Gertie ( and Velentine !) has come home !!!

The farm valley has resounded with the clamouring sound of honking geese and the unmistakeable sight of a perfect “v” formation flying team circling the  pond. Mom and pop geese, back from their Winter migration are already firmly established on the island nest and have laid claim to the farm pond. Consistently resisting any arriving visitors, only allowing a brief layover for the dozens of weary travellers that arrive daily, Mom and pop sail serenely around their pond keeping watch for incoming flights. Sunday morning we observed another group arrival and fully expected yet another battle to ensue. We expected the usual frantic wing flapping and resonant honking, we expected the visiting geese to be driven to the south forty and eventually to just leave but they didn’t. On Sunday evening, watching from the barnyard we witnessed a heart melting moment. Quest the big bay Shire gelding was standing by the barn gate, two geese were quietly sitting side by side on the bank of the pond. Mom and Pop, the annually returning geese were calmly roosting on the island, the waters were still and all was peaceful at the farm. We watched him turn his giant head to look at the geese on the bank. One of the two geese on the bank started to walk towards the great horse, Quest lowered his head to the ground and  walked to meet the goose and the unlikely pair stood, nose to bill.  We held our breath for a long moment, had Gertie come home and had the goose and the horse recognised each other ?  Our question was answered when Gertie, tail wagging and head bobbing walked calmly to stand under Quest’s legs…..and she was followed ( much more cautiously !) by a second goose….Valentine ? On Monday evening, Quest heard Greg’s whistle resounding over the pasture and as usual, the giant Shire came galloping over the brow of the hill ….flying alongside him, at shoulder height were the geese. As Quest ground to a sliding stop, the geese landed at his feet and there they stayed as Quest was led out of the pasture gate. Gertie has  returned to the pond island where she hatched and we were able to witness the long anticipated re union with her longtime Shire friend.

Time to go, the cuckoo clock has spoken. Take care, keep safe. M