January
 1
–
New Year’s Day. Our now traditional walk in the valley
started with mulled wine and mince pies at the farmhouse.
This year we climbed Heddon Hill – and posed for customary
NYD photo in a very blustery wind – then walked on to
Brandon. Crossing the river we climbed East Hill, stopping
for lunch half way up. Sightings included brown hares,
siskins and a buzzard. Back home just in time to escape the
rain.
5
– Sold three cattle at Wooler.
At the end of May last year I mentioned a bird ringing exercise in the
valley. We recently received a report compiled by Philip
Hanmer and his son Hugh, who did the ringing. At Ingram a
total of 64 birds were ringed from 13 nests. Species
included pied wagtail, blackbird, song thrush, spotted
flycatcher, blue tit and great tit. Four mistle thrush young
were ringed at Ingram Mill.
In previous years both dippers and common sandpipers have
been ringed on the river. This year, due to bad weather and
a scarcity of birds, only one adult male dipper was ringed.
8
– 
Gale force winds of 70mph brought down several trees,
some across the road. One casualty was the big hawthorn that
I photographed in May when it was covered with blossom. Most
of the trunk sheared leaving only a few lower branches.
Snowdrops and spring snowflakes flowering on the farmhouse drive. The
snowflakes (leucojum vernum) are similar to snowdrops but
taller and with dark green leaves. They contain a poisonous
alkaloid but nonetheless are very pretty.
10
–
Another very windy day. Attempted a ride up the valley road
but forced to turn back. Mobile feed mixer to farm to crush
barley for the cattle and sheep.
15
–
Several dead fish lying at the edge of the river. After
coming up to spawn, many sea trout and salmon do not make it
back to the sea, seemingly exhausted by their efforts or
struck by disease.
Woodpeckers busy “drumming” on the trees in the wood. Lovely to stand
and listen to, as one hammers away and another, elsewhere in
the wood, responds. Sightings this week included wrens in
the farmyard, six golden plover on the hill, two peewits
(lapwings) in the Shield Field and a flock of fieldfares
near Alnham Moor.
I received a lovely letter from the family who stayed at Shepherd’s
Cottage at Christmas time. It reads: “It
is the most wonderfully equipped and cosy home that any
traveller to Northumberland could ever wish for.
“I
hope all your forthcoming guests will be blessed by such
equally surreal views and walks in the hills. Each day was
enhanced by crystal clear skies and the rising and setting
of the sun.”
 |
| After
several months with a very short tail Dennis’s new
tail feathers are almost fully grown in. |
19
– Sold 60 ‘hoggs’ at Wooler. Last year’s lambs, they
are termed ‘hoggs’ at the turn of the year.
22
–
Light dusting of snow. Road white.
27
– Scanned the in-bye ewes. Just as expectant mums are
scanned, we do the same with the ewes to find out how many
lambs each is expecting. They can then be fed accordingly.
The ewes file individually into a holding crate and the scan
man runs a scanner along their tummies. The image then
appears on a small television screen. Ten ewes were
‘geld’ (not in lamb) and most are carrying twins or
singles, however 16 are expecting triplets.
 29
– The best day of the year so far, warm and sunny, but too
early to say the first day of spring. Saw two pairs of
grouse on Reaveley Hill. Their distinctive sharp call
“go-bak, go-bak- bak-bak- bak” was lovely to hear. For
several mornings now have watched and listened to a robin
singing in the farmyard at 7a.m., usually always in the same
place.
31 –
Johnny took feed blocks out today for the in-bye ewes.
They’re quick to find them. Fed the four pet lambs for the
last time today. Dread to think of the cost of their food
since last April. Pet lambs always die in debt! I shall miss
our morning chat. They are great characters and so tame
 |
|
'LUCY' |
|
