Observations

I am almost ready to start rebuilding the Church wall. There is still a load of small stones and dirt to remove before I can begin but I am confident that all the ground will be prepared by early next week. I need to catch handyman expert Steve to organise my first lesson in dry stone walling.

As I worked away this morning, I have enjoyed watching the goings on in the field. Supermom Blanche with her single chick has now left the confines of their run and Blanche's maternal instincts are so incredibly strong that I have no fear that the chick will be harmed by one of the other hens and cockerels.

Today a heron has been circling the field in order to get close to Carol's fishpond, and time and time again as the large unfamiliar shape of the heron has loomed into view the roosters' warning growls have rung out and the juvenile hens have galloped in from the field borders to hide safely under the trees. Even at her very early age, Blanche's chick innately understands the possible threat from the sky, and she too has darted quickly under her mother's outstretched wings when the alarm call has sounded!

Rogo (with Hughie in tow below), have watched my work with some interest, and the guinea fowl is slowly becoming tamer, the more he sees me.Unable to leave Rogo's side, he has been somewhat forced to be around me, but his anxieties have noticably reduced

The 7 young hens that hatched in the spring have turned into buxom pullets, but strangely have been copying Hughie in his roosting behaviour amid the trees just above where I am working to repair the wall. Hens are terrible copycats, and will take every opportunity to "out do" the antics of another in the flock. Last night I had to bounce a few of these new girls off the branches with the soft rake so that they would reluctantly saunter down to their usual hen house