Can't fly, won't fly

Despite the feathers, our little jackdaws quite clearly would prefer to snuggle up! This was them this morning. I'm not too impressed with mum and dad's housekeeping though, they look as though they are keeping themselves busy, but the picture suggests otherwise - its getting pretty messy on the floor... Can anyone tell me whether I should I put some more newspaper or straw down?

Then there were two ...

OK so the floor of the barn is obviously much nicer than the nest, as baby 1 has been joined by his baby brother. We put the video camera in just to check she is coming in regularly unfortunately for the camera they are tucked behind the boxes so not easy to get a shot of mum feeding but we have seen her going down to them. They really make a racket at food time.

The barn is cat proof so we'll just have to see how they fare. Hopefully it won't be long until they can actually give flying a proper go.

We don't think there are anymore in the nest but you never know! Maybe tomorrow it'll be three...

Its not easy learning to fly ...

Oh dear one of the Jackdaw chicks has fallen out of the nest. Its ok for now, having decided it wants to be the first to stay in the barn, rather than heading out the other way and landing on the big pile of rocks below the nest on the outside wall. Mum knows where it is and has visited it to feed it so fingers crossed it will be ok and figure out how to fly pretty quickly!

If we can get any pictures we will post them but I'm leaving him quiet for now to make sure mum keeps coming in.

The big home coming...

Yeah Tom came home for a proper stay today. OK it was only for a few hours to audition as the new mower, but it was great to be able to leave him to his own devices while I pottered in the field collecting felled brambles from Rhys's last tractor excursion!



I can even see him from the house (well his ears at least, and only if he lifts his head up!)...

One year on...

So we've been here a year now. Such a lot has happened in that time that it feels like 5! Anyway, what better time to look back and see what sort of progress we have made so far...

The stream ...

The Polytunnel ...

Flower beds we didn't know we had ...

Inside ...

Spring has sprung at Clun Farm

Well the last week has truly been a blast of beautiful spring. I heard the first cuckoo a couple of days ago, as I remember last year he sang his heart out for weeks on end, and quickly became quite irritating! Given that we moved in in May means we could be in for the long haul this year...

All sorts of interesting and lovely flowers are bursting open, and with the sun going down later and later we are managing to get some jobs done in the evenings and beginning to retackle the field. The weeding has started ... as has the accompanying backache!

There is just so much to get done, and not enough time to do it. Still you have to marvel at the lovely things that despite being neglected for year are popping up all over the place...