Meet the Middlebrook Mob!

Last night the organization I work for held a benefit at Middlebrook Farm. I thought you might enjoy seeing the cows!

Look! Sharp!

In which Barnard stars as David, with Ulani in a cameo as Goliath.

A new barn mystery!

I've noticed that Barnard seems to always be sleeping on his chosen bed when I walk into the barn.  Why doesn't that little guy go out? 

I thought maybe he was going out "cattin'" all night and that's why he was exhausted during the day.  So I got out the trusty hunter-cam and set it up just outside the barn door.  Last night I turned it on before bedtime.

I had not been awake five minutes around 6:00 this morning when there was a flash.  Immediately I knew I'd gotten a photo.  Would it be Barnard coming home from a long night of hunting?

HEY!  Who is that?!!!

September 11

Only one of my current animal family was with me on September 11.  Luke.  The rest came on the scene later. 

So today I share my personal remembrance of the day.  I wrote it last year, and it remains an honest reflection.

It's Magic!

 

In the old days, I'd hop off the lawn mower to pull the bird feeder poles and neatly mow under them.  I don't remember when I realized that there was magic building in those "weeds" -- now I let them flourish and see how I'm rewarded!

Lockdown

While walking the dog this morning, I caught a glimpse of the barn.  A bird was perched along the ridge of the roof.  That's not unusual.  We often have mourning doves sitting on the ridge, cooing out to the world.  This morning's bird, however, sat quite upright.  Like a raptor.  Bird of prey.

On a normal walk Ulani and I head to the railroad tracks, then loop back past our house and as far as the empty house the other direction.  But today when we got to our driveway I said "that's it, we have to check this out."  Standing at the gate I could see clearly into the yard and sure enough, a hawk sat on top of the barn.  I opened the gate to get closer.  That's when it flew away, and I knew from the stripes on the tail that it was a Cooper's hawk.

We have experience with Cooper's hawks.

So I quickly checked the birds (all fine) and grabbed a piece of my green mesh fencing to block the Dutch door.  I couldn't bring myself to close the hatch door into the back yard.  The forecast today is 95 degrees and you know it will be hotter inside the barn.  Due to the extended time the birds spent inside in June when the other predator was around, their run is full of thick, tall weeds that I hope will effectively camouflage them from intruders outdoors.

Check back tomorrow.  No news is good news!

Update Sunday.  For 36 hours I only counted 11 hens.  Thought one had been taken, but last night when they were roosting I did another inventory and all 12 hens are there!  Phew!