New season's lambs welcome in spring

Four healthy lambs born to the same Omanawa ewe have beaten the odds, bouncing around the paddock to welcome the first day of spring today.

The Bay of Plenty Times first visited the lambs on August 21, the day after they were born, and since then owner Raywyn Raynor said they had grown stronger and the busy mum appeared to be coping well.

"They're all bouncing around skipping and playing."

Mrs Raynor said the ewe was getting special treatment, receiving sheep pellets and apples to ensure she kept producing enough milk to feed her growing brood.

"I'm keeping an eye on her, just in case it's too much for her. When they're a little bit older I might have to take two of them away."

Meanwhile, lambs, spring flowers and a freshness in the air mark the first day of spring today, with a cool start to a warm, dry season for the Western Bay.

Niwa national climate centre scientist Georgina Griffiths said Bay residents could expect to rug up for a little longer as the cooler weather continued into September, followed by warmer temperatures in October and November. Overall the spring temperature would be above average in the region, she said.

Mrs Griffiths said normal or just below normal rainfall was predicted over the next three months and farmers could expect "unusually low" soil moisture levels throughout spring.

However, she predicted farmers would be pleased with the news it would be a bit warmer over the next few months, giving spring growth a boost.