Blacktail Lodge lives up to its name

Vermin control took an unexpected turn in the sheds recently.  This year we've been reasonably (reasonably...) pest-free and we now know why.  Out from the straw pile ran a rat, with a stoat (blacktail) hot on its heels.  A squeak and a brief struggle later, off trots said stoat with dinner.  We've seen him (or her) several times since, including under the porch - and fingers crossed we have dancing kits on the patio later in the year.  Other visiting wildlife has included linnets and goldfinches, and a big water beetle that made its own way to our new pond (and scared the bejeesus out of me when I accidentally picked it up thinking it was a stone).

New pond with intrepid pond-maker

Lambing is progressing well, and now that Irene is here, all is ship-shape. 

Number 1 goes out into the fields

This is my ballywick!

Tame lambs waiting for a new mum

The night shift is usually Ann's domain, but we have all had a turn.

A good night goes as follows: get up at 03:00, go to the sheds and check everything is ok, top up a couple of needy lambs with milk, and come back at 03:30.

A less good night?  Get up at 03:00, go to the sheds and check everything is ok.  Find two newly born doubles mixed up in the top shed - two ewes, four lambs and no idea which goes with which.  Try various combinations until everyone stops bleating. No spare pens, so cobble together two more out of the dregs left.  Find two doubles in the middle shed, with an extra lamb.  None are triples, so search for an additional mother while the sheep keep walking around and around the feeder to get away from you.  Find another lamb under the silage, and finally mother starts bleating.  No free pens.  Put one set in with the straw, evict an older family and install a new one, and set up a makeshift pen by the alley.  Meanwhile another ewe starts lambing.  Deal with her, evict another family, and install.  Check the lean-to shed - all is quiet, but everyone needs water.  Drive the quad over to Cleave Shed to find another two doubles.  Chase everyone for five minutes to catch and pen.  Copper sulphate the navels (to avoid infection) and remember that everyone back at the main sheds needs copper sulphating...go back and do it.  Meanwhile, another double lambs.  Evict, install.  Feed five lambs colostrum and give some milk to the tame lambs.  Fill more water buckets.  Dust oneself off, and head home...only to hear the pained straining of a ewe-lamb in the lean-to.  Investigate, help birth, get kicked in the balls as she struggles to get away and then runs off, evict another happy family and put lamb in pen.  Chase ewe-lamb around the sheds and rugby-tackle to the ground.  Heave her into the spare pen, and both of you sit there panting.  Get her water and silage.  Dust oneself off again, and head home - to find it is 05:30 and time to get up.