on the Dongas, all ok there, put on St. Caths. blog.
After the deluge overnight and the strong winds I expected to have to go on a hunt for the ponies but they were all on the path about 100m up the path. One was reclined but as I got closer it rolled on its back for a scratch and got back on its feet. All 3 looked well.
Plenty of hoof tracks on the main path. I was expecting the ponies had made them galloping off to their hiding place knowing this was my day to come looking for them!! But I found them happily grazing where the cows used to be.
Not officially my day but as I was only across the road checking on the cows, thought it would be mean not to pop in and say hello. The ponies were close to main eastern entrance, a little spread out, but merged back together once I arrived. Despite the hideous weather, their coats (particularly Doune and Kat) are looking really lush and soft, just in time for the colder days and nights I guess. But they were looking brilliant, inquisitive and relaxed.
It's also great to see the lake filled up (more than last year), so thanks to Southern Water for that. Fingers crossed it attracts loads of migratory bird traffic, although at the moment it's being hogged by the famous migratory seagull. Although to be fair there were a couple of ducks on there too, so hopefully more will come.
On the way home I seemed to have accidently picked up a passenger in the form of a tiny spider, which was having a fine old time running about my bald pate and into my ear. Quite tricky maintaining concentration on the motorway with such shenanigans going on! 😁
All 3 were about 100m NE of the main gate (by the corral), in an area of rough grass. Flam (I think) seems to like hawthorn berries, and was managing to eat them without also getting pricked by thorns. Maybe she is part giraffe.
I had to concede in my hide and seek with the ponies today! Plenty of tracks particularly on the main path…but no sign. Unfortunately my bad tempered knee still shouts profanities at me if I try to make it go over uneven, slippy and steep ground so I didn’t venture too far from the main path all the way up to the beehive and back down around the corral and past the snake hotel!
A beautiful fresh day. But where are the ponies? I marched up the hill them marched down again. No sign of them except for plenty of fresh hoof prints. I went over to the Dongas to check the cattle and met Dongas Monday looker Alain. He went on to check the gates etc, Nick
Anticipating a long hunt for the ponies, but no, they were stood right by the gate at the western entrance. They looked really forlorn and sorry for themselves and were pretty drenched through. But they seemed okay physically, think they might have been half asleep taking in the sun's warming rays.
Kat was the most inquisitive and Flam had a massive bout of uncontrollable yawning (at least I hope it was yawning?) They all had lots of briars in their manes, but Flam's was particularly densely covered. Unfortunately couldn't get any out without pulling her hair too much.
They all seemed to raise one hoof slightly, taking the weight off as if having a rest, no signs of injury so think it was just a resting thing.
Quite a hunt for the ponies this morning, not by the corral so checked along the bottom and middle of the reserve. Walked up by the new fence. Checked the trough, (both are full) and there they were, a short distance down the top path. They looked fine but paid no attention to me. Then as I was listening for birds near the corral they came trotting down to investigate. Quite frisky but they don't charge a waving stick.
There were 3 or 4 partridges scuttling around.
The ponies appeared unfazed by the overnight poor weather . All around the corral. The lightest colour one stayed at the back under the cover of the tree. I checked the cows on the Dongas and they were at the far top corner munching away. 2 dog walkers approached informed about the cows and asked to put their dogs on leads. Nick
A very wet day. Fortunately the ponies were easy to find.
A lovely sunny morning, though very wet underfoot. The 3 ponies were all at the far (eastern) end of the track, apparently preferring the shorter grass on the track to the longer grass, and a few bits of shrubbery. They looked a bit damp after the overnight rain, but seemed well and I didn't spot anything unusual. They showed a passing interest in my arrival, but I clearly had no special goodies. Troughs were all full.
I love reading the Blog and looking at all your great photos, and I wanted to quickly check-in and thank you all personally for volunteering your time to check the cattle and ponies.
As an aside, please keep a lookout for signs of food. Carrots were discovered on the ground a week ago which are not good for the ponies despite people's views that they are treats. Of even more importance at this time of the year is to be extra vigilant as people often dump pumpkins for the livestock thinking that they are also a tasty treat. They can prove to be lethal, especially in large quantities as they cause choke. Hopefully with the Morestead road closure we will not have a problem.
Thanks again, Jayne :)
I know how the Grand ol Duke of York must have felt…marching up and down that hill!! But he wasn’t on a pony hunt. Eventually found them, and they are obviously moving well because by the time I got back from checking the cows….they were gone again! Ponies were in good shape, but rather muddy and still enjoying hawthorn berries. Cows were all lying down probably through having full tums rather than expecting more rain!
The water container was almost full so I didn’t fill anymore. All is well on the hill 😃
I met the cattle coming towards me as I walked east along the top path. They were apparently looking for a different area to graze. They showed a passing interest in my arrival but were in good form, and looking very well fed. Water levels checked and were fine.
Not my week to check the ponies and I did not see them - they were not at the far east end by the bowser or visible from the top path.
Lots of birdsong. The Merlin bird app gave me: European Robin, Eurasian jackdaw, Carrion crow, Eurasian wren common firecrest and european greenfinch as closest matches. Saw a muntjack deer near the bridge and some pheasants.
Sorry for the late post. Got distracted by the rugby yesterday and a hospital appt this morning.
Cows enjoying the fresh munch on offer at the extreme west of their enlarged territory and both they and the ponies getting much less attention from flies as the temperatures drop.
Ponies also enjoying the beautiful day and looked in great nick.
