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Bun(nies) in the oven
It’s been a cracking winter with the ferrets. My records now tell me that they have put just over seventy rabbits in my hands, and have contributed to the downfall of a score of others who were too inaccessible to find. Both have come on leaps and bounds in terms of their ability to deal… Continue reading
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Springing
The seasons are changing up on the moor, and while the first cotton grass flowers are still invisible beneath the sphagnum moss, snowdrops have suddenly appeared on the low ground over the past week. Crows and rooks are starting to look like they might be falling into pairs, and there’s no doubt that the red… Continue reading
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ANNIVERSARY
Working for Grouse is one year old! Many thanks to the people responsible for almost five thousand hits over the last year. God knows what will happen on the Chayne over the next twelve months, but you stand a good chance of finding out right here… Continue reading
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Life in the heather
The last week has brought tantalising signs of spring, and the most noticeable change has been the sudden appearance of fox moth caterpillars throughout the heather. Fox moths were evident in March last year, and from the blog entry which remarked upon it, I seem to have been quite surprised at how early they were… Continue reading
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Back in action
Since seeing the blackcock for the first time in several months at the start of January, I have seen him two or three times around the farm buildings. On all occasions, I have either been too slow with the camera or have had a gun in my hand instead, so when I came across him… Continue reading
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It’s Grrrit
Coming across a stack of scrap wood last week, I decided to set about building some grit trays for the red grouse. I spread out some grit at various stations last spring, but the majority were ignored altogether and few were regularly used. In order to raise the grit up to a conspicuous spot, I… Continue reading
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Early signs
The last few days have brought with them a new feeling. Despite the continued frosts and icy fog, the very first signs of spring are in the air. Walking around my traps on the Chayne this morning, the sky above the farm was alive with croaking and cackling. Ravens are some of the first birds… Continue reading
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Excitement under the moon
It has been a fantastic week for geese. Huge numbers have been flying back and forth over the house, and when I got home last night with a full moon rising, I heard the distinctive call of pink foots from the farm over the road. It didn’t take long to throw on some jackets, fetch… Continue reading
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That time again
Fox numbers on the Chayne are often dictated by season, but a relatively high number of red offenders can be found all year round on the hill and in the rushy lower ground. Over the last fortnight, though, the number of visible foxes has absolutely skyrocketed. No doubt they were getting hungry during the month… Continue reading
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Third time lucky…
If anything, there are probably more pink footed geese around just now than there were last month. It’s impossible to spend more than a few seconds outside without hearing that cheery cackle, and massive skeins over the house are now so common as to have lost some of their sparkle. Heading out to the fields… Continue reading
About
“Shout on, Morgan. You’ll be nothing tomorrow”
Swn y galon fach yn torri, 1952
Also at: https://andtheyellowale.substack.com
Bog Myrtle & Peat 