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A Major Fall
The last few days have brought a huge influx of snipe and woodcock to Galloway, and the arrival has been so dramatic that it has even been noticeable in daylight hours. Putting out grit trays yesterday afternoon in the thick cloud on the syndicate ground, I was flushing snipe every few yards. Some of them… Continue reading
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The Clints of Dromore
Interesting to take a walk up on the Clints of Dromore above the Gatehouse viaduct yesterday afternoon in the low clouds. The viaduct was a favourite family spot for bike rides and exploration twenty five years ago, and this relic of lost transport history is just as impressive today as it was to a three… Continue reading
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A Blackcock Dusk
Well worth noting that during a walk this evening, I found and flushed the new blackcock again up on the rough ground. The wind was strong enough for the dog to air-scent him, and she froze into a classic pointer’s posture with the shining grass rippling all around. When the bird broke into the freezing… Continue reading
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The Welsh Conundrum
I had a very interesting day in Wales on Tuesday, looking at heather cutting as a management technique in the Clwydian Mountains and a few miles west on the Mynydd Hiraethog. Wales has a reputation in the sporting world as something of a fallen giant; the traditional home of some of the best upland shooting… Continue reading
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Credit Where It’s Due?
I was very interested to see this picture taken of a sign at Coed Llandegla in North Wales, which was sent to me by fellow blogger Sam Thompson. The statement that over 50% of the UK population of black grouse lives in North Wales caught my eye, because if this was true, then Wales would… Continue reading
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Weather Bonus
Well worth recording the fact that this has been a fantastically productive year for red grouse on the Chayne. With the exception of one spectacular pack of almost eighteen birds, most of the grouse have now split into pairs for the winter, although I have been seeing two “threes”, i.e. two hens with one cock.… Continue reading
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Autumnal Diets
Plucking and drawing the grouse from Morayshire on Tuesday, I was interested to see what their crops contained. When I opened up the crop of a grouse shot in August, I found nothing but rush seeds, demonstrating the extremely variable diet of a bird that we tend to think will only eat heather. On opening… Continue reading
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Paramo Jacket Under Test Conditions
After having been repeatedly soaked by rain over the past few weeks, I decided to take matters into my own hands with a new raincoat. Going into the situation fairly blind, I was pointed in the direction of a brand named “paramo” by the wise council of a Dumfries jacket salesman. After years of optimistically… Continue reading
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A Pointer and a Blackcock
Having been dancing around the issue of getting a pointer for the past six months, the issue was carried forward on Friday when I was lent Oscar, the Heather Trust mascot. Oscar represents more or less everything I want from a pointer, and I was itching to get him up onto the Chayne on Saturday… Continue reading
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Bog Cranberry
Just worth noting the impressive crop of cranberry which seems to have come through this year. There are patches of cranberry all over the Chayne, although the extent and quality of these colonies varies from a few threadbare whisps to entire riggings which seem to bind the moss into a netted cushion. The berries themselves… Continue reading
About
“Shout on, Morgan. You’ll be nothing tomorrow”
Swn y galon fach yn torri, 1952
Also at: https://andtheyellowale.substack.com
Bog Myrtle & Peat 