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.