Once we figure out the ringleader, we have a name for her! We let the sheep into the lane, thinking they could graze up and down the road and the small area around the septic field. This meant the front yard would be accessible, as well, but it would be fun to have the sheep grazing quietly in the area. We thought we had the back hill (above) and side orchard safely blocked. Not so! Our intrepid explorers found their way into most nooks and crannies.
Acting more like goats vs sheep they went up and down the hill, behind the bushes along the road (Dubya got concerned when they left his sight) and back up the hill. Dubya does seem to find them interesting. Before that, they made their way behind the truck and between the stored wire to the back hill (above) and into the orchard. They found their way INSIDE the fence around the new water tank by scaling the fairly steep hill at the end of the orchard. Scott had fenced off that hill from the lower side but since they came in from the other direction, they managed to get access.
In the image below, they are also on the wrong side of our protective fencing. Just glad the only things growing were some flowers. Apparently they were less than tasty flowers (they did get tasted). Note the water tank in the foreground - the hill between the current sheep location and the tank is steep and partially fenced. That didn't stop Dora and her flock!
They didn't stay long in the area; they were quickly motoring back up through the orchard:
This morning they were in the lower orchard one minute and then back in the front yard the next.
The ram goes along but is definitely not in charge. The sheep do seem to like the grass in this area
You can see the enlarging bellies - they have a ways to go yet before we have lambs; based on size, it is looking like we might have some multiples.
You would think (and we thought) they would be happy just to eat. Not these ladies. They even scaled the wall into the formal garden.
This meant going over the 2 foot wall. This also meant they could come up on the front porch. Scott went in and chased them out. The ram might have the best form but he got a time fault in this jumping class:
The pregnant ladies are in good shape and made it look easy. I am sure they will be back into the garden and onto the porch before the day is up!
We picked up my flak jacket so I got to do a bit of a ride on Dubya. We stayed on our property vs going down the road as it has been decades since I did a real ride. He was a gentleman and didn't try to go under too many low branches. His trot is fast and bumpy - really hard to post or sit. For a walk, he is great.
We took the truck in for repairs this week and had some tine to walk along the water at Bateman's Bay. I was practicing with the camera on macro
when the pelican (now floating in the water) suddenly seemed to attack a cormorant. Usually they float along amicably. I found out why when I looked at the pics that evening - the cormorant had found a fish and the pelican wanted it. Scott theorizes he wanted the cormorant to drop the fish out of surprise
No success - you can see the fish in the cormorant's gullet:
We also got closer than expected to a pair of swamphens making baby swamphens (no pics of the action); here he is asking if they can do it again.
She said no and he respected that.
On the way out of the area we found some of last seasons brood - mom is still checking on them!
A parent's job is never done.
Comments
Post a Comment