Herons!

Look what I snapped from our farm's kitchen window Sunday morning! There were a couple of White Necked Heron (Ardea pacifica) and what should join them but a single White Faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandia). Picking crawlies off the grass near the dam.

http://www.oiseaux.net/oiseaux/heron.a.tete.blanche.html
http://www.oiseaux.net/birds/white-faced.heron.html

Copper our latest bull

Time to be movin on little fella

Rain!

After two months of no rain, a line of storms put some on the ground. Hope it fills our dams. First time in two years we've had to let the cows over the house side for town watering.

Frog Pond remodelled

After ages of getting overgrown, M and I spent a long weekend redoing it. Looks great.

Herons

Curly, Toffee and curley's bull Copper were sitting in the sun in the bottomw paddock. And a whole flock of Herons stopped by to visit.

Rabbits

About two years ago the rabbits quickly established themselves under the dressage arena paddock in burrows that quickly had a thriving rabbit city under there. THere was a majority of black rabbits in amongst the grey remainder. We tried ferrets. Shooting. The cats and the dogs all managed to catch some but to no avail. The rabbots thrived under La Nina (I presume). Before they arrived there were only hares. But they are no gone, replaced by teh rabbits. But this last week, they are gone. We were seeing some Myxo;d cadavers, but now nothing. All we presume, dead. Wow.

River the cutest Horse

 

Smiling sweetly

New Calf

Did I mention Curly was pregnant? Well she was. And this morning her new calf was born. Like Popeye before, she needs help to get the new to suckle. Cute little fellar. Let you know more soon.

Teddy news

 
Teddy left for a week to get 'educated' (re-broken). Then went to L's to get school-ridden. We'll see him eventually.

Sowing the Fields

 
M, like a mythological goddess. Spreads seed for the new seasons.

Cedar's Rainbow

 
What? That's a nice Rainbow you're at the end of Cedar. Now you're a magic horse? Awww

Feed/Tack shed fenced

 
We rebuilt the roof after the tornado last year ripped half of it off. Bigger rivets. Should stay on better. Fair enough.
But really objected when two of the walls were stove right in thanks to Cedar deciding it was a good place to scratch! Furious. Anyway fixed the darn walls, as best as could. And fenced the shed off so she cant do it again. Naughty horse!

Mickey departs for some time

Mickey has gone to keep a four year old boy delighted with his "own" horse to look after and learn to ride on, until he gets a bigger one and Mickey returns to Cedars Fields. Three weeks ago for maybe three or four years. He's doing really well through we do miss him.

Not the only departure. Teddy has gone to a very talented breaker who will enable us to sell him on as a quiet childs' pony.

Equine - Feline Talks Proceed at Cedars Fields

Leading Horse negotiator Cedar About Time discusses impending rabbit infestation with Cat negotiator Panda White Feet at Cedars Fields late Friday afternoon. The horses are concerned that rabbit holes in their primary paddock will result in foot and leg damage. Panda White Feet has caught rabbits recently for sport and is considering horse proposals to increase the rate of rabbit capture in return for safe information leading to the whereabouts of mice and bird nests. It is understood the horses are largely unconcerned about the mice but have shied away from giving too much information about the local bird life.

Utility easements go mad

Energy Australia decide to put a horrible eyesore of power poles on their easement - without warning. And Hunter water decide to deny us right of way to our back paddocks. They have suddenly become: BAD NEIGHBOURS. Thanks to our other, human,neighbour B. for allowing us limited dry weather access.

Popeye the bull has left the nest

After a whole year of weaning, Popeye has gotten on a truck to A and S's lovely stud on the Hunter River upstream a bit. He'll have about 400 cows to service. Have a happy life little Cedar's Fields progeny. Our First actually. We look forward to getting you back when your work there is done.

Curly can now get on with her life.

New Steps

Coming down from the house to the yards we've been slowly installing these steps to replace the rickety bricks. That little metal box on the rail is a solar powered light. It works well.

New Shed

Forgot to add some of these developments. A new Garden shed near the wash bays for the feed and tack. Gets the rats out of the garage!

RIP Sunny

Very sad news. This afternoon Sunny, the 33 year old Palamino who has lived here for way longer than we have, passed away in his own paddock. He is now buried there. Sleep peacefully, gentle horse.

He taught youngster River lovely paddock manners. She is very bereft right now. All his girls, River, Evie and Cedar miss you. So do your cheeky mates Mickey and Teddy.

Welcome new horse - River

 
Very apt name for a horse living on the banks of the mighty Hunter River. Is, River! A Clysdale cross, only two years old filly. Loveliest friendliest personality. She really is something. Down from Taree ealier last month.