Hilltop Visitors

 

Yesterday morning at breakfast we were pleased to see five Red Legged Partridge on the garden wall - they are such lovely birds and do not seem to visit us that often - the shot below is a zoom of the above photo to show the lovely plumage in more detail.

First Sign of Winter

View across to Punchard Gill from Gales Gate on Hilltop Track

Yesterday morning we had to go to Northallerton Hospital for an early appointment and it had been a clear cold night and everything was frozen solid when we came down the track at 07:30.  This view across Arkendale towards Punchard Gill was wonderful with dark frosted fields in shadow in the foreground and Punchard Gill and the surrounding hills in bright sunlight with a totally cloudless sky - breathtaking.

Hilltop Gale

Last Saturday the weather was really bad with driving rain and very strong winds and during this gale I was working in my office when I heard the concerted bellowing of cattle that seemed to be very close - when I looked out of the office window I saw a very wet and bedraggled herd of cattle huddled by the gate bellowing away and seemingly pleading to be inside and away from the appalling weather.


Laurence tells us that they will be inside the big barn within the next two weeks but of course that means the start of the usual ever-mounting feed bill for Laurence & Michael.  But whilst there is still grass available in the now sodden meadows I suppose it makes sense to leave the cattle out?