SATURDAY CRITTERS - Ponies with foals near Castle Island Hide

Once again these shots were taken when I was out with my bird group.  If you saw them on Thursdays post, you will know that no one could ID them.      Then I had a brain wave on how to find out about these ponies and have succeeded.  They were very friendly and ate grass from our hands.

They are Konik Ponies and are owned by NIEA and are currently on site to help maintain the Pondage wetlands .

They are an ancient breed –related to the now extinct Tarpan pony they thrive year round in conditions too challenging  for more domesticated  animals.

There are mares, filly’s and foals and their names are-

 Darla, Diana, Duma, Freya, Eostre, and Eimear.

          The three foals that were born around May time are not yet named.

There are an additional eight geldings and a stallion and colt on other parts of the reserves but these are not open to the public.  
You never know, perhaps somday I may be allowed to go and photoraph them.

I am linking this post with Saturday Critters.

I do hope you enjoyed seeing these gorgeous ponies and finding out a little bit about them.  

Thanks to Dr. Rory Mellon who is the Conservation and Estate Manager at the Quoile Countryside Centre for the addition information.

Many thanks for your visit and also for all your comments.

FRIDAY'S HUNT and WEEKEND REFLECTIONS

Once again it is time for Weekend Reflections and Fridays Hunt.  This week we are on the letter F, Favourite and Shiny and I have managed to combine all the requirements into one photograph this week.  Hope no one has a heart attack!!  This shot was taken after I left my family to Belfast City Airport just as the sun was rising and it made all the FUNNELS very SHINY as well as making a lovely REFLECTION shot on the water at the WOW Centre of the RSPB Reserve at Belfast Harbour. This is my FAVOURITE!!

 I am linking with WEEKEND REFLECTIONS and FRIDAY'S HUNT.#

Many thanks for visiting and also to all those who leave comments.

FRIDAY'S HUNT and WEEKEND REFLECTIONS

Once again it is time for Weekend Reflections and Fridays Hunt.  This week we are on the letter F, Favourite and Shiny and I have managed to combine all the requirements into one photograph this week.  Hope no one has a heart attack!!  This shot was taken after I left my family to Belfast City Airport just as the sun was rising and it made all the FUNNELS very SHINY as well as making a lovely Reflection shot on the water at the WOW Centre of the RSPB Reserve at Belfast Harbour. This is my favourite!!

 I am linking with WEEKEND REFLECTIONS and FRIDAY'S HUNT.#

Many thanks for visiting and also to all those who leave comments.

GOOD FENCES - Horses

Recently my bird group went to the Quoile Pondage and below is when we called in at their Countryside Centre and later on our way to the hide we spotted these horses with foals more of which you will see this Saturday.  

I am linking this post with GOOD FENCES.

I have now found out about these ponies and will add more informatin about them on this Saturday's post but in the meantime I can tell you they are Konik ponies and they are 2 filly's called Eostre, and Eimear and they are only yearlings so they have a lot of growing to do yet. The foal is still to be named as yet.

Thanks for your visit today and also to all those who leave comments.

Hide at Castle Island Road

Recently when out with my bird group, we visited the Quoile Pondage and these few shots are taken from the hide.  In the 2nd shot, you can see the Mountains of Mourne in the distance and in the last shots some beautiful wild Orchids.  

I hope you enjoyed seeing these few photographs and  tomorrow you will see more things we saw on our day out.

Many thanks for visiting and also to all who comments.

WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY

Before the children left Northern Ireland, they wanted to go to Ward Park again which is only 2 minutes’ walk from my home and on this occasion we discovered a Mallard duck with 8 ducklings.  

I am linking this post with WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY.

Many thanks for visiting and also to all those who leave comments.

THROUGH MY LENS -Sunrise

My family who were visiting from Malawi have left Northern Ireland now and although I know I will miss them dearly, I have many happy memories, some of which I will share with you.  I would like to THANK ALL those who commented on my posts during the time my family were with me.  I appreciate that VERY much. I would also like to THANK Mersad, Stewart, Tex, James, Teresa and Eileen for linking me into their memes.  

After leaving them to the Airport, this was the sunrise I photographed.  Enjoy.

I am linking this post to THROUGH MY LENS.

Many thanks for your visit today and for all your comments.