Daydream thread... without the rose-tinted specs

Rummer

Torrential rain here today however I have been busy indoors so not to bitter about it!

Been planning our next few camping trips, so excited

Davesnave

Good that the lamb's OK now. :T

Our old cats would never eat shrews, so they're probably not very palatable.

Rain's been on and off here, but not too bad. Didn't use the wipers once on the way back from major food shop in Barnstaple. Blue sky now, but not at all settled for having the kitchen roof off. Fat chance anyway: just had an email from the engineer, saying he's off for a break and will do our calculations when he returns in about 9 days! :mad:

Anyway, we are doing caravan pad and drainage this weekend.

ukmaggie45

Perfect sailing day. So everyone gone sailing. Getting cheesed off at being left alone every day for most of it.

Had a bit of a shock this morning. OH and me sat supping first cuppa of the day and there was a mighty squeaking outside followed by blackbird's alarm call. Looked out window to see sparrow hawk on the patio, standing on top of a blue tit. :eek: I'm sure tit was dead by the time we spotted it. Hawk just sat there for a few minutes, then flew off, taking its prey with it.

No photos as there were raindrops all over both the window and the decking glass, so too blurry.

Davesnave

Very common maggie, and had you been outside, it would likely have made no difference. We've seen them take birds, or strike and fail, 8 feet away.

We rarely spot the hawks before they dive; it's that quick. The buzzards seem ponderous compared with hawks.

alfie_1

hi all... so glad your lamb is on the mend choille.try and take care of yourself.. have you a dehumidifier in your caravan? our remaining 2 sheep are very elderly and having had thier 2nd shearing seem to have renewed vigour... but we knoe this winter may be thier last we would like to get a small flock of a rare/unusual/endangered/in need breed. ive heard of breeds that need to be seperated cos of the gene pool and grazing being the problem. not sure where to find out more tho. the weather today has been fine one minute and chucking it down the next :cool: temp dropped from 20 to 14 in seconds at one point [midday].. looked like a big black space ship hovering overhead :rotfl:

RAS

alfie

Check out the rare Breed Survival Trust; they not only know their breeds but actively support genetic testing and breeding plans and support special auctions etc.

I would dearly like Borerays if I ever get a chance. Love White-faced Woodlands but they are big beasts.

Borerays are very good do-ers on poor land.

choille

Maggie - they are like arrows are sparrow hawks. I was once doing some work down the bottom of the croft, straightened my back & only a very few feet from me one caught a great tit on the wing. I almost felt it swoop past & away with it.

I put up a snipe earlier when out at the sheep. It hit the wire fence & just lay down in the long grass. I left a wee marker & after checking the 'boys' in the bottom field, I came back & it was still curled there. I reached down & it flew off. Amazingly beautiful markings. I was so pleased it was fine. Came back & slept until just now.

NO, Alfie, we don't have a dehumidifier, but I've had the door open all day. I like lying in bed with it open as long as there's no midgies about!

I don't know what sheep that would be with the grazing. Friends had Soays which were rescued from a tiny gene pool & there are some just a few miles away. They are so dainty - like ancient cave paintings - definately prehistoric. You can just pluck them!

RAS

choille wrote: »

I don't know what sheep that would be with the grazing. Friends had Soays which we rescued from a tiny gene pool & there are some just a few miles away. They are so dainty - like ancient cave paintings - definately prehistoric. You can just pluck them!

When I was on Hirta (where a number of Soays were taken after the people were taken off) the flock was really quite large. Their fleece was everywhere because of the way it falls off. The islander used to "roo" them - hand pluck rather than shear. Lovely range of colours too from pale through almost greys to dark brown.

choille

I didn't rescue the soays - should of said 'were' rescued.

Shearing is a newish thing in the scheme of sheep. Old breeds just shed theirs. It's a gene manipulation that they keep their fleeces.

ukmaggie45

Just saw this from New Scientist on Twitter, and wondered if LiR or any of the rest of you might find it interesting.

New Scientist ‏@newscientist
From toilet to tap: could you get over the yuck factor and treat your own dirty water at home? http://!!!!!!/Aksbz

Been thinking about the sparrow hawk, and it was quite a small one. So might have been a male, but it was a bit "rough round the edges", maybe a bit fluffy. So maybe a young one? We didn't get a very clear look due to the raindrops on glass.

I've seen them swoop on pigeon in garden at home, but best was when one chased a blue tit around and around betwixt and between the branches of our crab apple tree. Very enclosed space, it didn't have the space to manoeuvere (sp?) fast. That blue tit got away!