A FRACTURED HERD AND A CHANGE IN THE SEASONS

I haven't seen the herd now for over a week. I stand mournfully on various vantage points, staring into the distance, and it is some distance, to no avail. They are obviously beyond my reach. Strangely, over the weekend I have seen two tiny splinter groups on their own quite close by, one of two fillies, the other comprising foal number two, his mum and one of the geldings. I really miss the others but had a nice experience on Sunday morning with number two coming up to have a good sniff and nuzzle with me. He had a tick hanging off his upper eye lid which I was itching to do something about but I think it might have ruined a beautiful relationship, so I resisted the urge!

Itchy nose

The temperatures have changed noticeably, particularly in the evening, and Trigger has been in a lightweight rug. Wondering how many anti-rub vests he'll manage to lose this year. It was three last year so I'm trying one involving a strap between the legs but am now worried that the strap might rub. I have no idea what he does with them or who, in the animal kingdom, takes them away once he has discarded them. Only time will tell. 

The moor is in flux at the moment and there is not a lot of visible wildlife. I am no longer chasing elusive butterflies and dragonflies, or photographing the corpses of small mammals. The only things out there are almost silent skylarks, cows, sheep and endless Fox Moth Caterpillars. Prepare for many shocking images of them through the winter; they seem to survive anything!

Snippet and I went for a long pony searching walk last week, to a valley I couldn't see from the vantage points. No ponies but a lovely buzzard almost at head level when we were climbing out of the valley. Here it is along with other pictures from that day. With the grey weather and lack of activity out there, the camera has not been doing a great deal else recently.

patriotic sheep

And a very few more images from this week.....

You can just see Hound Tor and Haytor in the distance behind the sheep

Primula getting ahead of itself in the garden

The rain has finally reached us today and is adding to the squelchiness of the moor. More deep holes in the long grass made by cows for me to fall down, I hope not in view of the odd brave tourist; I do try and keep my distance, if only to avoid Snippet jumping all over them. I selfishly like it when I see nobody! Till next time.....some hole-makers laughing at me.