1987 April

April. 1^st
April has lived up to its image because all day it has been raining on and off. Me and Elizabeth were going to take Grandma home. At the last minute Grandma discovered she had lost her eternity ring. We had already been later than usual, and Susie had run off down to the lodge.

Then we saw Susie swimming out into the water after a pair of Coots. She was deaf to Elizabeth’s frantic calls. Next Elizabeth sent me after Susie whilst she reversed the car back to the farm, so that they could go and hunt for Grandma’s ring. When I reached the lodge Susie was swimming back to the bank but the Coots hadn’t budged an inch. They seemed very very tame – in fact too much so for their own good.

I got hold of Susie, and we went to meet Elizabeth who was walking down the lane to meet us with a stick hidden behind her. When Susie finally ran to Elizabeth she got a good hiding. Elizabeth was in such a furry that I dare not speak to her or walk next to her.

The next time we set off half way down the lane Grandma started rummaging in her bag. Then she triumphantly pulled out her ring and said “O look there it was.” After all the trouble, I think Elizabeth was speechless.

April. 2^nd
In the morning there were quite a few clouds in the sky, but it was blue and the sun was shining. The air smelt of spring and the sun was quite warm. Skylarks were singing everywhere. From the scrape up the back, I saw a Little Owl just above the Silver Birch tree. It was the first one I have ever seen on the farm, although I once saw one higher up. In the garden at home the Daffodils are just showing their yellow buds, and I found an Ant near the open Crocuses in the back garden. Across in the Hay Meadow I saw four multi-coloured Pigeons. I saw the same group twice more during the same day, once by the reservoir, and once near the village.

I had a wonderful surprise as I climbed over the gate. The opposite pavement was covered with lovely little Coltsfoot flowers. They are the first wild flowers to bloom this year. When I walked back up the lane I saw two strange russet-brown birds, about the size of a skylark, but couldn’t identify them. Some of my Frogspawn will soon be ready to hatch. Across in My Place, Celandine leaves can be seen. The Pussy Willow flowers are starting to open.

April 4^th
All day a very strong and bitterly cold wind has been blowing. The sky has been cloudy but it did sunshine in the afternoon, so I took Cindy for a walk. I crossed to the reservoir, and heard the honk honk of geese as I did on March 30^th, and this time saw four beautiful Canada Geese. I can remember seeing six last year at around about this time.

April. 5^th
The weather has been like yesterday. On the reservoir I saw a Moorhen: I haven’t seen one for ages. On the way home I saw the same four Pigeons in Radcliffe’s meadow. I think they will be Town Pigeons on a summer holiday. One is brown, one grey, one whitish, and one white with grey streaks. In the House Field I saw a Magpie and a pair of Crows.

On the way home in the school coach I saw a calf in one of the fields. The sun was warm and the sky blue with a few clouds. The moor behind Fisher’s had been burning, and a lovely smoky smell drifted through the village.

April. 7^th
Today the sky has been overcast. As I walked past the Pump House Well, I saw a Wren on the wall. It is the first I have seen for ages. The female Wren is called a Jenny, and the male Benny. Later on I heard the honking of geese down at the reservoir. It was getting late and quite dark but I had to go and see. On the reservoir near the bank were six beautiful Canada Geese and an assortment of ducks. It was to dark for me to see them properly. I decided to get up early the following morning so that I might get a better chance to see them.

April 8^th
I set off at seven o’clock for the reservoir. I didn’t see any Geese but heard the occasional honk. There didn’t seem to be any ducks about either until I looked closely. There were six Widgeon swimming about in the rushes by the side of the island. I also saw two male Goldeneye and four Coots. The cock Coots had some terrible noisy fights over a female.

April 10^th
Today as I opened my curtains I swore with surprise, as it was snowing. All morning it snowed, and it stopped just after double geography. The sky was a dark grey sheet of clouds. As I walked home through the fields, I found drifts of snow three feet deep by the first stile. The depth of snow varied from three inches to three feet where the wind had blown it into drifts. The sky was deep blue with many enormous snow clouds. The sun managed to shine. The sunlight sparkled on the snow and the bright white nearly blinded me.

April 11^th
We played rounders at school instead of doing P.E. I was a fielder. I was standing day-dreaming when I suddenly heard shouts. Looking up, I saw the ball coming straight at me. Luckily I caught it. Susan and Pamela were out, and I was quite pleased with myself.

After I got of the coach it snowed violently. Me and Jack had to take two ewes and two pairs of new born lambs into the barn.

April. 14^th
Today the sun was shinning in a blue sky with enormous white and grey clouds. In the evening when I went down to the reservoir there were only a very few purple clouds, and the sky was blue with many aeroplane tracks. Everywhere was calm, and there was a half moon. I saw one male Mallard, eight Goldeneye (three male), one pair of Geese, and six Teal.

The geese swam in front of the island, and I could have watched them for ages. It is interesting to see how the waves change with the fall and rise of the wind. The male Goldeneye is my favourite duck. I also saw about twelve Redshank, twenty Curlew, and eight Lapwings. When I go down to the reservoir I usually see these birds.

April 15^th
Today the sun was lovely and warm with blue sky and cotton wool clouds. The sun was so warm that I had to take my coat off, and one of my jumpers. It has been the warmest day so far this year. In the waterholes small Coltsfoot leaves are beginning to grow. Today two Blue Tits and one male Chaffinch came to the bird table. I also saw three Ladybirds, and there were many insects flying about.

When I crossed over to the reservoir I saw the pair of Canada Geese in front of the island. To my great surprise and delight I also saw a Cormorant swimming on the water. The day was so nice so I decided to see how far I could get round the reservoir. When I went on further I discovered quite a few Pussy Willow and Weeping Willow trees. Beneath a lot of trees to my great delight I found some Iris leaves. On my walk I discovered that I could get to the other side of the reservoir. So tomorrow I am hoping to walk all the way round.

April. 16^th
This morning the men from the RSPB came. To my delight and disgust they told us that there were two Tawny Owl eggs in the box at the top of the front garden. I was disgusted because I haven’t seen a tawny owl for ages, so they must come only at night. Goodness knows where they go to roost.

Today has been quite warm but the sky is grey and overcast with a tint of blue. On the barn gate I saw a Wren. When I walked through Pump House Wood I saw a small green-yellow bird. I thought it would be either a Chiffchaff or a Willow Warbler, and decided to go back later. When I returned I discovered four Goldcrests instead. I also saw a pair of Chaffinches and a Robin. By the only Elm tree in the Croft I saw a Blackbird. I have only ever seen one Goldcrest on the farm before so I hope the four stay and breed. They are very small delightful birds.

April 18^th
I saw my first Daisy yet in House Field.

April 19^th
On the lodge today to my delight I saw a Water Vole. Water Voles eat grasses and sedge stems. If you disturb them they jump into the water with a loud plop. These animals are excellent swimmers. People often give them the misleading name Water Rat. In the evening I saw two Carrion Crows up the back, so I am sure that they are nesting there.

April. 21^st
When I arrived home I went down the Lane Field to look at my Frogspawn. All except a few eggs had hatched into Tadpoles. To my surprise and pleasure there was a little tiny Frog in my bowl. So I scooped it up in my hands and released it into the stream.

The weed in my bowl came from the Pump House Well, and in my bowl were four small Pond Snails. There were also about three small brown beetles. I found two enormous bugs in the well – each was about two inches long. Their heads were brown with white bodies. Obviously they were not caterpillars because they were living in water. I do not know what they are, so I can’t make the decision of killing them or letting them live.

I saw the Little Owl again, on a slope above the Gorse bush.

April 23^rd
Today the sun is very warm with blue sky and cotton wool clouds but there is quite a strong wind. Today I saw one Wheatear in Jack Ash Tree and a pair up the Back Meadow, near the peat bogs. Wheatears are lovely coloured birds, but because they are migrants in England I only rarely see them on the farm.

Both Chickweed and Water Crowfoot are flowering their small white flowers. In the ditch down by the lodge I did not just see Crowfoot flowers, but also some Water Boatmen for the first time this year. On the small pond there were some pretty Water Spiders. I also saw my first Bumble Bee today, though I did see some about a week ago down in the village.

April 29^th
All day a force nine gale wind has been blowing. Outside it is bitterly cold and the sky is a sheet of greyish white. In the Lane Field today I saw a massive Gull. It was eating cleansings, and was either a Lesser or a Greater Black-backed Gull.