End of March

The end of March saw us still in the grip of winter, but, thankfully, without snow in my part of the country.

The female Blackcap was still visiting the garden.

Then she left and a male started to visit.

Speculation:  Has she migrated to the continent?  Is he newly-arrived from southern Europe?

Where am I?

Is this the food?

Where are the others?

Collared Dove in the cherry tree

Pied Wagtail

Robin

Coot

Marsh Tit

Blue Tit

Mute Swan

I spy ...

Where do you think you dropped it?

Circling

Greenfinch

28 junior

Meet the 18 twins

Zzzzz

These lambs are Wiltshire Horn Sheep.

"The Wiltshire Horn is a very old native breed and up until the end of the eighteenth century was the predominant breed to be found on the Wiltshire Downs. At this time the sheep were able to roam freely doing well on the poor terrain which offered little shade or protection. It is this background that has given the breed its hardiness and resilience.

The breed fell out of favour during the nineteenth century when the economy became reliant* on wool.  The breed was saved from extinction by a small group of enthusiastic breeders who formed the Wiltshire Horn Sheep Society in 1923.  In the 1970s the breed came under the protection of the RBST** because numbers were so low.  In recent years the number of registered sheep has significantly increased and so the breed has developed into the large commercial flock it is today.

The growth in popularity of the breed is primarily due to its ability to shed its fleece. The Wiltshire Horn has a short fleece that naturally sheds in the spring leaving a short hair coat. The fleece will then grow again in the autumn to offer protection during the winter months. In an industry where wool production has become uneconomic the advantages of self-shedding sheep are clear to see. The labour costs associated with wool are drastically reduced with no need to gather sheep for shearing, dagging or dipping."

(http://www.wiltshirehorn.org.uk)

My notes

*   I think this should read "... less reliant ..."
** Rare Breeds Survival Trust