Tuesday 3 November 2015

Is the Big Dry coming?

There have been an increasing amount of talk about a "big dry" summer ahead for us - El Nino at work.  In case the experts are right I thought I better get in a few shots of all the greenery while I can, a farm girl with a camera's equivalent of squirreling away some nuts.

There are two sets of mallard ducklings on the dam.  I've visited there a number of times hoping to get some photos but they are too wary.  I sit and hope they will get used to my presence but there's no chance of that the way their parents carry on.  Then I feel guilty about causing the parents so much anguish and leave them in peace.  

 This is the best I've been able to do so far.


That's the dam in my header.  It's in a sheltered, tranquil spot any day but particularly on a still day.  There are plans afoot to move an old farm shed onto the banks to make a "Lake House" for camping.
 

A few paddocks have been ploughed and sewn with summer crops so a little more rain would be appreciated at this stage.  The ploughed paddocks contrast nicely with the grassy paddocks and darker green of the forest and grey-green of the forest hills beyond.

15 comments:

  1. The elections are beautiful and the duckling cute of course. Love the shot of the ploughed field.

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  2. May you have enough rain for growing, but not enough for drowning.

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  3. If it's going to be dry , you are going into it with some very lush green grass.

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  4. We are warned of a warmer and drier winter than normal, though you wouldn't suspect it from the amount of rain we've had in the past 72 hours! I hope your summer gives you the rain you need, and no deluges!

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  5. Last time our forecasters suggested a drought I had webs between my toes six months later.

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  6. What part of the country are you in, is it Blenheim? I hope you get enough rain in the next couple of months to get you through the rest of the summer.

    Diana

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  7. It's wonderful to visit somewhere that has some green Pauline and water for that matter - your dam is just lovely. It's nothing but a dust bowl here, with the surrounding hills ready to explode into flames via one careless person. We've already had some bushfires on the outskirts of town. Who can resist ducklings?!

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  8. We are supposed to get a very cold winter...hopefully it will be short as well and not too full of snow.

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  9. That third shot, with the reflection, is just gorgeous!

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  10. Beautiful countryside...great dam. A family of wood ducks often wanders through this property...they stroll up through the land, grazing as they go along. Mum and Dad in front, the ducklings dutifully following behind. I love seeing them...and the guinea fowls that sometimes venture through from the property across the way.

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  11. I've wondered the same thing here in the bay of plenty, we've had bits and bobs of rain but the ground is already looking dry...

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  12. The ducks on the water are very cute and also loved the scenery, but the one of the tree with its clear reflection spoke to me today. What a lovely part of the world you live in.

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  13. Stunning scenery.
    I hope you get as much water as you need. Nothing is worse than too much or too little. Either way you lose crops.

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  14. Oh, my goodness, I think I am in love with your part of the world!

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  15. I really hope that I'll get to see that scene and that it won't be too baked this year.

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