The Human Camera Trap

It was a gorgeous morning, the sun burning through the early haze. I planted myself and my camera beside the lamb feeder and waited for my subjects to come to me.

Iris and her twin babies - the boy on the left and the girl on the right.

I didn't have long to wait - soon the hungry lambs were coming over.

And they posed very nicely while they considered if I was too scary to walk near.

Iris with her head tilt.

Soon there were so many lambs coming over it was difficult to keep up.

Always stragglers, though.

This lamb is my birthday buddy. I helped deliver him on my birthday and for a while I lost him in the crowd, but this is him. I know because of his slightly wonky jaw, bless him.

The nuts don't last long in the feeder once this lot gets near them.

Nothing for the ewes, as much as they'd like to steal some.

A nice Texel ewe lamb...

...and her mum.

This ewe has some lambs tagging along.

These twin ladies look very different.

Some more lovely faces:

Off the beaten track.

Iris's ewe lamb and her spectacular ears, and half of her brother.

This ewe has a look on her face as if she's saying, "Look at my lamb, isn't he handsome? I'm so proud."

A mum getting pestered when all she wants is a lie-down.

Hey, it's my birthday buddy again! Look how big he's getting. So proud...

And the award for best hairstyle goes to...

Mother and daughter.

I was pleased to see these two coming over. Despite appearances they are probably only half-brother and -sister (visual pun intended), both adopted onto a new mummy.

They are strikingly alike though!

A big, handsome face.

Peeking out from behind mummy.

Iris's boy lamb.

So many pale-coloured Suffolk crosses.

A Lleyn.

Mother and daughter.

I was still on the lookout for a couple of lambs, but they didn't seem to be falling for my human camera trap so I had to start moving to find them myself. This lamb was delivered by yours truly on 1st March and I call her, imaginatively, half-faced lamb.

Some of these babies are getting very big indeed.

Mother and son.

The Hampshire Downs are nice.

A running Lleyn.

I found Ellie, the first lamb of the year, next to the feeder only after I'd moved away from it. Typical.

She was standing with a friend.

Ellie didn't pose either, she just strutted away. The girl has attitude.

It was getting warmer and brighter as the haze burned away.

I left the sheep in peace to enjoy their sunny day.