Wednesday 29th

 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.

 

Monday 27 November

 They seek them here, they seek them there. Ok I found them at the top entrance and they appeared to enjoy the breeze. I enjoyed the view. All seemed in good health. I popped over the road to see the cows who were all by the top gate chilling. 

Sunday 26 Nov

 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. 

Friday 24th Nov

Another task on the hill today and was hoping they would pay us a visit. Thankfully they were all around the corral as we were leaving and looking in fine fettle indeed.

Thursday 23rd Nov

 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.

Monday 20 November

 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

Sunday 19th Nov

 Ponies looking in great condition, apart from some stubborn burrs in their manes. 

Saturday 18th November

A bit muddy and slippery playing cat and mouse with the ponies this morning, although not sure who was playing which part. Tried the middle path, no sign of them, then back via bottom path and still no sign, and in the end halfway along the upper path they appeared out of the undergrowth. I suspect they'd been exploring the new opened up sections. They seemed to be on a mission and seemed almost frisky, so after a quick sniff (them of me obviously) and hello they were on their way, across the path and into the middle section, hunting down those delicious red berries. But they looked well, a little soggy, but fighting fit and pretty content. In fact in far better condition than me, exhausted after slipping and sliding in the mud and still recovery from yesterday's exertions. 

Fiona - found an old half full drag sack in the undergrowth down at the bottom by the lower fence. Sorry I wasn't able to move it into the fenced section. It's a bit tucked away probably why it hasn't been discovered before. 

Also there was a single wheel track on the lower path, not sure if it was a bike or a wheel barrow? No issue just mentioning it. 

FRiday 17th

Ponies all looking fine and continuing to enjoy hawthorn berries. We had a task on the hill and they were grazing along the top track in the afternoon and hanging around by the corral when we left. Plenty of salt lick available and loads of water. WE removed the fences around our wildflower areas so I expect they will go in and investigate fully.

Wednesday 15th November

 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.

Monday 13 November

 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.

Sunday 12th Nov

 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.

Saturday 11th November

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! 😁

Thursday 9th Nov

 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.

The other ponies were grazing and although there was brief interest in my arrival, clearly that was more important.  Trough full.

Tues 7th

I visited end of day as the ponies hadn;t been seen for 2 days and we were concerned as obvioulsy it had also been bonfire night over the weekend. Anyway, the little beauties were right by the corral and looked in fine form. I was thankful as I was about to lose the light and didn't fancy a torchlight search!! Thanks so much for your ongoing checks, and please let me know directly or through the on call grazing nunber 01962 790544 if you can't find them and they also weren't found the day before! Many thanks all

Sunday 5th November

 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!

Monday 6 November

 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 

Saturday 4th November

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. 

Wednesday !st Nov

 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.