I note with a degree of envy that every day this week the ponies have been found around the corral! Not so when it is my turn!
It was fairly cold, wet and windy this morning and I was thinking that surely of all days today they would be huddled around the corral. Nope!
But when I did find them they were all looking well, heads down grazing hungrily.
The ponies were safely ensconced under the trees by the corral, looking good, if perhaps a little inactive. Flam was friendly, Kat interested, but Doune not so much.
Less hot this morning, but the Exmoor 3 were under the tree by the corral, looking a bit bored when I arrived. They were well-positioned for swishing flies of each other.
However, they soon decided to come and say hallo, with a bit of huffing and puffing, and were very friendly. They looked in fine form. The trough near the corral was full but definitely looking soupy. Quite a bit of ragwort in flower, but I guess they know to avoid it.
Got there before the heat. The ponies were by the corral, all well. Trough full. Some litter by the entrance, didn't have a bag so left it.
Scorching day on the Hill but also bustling with life. The ponies had the right idea, sheltering under the tree by the corral. They looked well, no issues and even the flies didn't seem to be too much of an issue. Flam was her normal friendly self.
A warm sunny morning and the ponies were at the corral switching the flys away. The troughs were full and various butterflies were doing their thing. A lovely morning when you can enjoy the views. The kestrels were searching for a bit of thermal assistance, the crows out on a mission. Glorious.
Had some fun trying to find the ponies today. They were found eventually down the bottom of the path from the corral.
And yes there are 3 ponies here! Eventually they came out to say hello.
Lovely day, but bit of a cooling breeze at the top gate, which is where I found the ponies. Flam and Doune were in amongst the long grass and Kat on the path. All eating away merrily and looking pretty happy. Not so many flies up here. Flam looks like her fringe could do with a bit of trim, I'll try and remember my scissors next time (joking).
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| Spot the pony competition? |
'Nothing but blue skies'🎝- but a cool breeze this morning. All 3 ponies were easy to find by the corral, doing very little. A few annoying flies around, but otherwise, they looked to be in good form. Trough level OK, although the water looked a bit mucky. I didn't check the far trough.
The ponies were near the top gate. Not too bothered by flies up there and generally looking sleek and well. We brought loppers and cut back the bramble and nettles by the barrier, appreciated by 2 lady walkers.
Found the ponies happily munching in a favourite spot. They were too busy to stop to even acknowledge me…but then followed me closely all the way back to the corral.
Saw the ponies loitering by the main gate as I was driving up the hill to the top, so turned around and came back and parked across the road. By the time I got back though they had wandered a little way up the path, but luckily not too far. They looked it great condition still, munching away along the main path. Flam came over to say Hi and was very friendly. Kat also, but a little jumpy on the narrow path, and Doune not interested in the slightest! But as I said they all looked great, with no issues detected. As the heavens opened, I was luckily enough to be under the old tree by the corral. And looking up noticed what a magnificent tree it is.
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| Kat |
The ponies were hunkered down near the top of the site. The cold wind was blowing hard. The troughs were full. As I stood there enjoying the sun Kestrel chased a buzzard across the sky, then went back to its work looking for food.
A chilly morning. The 3 ponies were about 100m along the top path and grazing. They were quite inquisitive when I arrived, and seemed to think that my green fleece might be edible. They were looking in good form. Trough near the E gate full, although quite murky. I didn't check the far trough, I'm afraid.
All 3 were in the opened up corral, looking fine and not too inquisitive. That trough was full.
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| Poppies in the field opposite |
A very pleasant morning on the hill. Ponies happily munching in an obviously favourite place where they have chewed most of the otherwise deep growth down to ground level.
A dull and humid morning on the Hill today. A walk up from the main gate found the ponies eating voraciously right up against the boundary fence below the top gate. Flam was even sticking her neck out and eating the grass on the other side of the fence. If only someone could think of a proverb that would explain such behaviour! Hmmm.
All looked well and healthy. And unfortunately the lake appears to have finally dried out.
They weren't at the bottom, they weren't at the top. Found them about halfway up by the road fence. All 3 looking sleek and well. Both troughs ok, though the top one was not quite full and rather brown.
Dreary and humid, but also a mild lunchtime on the Hill. No a lot of butterfly activity, but did disturb one Painted Lady, who was trying to soak up what little heat there was. The ponies were towards the top gate, but were gradually heading down towards me as I approached. Kat put in a little spurt and was first to greet me. They were particularly friendly today for some reason, and Flam was especially keen to say Hello. Doune was playing it cool, just munching away. They all looked in great shape and condition and were in great form.
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| Mullein Moth Caterpillar (look at those claws!) |
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| Here she comes 💖 |
An overcast but warm day. The ponies were at the top of the site enjoying the fresh breeze. The troughs were full. Lots of growth but just outside the reserve we have orchids growing on the verge.
A beautiful day on the hill this morning. On arrival there were no ponies to be seen by the bottom gate and so I set out expecting a drawn out game of hide and seek with the odds definitely stacked in favour with the ponies with all the new growth providing excellent cover. Still, with the sun shining and the birds singing it was a more enjoyable than most.
And of course after much searching I couldn’t find them anywhere and so returned to the bottom gate…..and there they were!
They were busy munching away at the bark on the large tree and surrounding debris but briefly stopped to engage…and to tell me better luck next time!
A blustery morning on the hill with a stiff northerly blowing across. And to maximise the shelter provided by the scrubs and hedges, the ponies were up by the top gate in the most exposed part of the reserve! Flam was eating away whilst her body guards were surveilling (not sure that's a word) the area. They all looked great, the wind seemed to be keeping the flies away and ruffling Doune's hair to produce a trendy windswept look. They weren't interested in me at all, despite chattering away to them for ages, so left them happily doing what they do best (eating not causing mischief).
