Most New Zealanders are noticing the early spring – and with lambing now underway across the country it’s not surprising to get photos of lambs, but this one was a surprise to us – and when I say us, I mean my family, not WeatherWatch.

This photo was taken by my parents today – they live in Te Aroha in the Eastern Waikato and have a small lifestyle property that has a few sheep (actually it’s a mini Noah’s Ark of creatures – from eels to doves).  They don’t have enough grass for more than a handful of female sheep – but every year or two the sheep are ‘lucky’ enough to visit a  ram who, well, does his magic.

The property this year with the ram(s) involved sheep in all sorts of colours.  The farmer told my parents “the lambs may be born any colour”.

Nature is cool!

Here’s the photo my mother sent to me today titled “What the????”.

Apparently the mother sheep and new son/daughter (not sure yet) are doing well.  The new lamb is “very strong”.  

Some fun responses on social media to this photo today: ‘Did the postman visit?’ and ‘Somewhere out there is a suspicious looking farm dog’

– By head weather analyst Philip Duncan.

Image by Ian & Hazel Duncan