The swallows returned this morning and bought a fabulously sunny day with them. It is such a delight to see them cartwheeling around Dodpen and over the valley again, and what a journey they have been on since we last saw them. It will only be a few weeks before they are lining their ‘mud cup’ nests with turkey feathers. It is…
Occasionally we see adders at Dodpen and so we are always mindful when working in the fields and around the garden area. But today we found a beautifully marked adult adder basking close to the house. An absolutely stunning animal and given its very crisp well defined polished pattern I think the adder had recently sloughed. We carefully removed it…
Now I grew up in the country and over the years have handled many snakes. Ok, I was never a big fan, but I was always comfortable around them. Until tonight that was. Brenda called me up to one of our raised vegetable beds where she had placed a tarpaulin to keep in the heat and progress the compost. Watch…
This evening when putting the turkeys away I heard the churring of nightjars across the valley. Since moving to Dodpen we have heard them every year, and it is wonderful that they have returned once again.