More rain showers. Late in the day paddock WL7 is opened for the cows.
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Clear with warming temperatures. Cows stay put. Upland sandpipers are being seen in most sections of the ranch. Pipit heard in paddock SBW5 (also SBW4 and NBW4 and 5). Summer equinox is arriving in one month-hard to believe.
Cloudy and cool with clouds clearing during the evening. I moved cows into second split in WL5.
Woke to rain and continued all day. I was able to get over to WL to move cows to a fresh paddock in WL5 (first split). A few telling observations this spring and growing season: 1) remarkable year for yellow alyssum and Japanese broom both winter annuals (remember mild and wet fall in 2017); more areas where Sprague pipits are singing; blooming flowers seem to be a fraction of normal for this time of year; and a disturbing patch die off on mostly crested wheat field, and among natives, what appears to be a serious die off, and/or weakened vigor of needle and thread; first old crab apple trees now in full bloom (last year was May 1st) with much less blossoms than last year, and lilacs are just starting.
Clear and warm, almost hot. Clouds move in late afternoon to cool things down. Quiet and calm move into WL6 in the heat of the afternoon-over 300 cows have calved. WL6 has a little more alfalfa so important to move onto new lush feed when cows are full.
Grass growing heat continues to green the prairie. No moves today.
Warm with light refreshing breeze-prairie trade winds. A few times the wind can actually be welcome and gentle, like today. Wire breaks and cows move sooner than planned into WL2, leaving too much unused feed in north portion of WL3. Bullocks Oriole makes flashy arrival feeding in the fully bloomed pear tree-white backdrop against orange breast.
Clouds open up for some sun on Mother’s day. Our Mother’s day flower Golden Pea (Thermopsis montana) again greets Dana as she wakes for the day.
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Bill Milton
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Milton Ranch LLC | Daily Ranch Journal |