Signs of Spring: Black Lambs at NT Sutton Hoo

We visited these wonderful Hebridean lambs (above and below) at NT Sutton Hoo last weekend when they were a matter of days old. They were gambolling about near the mounds and leaping up in the air. We returned to the site this weekend to see how they were getting on. 

 

The photos above this line were taken eight days ago. The ones below were taken a week later ...

Their shepherd has asked the public to suggest names. Both lambs are females. We sent in our suggestions and it will be interesting to see which names are chosen.

 

 

 

 

Lambs at NT Sutton Hoo, a Late Arrival to Our Feeders ... and Seasonal Signs at SWT Martlesham Wilds

Muntjac at Sutton Hoo (two of three spotted) ...

Lambs! In January! Sheer joy. And lapwings

The wobbly stage ...

Back in the garden ... this semi-regular turned up 24 hours after my count ...

Isn't he handsome?

Time for a bit of argy-bargy. Just look at the barring on the underwing.

Back at Martlesham Wilds ... the Barn Owl's view,

and the view looking in the opposite direction towards the River Deben.

Curlew, but all at quite a distance. Over 15 counted.

The humble, beautiful Daisy.

More snowdrops in Martlesham Churchyard

My first Aconite of 2023 ...

... and my first Crocus.

 

More woolly than wild?

We had a wonderful time at NT Ickworth with the lambs last weekend...

These tulips in the walled garden mark out the extent of last year's wildflower 'patch'...

... I love tulips, but I also love all the insects that wildflowers attract.

What it is to be cool...

...or cute.

... Oh, and we also saw a stoat, but sadly it was too fast for my camera. A wonderful sighting all the same.

Scavenger Hunt for March 2016

My thanks to Suzzie ('greenthumb')
for choosing the words shown in blue on my post

and preparing the March Scavenger Hunt.

Local

We sometimes see this delightful character 

as she is often found grazing in one of our favourite local haunts.

City

We spent Easter in Salisbury,

and walked around the Cathedral Cloisters.

You can see the spire in the stained glass. 

The poet, George Herbert, lived just outside the city,

close to Wilton and to Old Sarum in a village called Bemerton. 

This stained glass window is in Bemerton Church.

What fine oak leaf and acorn decoration.

Stripes

These are perhaps flutes rather than stripes!

I love the crinkly-crankly lines along the edge.

We saw this shell on the beach at Cley-next-the-Sea last weekend.  

 

Crisp

We always enjoy seeing this wind pump 

at NT Wicken Fen, not far from Ely.  

The crisp lines and criss-crosses of the sails

always look wonderful against the wide skies of East Anglia.

Street art

 Not technically 'street art', 

but we try to keep an eye out

for cute or unusual signs on the road.

I have seen a flying pig sign not far from home ...

Tiles

This Robin spent a large part of the day

perched on the fence, in front of the tiles. 

Most of the time she had bits of twig and leaf in her bill,

so we hope there will soon be chicks.

RocksStairs

I could not find the photo I had in mind

of real stone stairs,

so this is a view of wooden steps

 - rather impressive ones -

at Tintagel.

Hair

One of our 'regulars'

enjoying a Good Hair Day!

Measure

'Measure for Measure'

or perhaps

the heart of love ...

Swans at Thorpeness,

displaying in front of the 

House in the Clouds.   

Large

I couldn't resist posting

one of Swansea's iconic buildings,

perched above the sea in Mumbles.

For one

Des res ...

an English duck's home is her castle,

in the grounds of Hedingham Castle. 

I was thrilled to see clumps of Coltsfoot on the bank. 

Landscape

Spring in Suffolk 

Twin lambs at NT Ickworth. 

*

If you have enjoyed seeing these pictures, why not join in the next Scavenger Hunt
and/or take a look at some of the other responses ... here.

Happy hunting!

 

NT Ickworth - lambs and moss

It was a delight to see the new lambs at NT Ickworth last weekend. 

They may not be 'wild' but they are certainly 'wonderful'!

The light may have been hazy,

but the bare branches of the tree

and the fresh green grass

are typical, if contradictory, indicators

of spring!

I was particularly struck

by this moss that lined the churchyard wall

in the Ickworth estate. 

I have included this close-up to show the fiery colours.  

I believe it is Wall Screw-Moss aka Tortula muralis.  

There is more about it here. 

I was intrigued by the thin strands of web in the photo above.
On my screen they show up much better if you click on the photo to enlarge.

And finally, do click the link here 

to take a look at Crafty Green Poet's photo

 of dew-drenched Capillary Thread Moss.