I was very interested to see some old gamebooks from a sportsman who plied his trade across Galloway between 1911 and 1937. The books are now in the possession of one of his descendents who has a farm near the Chayne, and it was fascinating to see the story of sporting life in the south Continue reading

The past few days have been spent avidly watching a waterfall a few miles south of the Chayne. I went down on Thursday to look at the dippers as they dealt with the first proper water of the year, and sure enough found several bobbing birds shrieking cheerily on the black rocks, apparently undaunted by Continue reading

Very disappointing to find that my old adder friend was run over last week. I had got used to seeing her stretched out in a layby on the track up the Chayne, and was always worried that her fondness for tarmac would be her undoing. More than once during the past summer I stopped the Continue reading

Just worth noting that I had memory card professionally restored after losing all the photographs taken during my trip to Mull, Aberdeenshire and Perthshire. It may have cost me £70, but as they start to appear on this blog and elsewhere in print, I’m sure I won’t regret it. This young mountain hare (above) was Continue reading

The inevitable chuntering about harrier persecution has reared its head in advance of the 12th August, and while it normally seems pointless to try and engage in this stale, cynical stodge of an argument, it is worth noting some comments which have surfaced about the nature of living with rare species. The RSPB and SNH Continue reading

Speaking of helicopters (below), I couldn’t resist posting this picture of a golden-ringed dragonfly that I saw yesterday morning out on the hill. I am always extremely impressed by these monsters, and this brute would have covered most of my hand if I had allowed it to land on me. It is interesting to compare Continue reading

With the sun shining and turnip seedlings rising out of the game crop like dragons’ teeth, the first mini-setback has happened. A buzzard has taken the first partridge, plucking the feathers clumsily so that they lie in puckered bunches, bound together by scraps of skin. It is a concern, but the return of Mr. Lightbody Continue reading

Last year I found a dead mute swan on the beach at Dundrennan. Thrilled to find that it had a leg ring, I took the details and contacted the BTO, hoping to be told wild, romantic tales of migration across the arctic ocean. The response was very quick from a bird ringer on the Isle Continue reading

Just worth noting that there are many ways to “give nature a home” which do not involve donating money to the RSPB. This spotted flycatcher has made a nest in the bracket of the satellite dish which beams my internet into the house. I didn’t have to fill in any gift aid subscriptions or make Continue reading