Lambs in the Field and Crimes Against Wildlife

Lovely open bay building on a Claythorpe farm

This morning, as I was working in the vegetable garden (digging, as seems to be my lot this year!) I could hear the bleat of sheep and lambs. Spring must have sprung, the sheep are lambing.

The old railway engine building, Claythorpe

The sound was definitely coming from the Claythorpe area, so I grabbed my camera and set off. I walked past the likely fields in Claythorpe, but could only see one distant sheep with twins, too far away to photograph.

The beautiful old Railway Station building (now a home) at Claythorpe

Eventually I managed to find them but couldn't get close as I didn't want to upset these brand new babies and their anxious mothers.

Give them a few days and they will soon be relaxed and skipping around, their mamas will be less protective and I may be able to get a little closer.On the way home I saw these lovely geese and ducks on the Great Eau, I had seen, and heard, the geese fly over our vegetable garden an hour earlier.

It was a funny old day which started off with an early visit from a couple of Wildlife Crimes Officers as they asked for permission to have a look in our woodland. It seems that someone who lives close by, and who has been in trouble before for dealing in wild birds, is being investigated again. I won't go into too much detail, but fair to say it infuriates me that people trap wild birds and then sell them on.

They had a look round and agreed with us that he hadn't been using our woodland this time, which was a relief.

The upside is that one of the officers takes a great interest in plants and has offered to identify my mystery plant for me. He had a look at my photo and couldn't immediately name it, but he will get back to me. I'll let you know when he does.So, in some ways it was a lovely day - I love seeing the first lambs of the year.

My brother, Ian, has done his account of the happenings onThe Owl Wood Blogspot.