Deer oh Dear

An antlered male and female and two little baby deer arrived on our far paddock this morning. As we rang the probable owners, they just crawled easily under the barbed wire cattle fence to go back from whence they came. Never seen them before.

Obituary for our cat, Panda

Poor little guy. Inherited a genetic defect from your long haired mother. Only five. Kidneys failed you. went down hill so quickly. Like in two weeks. A month ago you were still catching rabbits. Last week, now ill, you caught a red-bellied black snake. And killed it. You were a legend. More like our dogs. You swum in the dam. Rolled in the dirt. Laughed at the sky and danced with the dogs.

May you shine through eternal rest. Loves from us.

Swamp Harrier commotions

A fine looking Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans) came to visit midday yesterday. It was soon joined by four fine Eastern Rosella (Platcercus eximius) who we see less often than the Harrier itself, our cat Panda (Felis catus) who was having a drink at the dam, a plucky Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) who sat real close to the Harrier, the ever present pugnacious magpie-lark PeeWee (Grallina cyanleuca) who gave it a right earful I don't mind telling you, and finally our dog Winston (Cannis lupus familiaris) chased it off after the excitement of the Pee Wee screaming, the cat meowing and me standing on the fence railings photographing became too much for him.

The Harrier took it in raptorial calm and perched nearby. Looking at the wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), who all went and hid.

All relevant photos on this YouTube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqpOpnaBGiY

Cedar has departed

Well kind of sad, kind of happy too. O moved north almost two years ago for work. Cedar had settled into being the paddock boss, but with River and Evie gone for sale, she had a little roost to rule. So O has transported her 2000kms and she arrived, annoyed, but well, last week. She, they, are delighted to be in each other's company again and more importantly she is being ridden regularly for the first time in five years. Good news for her and O.

But for Cedars Fields, well it's not quite the same without Cedar. Down to two horses, Kidd and Teddy.

So we're sprucing the place up, starting with the house, but have painted all the post and rail fences. And outlined the dressage arena with telegraph poles.

Photos: Cedar in a bit of a flap about leaving. She knew something was up. Teddy joining in. The blue tarp is the slasher which was taken off the tractor when the Roll Over Protection System fell off!! After the bolts sheared off. But that's another story.

Cows and bull, are gone

Cows have been given to A and S's place down the road, so they join the herd their son Popeye is serving. They had to go. We are on the road for three months on holiday (caravanofcaravan.blogspot.com) and with the dam dry from the drought, them having to cross the pipeline, continued elevated risk of exposure to lead on the pipeline, extra work for P our good friend who is looking after the place while we are away, etc. But poor bull Copper. We had arranged for A to buy him, but he couldn't stand the weaning separation and broke his fences. So sale fell through. We left him at the Rutherford saleyards, hopefully for a live sale. But perhaps not. We are waiting to find out his fate. :-(

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.