I think this is a Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum). Apparently, no other British bee looks anything like a Tree Bumblebee: "If you have trouble remembering... just imagine a furry mint humbug"...Eureka! We've found the unique, bumblebee equivalent of Humbug, the abbreviated collie!
Calf-fest
It wouldn't be right to get through the year of 'C', in the Stour Valley, without a Constable...
..seen here on the left, or possibly the right, with his sister, Constance
Unfortunately, it has become clear that the twins spent a very long nine months together, and now avoid each other at all costs. Sharing an udder is just about bearable, but whilst I was hoping for adorable curled up together photos, instead, we have anti-social siblings.
Constable, seen here in a melodramatic, artistic funk. And Constance, proving she is not your typical heifer, but something of a hard nut.
This picture makes me want to name them 'Bianca and Ricky', but sadly we are in the year of 'C', and the naming baton was set pretty high with previous twins called 'Mikhail and Raisa'. A definite step up from our first, Daisy and Maisy, but Jo is still upset the Gorbachevs did not reply to the birth announcement sent to the Kremlin.
Fortunately, the twins have an ever-increasing pool of alternative playmates. No 100's large bull calf can be seen here relaxing in the sunshine behind the lovely Clara.
This calf was one and a half weeks late and No. 100 is yet to regain her former barrel-slim figure. Who knew she could get any wider? It may be necessary to use a panorama setting for her next photo.
If No. 100's calf is not to the taste of our fussy twins, an Angus cross arrived yesterday to a very grumpy cow who does not want to share, let alone allow photos of her calf. She was a nightmare for her first calf, good with the next, and is now verging on difficult; which begs the question, why are we breeding from her? The twins won't be playing with this one for a while! Photos soon when the hormones have died down a little.
You may be thinking, "..that sounds like an awful lot of calves!", and you would be right. However, Dad is intent on proving his AI credentials, and we have another two due this week, and more on the way.
Helen and I believe this is Dad's subconscious telling him block calving is the way forward...listen to your inner voice Dad...and pray not too many double up!
Feed the Birds
Here at the Lower Dairy Farm Gull Sanctuary, we've been busy feeding the birds.
But where do they come from? And how do they know? Are there gull scouts? Here's my first furrow after lunch:
...and half an hour later:
According to the RSPB:
"Because winds are stronger at higher altitudes - so less energy-expending flapping is required - gulls are often thousands of feet in the air. From such a vast height, and by using their keen eyesight, they have an excellent all-round view for many miles around. This allows them to exploit potential feeding opportunities very quickly."
Once upon a time, Farmer Humph very nearly ran over a gull; but that's a story I'm saving for another day.
The Sierra Stour
Few realise that Nayland actually lies in the foothills of the rugged and mountainous Sierra Stour.
It's the best kept secret of Valley Folk like us.
The Herefords...
..are always watching...
Look, a splendid new barn!
Shiny and complete with gutters (thank goodness) plus a new track so we can drive to it! Thanks to the Longmoor Labourers for their hard work track-building. The track has significantly reduced run-off from the fields already, and combined with the new barn will go a long way to boosting our catchment-sensitive farming credentials. Unfortunately, photographic evidence of Helen's birthday treat...shovelling rubble, was lost when Dad buried his brand new digital camera.
With the building complete, its back to other farm work. 
The priority right now is make sure the new grassland is in tip-top condition for a bumper hay and silage year. We're on the lookout for the mugwort peril, a plant that has plagued one of our fields for years, but concerted digging up and cutting seems, at the moment, to have reduced its proliferation. In its place, something better. Planting the grassland has turned up a lot of burnt flint - further evidence early Humph walked this land!
Next winter, the new barn will simplify our system, and if implemented well, should cut the time spent feeding, littering and yard clearing, allowing us to make progress and fight perils elsewhere; good for the cows, good for us farmers!
And on that note, this week, I attended a Farm Safety and Health Awareness morning. Let's be honest, I wasn't too thrilled at the thought of HSE presentations, and it's never good to embody 'health' at these events by turning up in the throes of alien death flu. However, it was presented by farmers and I would highly recommend it as a refresher in how to mitigate risks and keep yourself and your workforce safe. Anyone who has attempted to find H&S information, particularly on the HSE website, will know it seems somewhat of a dark art. This morning was informative, and we received H&S advice that I would not have considered and/or would have no idea where to look for otherwise. Farmers, if you haven't attended already, get yourself on a course!
No excuses: http://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/shads.htm
Basking in the sunshine
Barn and clouds
Work paused for the weekend - and by the horrible winds, but the new barn is taking shape quickly!
Barn building
The barn site this morning, and this evening. Monumental progress on the farm.