I have a new gadget thingy that came highly recommended by a friend – a Yantra Mat and cushion – it is an acupressure mat or bed o’ nails with matching cushion.  I lie on it every evening and have slept better than ever before.  My back has mostly stopped hurting.

Feeling very energised this morning, I took Haakon out for a ride.  BeAnne came too, walking along the road.  My perfect start to the day.  Four little Minions were desperate to come too but, although I like the idea of an equine cortège, I knew in my heart of hearts it would all end in tears and frustration.

After lunch, OH and I decided to take the dogs on a different walk. As lambing is well underway for everyone, the beach is about the only place where there aren’t any (and my fields).  This time of year, Loki can only be walked on our property.

We brought our own entertainment.

OH found a strange thing on the beach.  Apparently it is the hub of a ship’s wheel.  He lugged it home.

The beach was a huge success for everyone.

The Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) were nesting in the cliffs.  You should never approach these birds because they will accurately squirt you with a stinking oil made in the stomach.  It is eye-wateringly awful.

On the way home, in the car, after checking all the horses and ponies, by the roadside was a newly born lamb.  You can just see the blood around the ewe’s mouth.  She has licked her lamb clean.

As I said, it is “that” time of year but it always nice to have a good excuse to go to the beach.

A friend today said I took wonderful photos of birds.

Umm…. yes…. sometimes….. not always.

This dot in the distance is a Red grouse (Lagopus lagopus) who, the minute I made a grab for my camera in the footwell of the car, put the viewfinder to my eye, discovered the lens cap was still in situ, removed said lens cap and put the viewfinder back to my eye, had run away as fast as its little legs could go.

This bird apparently, according to my trusty Reader’s Digest Field Guide to the Birds of Britain, is, and I am prepared to be told I am wrong, a Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula).  I managed to successfully chop its legs in the photo off while its friend ran off behind the hill.

Dammit, they were so pretty together but I missed the shot.

So I am sticking to what I know.  Horses and ponies – they are bigger and can’t run/fly away as fast.

These hopeless bird photos were en route to Sandness when I drove over to check everyone equine was alright.

This is Raw Deal (Delia).  We are giving her the summer and then we will make a decision probably.  I am not looking forward to that.

This beautiful lady is Vitamin (Minnie) – Indy and Lyra’s mother.  She is always whiffles when she sees me because she knows I have a carrot with her name on it.  She barges past everyone to get her’s first.

Her 3yo daughter, Lyra, has far better manners and inspects it first before daintily taking it, just in time before her mother barges in to steal it.

I always ensure no one else gets Delia’s carrot.  She still loves them.

So, to conclude, ponies are easier to take photographs of than birds. QED.

Esja and Hetja, my two Icelandic girls, have lived together since they arrived in the UK  three years ago.

From Day 1 of their travels, Hetja decided to look after Esja.  They have a very close mother and daughter bond despite not being related at all.  It was from travelling together such a long way.

But Hetja is pregnant by Taktur and these days she is getting very fed up of Esja, who wants to run around and play and annoy.  Esja needs more friends and Hetja needs some peace.

So today we introduced three standard Shetland “yeld” mares to the field (a yeld mare is not  pregnant, ie without a foal at foot).

These three mares will be good for Esja.  They are the same age as her and at last, she will have some mares to talk to.

And Hetja can have some peace.

To start with, there was a bit of cantering around and hopefully they will settle down quickly together.

I have not really had the opportunity to see Esja move – she tends to put her head down and ea but, once we had introduced the mares to the field, we saw her move and, boy, can she move

(and boy, can’t the Shetland ponies move too!)

I am looking forward to summer when Esja starts her training.  It should be very interesting.

I went out and about today, helping some friends.

I met this amazing turkey (and yes, I do miss my Mr Twizzler but this chap was just as impressive).

Then I spied this little guy.  He was a lovely little yearling mini.  The same age as Tiddles but twice as cheeky.

I did not pass up the opportunity to have a snog, a chat and a hug.  I had to physically stop myself from hiding him about my person and smuggling off the premises.

Now this, in my opinion, is the best environment for a Shetland pony.

The field was huge and after one shout, lots of mini mares came cantering towards us with enthusiasm.

The very definition of cupboard love – not to chat with us, but to eat huge quantities of silage.

So, feeling very relaxed whilst listening to the gentle sound of munching and the odd-bird calling, I took photos and thought that life could not get any better.

I sent this photo off to my resident bird expert who told me it was, in his opinion, a twite (Carduelis flavirostris).  The Shetland name is Lintie.

From the RSPB website – “The twite is a small, brown finch closely related to the linnet, but with a longer tail and stubbier bill. Its back is tawny, heavily streaked with dark brown, and is white below with dark-brown streaks on its flanks. The rump is pink on males but brown on females. Like the linnet, it feeds on seeds year-round.”

So this would be a male then.

I love days like this.  Other folks’ ponies are charming and I realise that, even if I never breed or show another Shetland pony again, I still can enjoy being around these funny little equines.

There are now definite signs of Spring appearing all over Shetland.

I saw a pair of Mountain Hares or Blue Hares (Lepus timidus) in their “salt and pepper” guise.  This coat is the changeover from their white winter fur to their brown summer one.

It is excellent camouflage and they are beginning to pair off now for the season.  I have a very soft spot for these rare little chaps.  I hadn’t seen any this winter so it was a nice surprise on my way home from visiting the mares.

The first of the hill sheep lambs are beginning to be born.

Time to drive very very carefully and slowly as they can be fairly kamikaze in their attitude towards life.  Shetland sheep are not the most committed of mothers sometimes either.

The primroses (primula vulgaris) down by the stream are coming out now.

For me, this means Spring has started and we can’t go back to Winter conditions again (though it has been known to snow in May).

After photographing the primroses, I went to sit with The Minions who were mooching around in a field they had crawled under the fence to get to!

**** sigh ****

Tiddles is fine after his micro-chipping experience.  We had a lovely chat and cuddle.

The ground is drying up now (goodbye mud, it was not fun) so I sat down and watched the boys playing – probably my favourite sport.