-
Wheels
After three years of working on the hill (and four cars destroyed on the tracks), I finally own a 4×4. Not that it’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word fourbyfour. The little suzuki jimny may not be your classic gas guzzling poser mobile, but it promises to be quite a… Continue reading
-
A Goshawk
The past week has given me a fascinating opportunity to follow the progress of my released partridges. Many have wandered far and wide across the farm, while a dedicated hard core of birds has stayed around the pen, feeding and communing with the handful still left inside. It has been a real pleasure to take… Continue reading
-
The Day of Release
After almost a month in their release pen, the moment came this morning to release the majority of my partridges onto the hill. They’ve done very well over the past few weeks, and overcame some nasty enteritis that they picked up when they first arrived. Now they’re fit and strong enough to take on the… Continue reading
-
Leaps and Bounds
After nearly a month of pet ownership, my life is beginning to change for the better. Gone are the all night howling sessions; the little pup has come on so much in the last week that she can now come with me on my daily walk up the hill to inspect the partridges. On her… Continue reading
-
Training Day
With all the chaos and confusion caused by taking on a new puppy, it’s been easy to lose track of the seasons. It’s now time for ferreting, and my four savage cylinders are raring to get started. The little jills have never worked before, so today formed a basic introduction to the world of rabbits… Continue reading
-
Eagle Controversy
I wouldn’t normally go out of my way to talk about birds of prey on this blog. Aside from the occasional flash of gratifying prettiness, raptors don’t really float my boat. I’d far rather spend a morning with a woodcock than a buzzard, and while my ambivalence is amazing to some raptor enthusiasts (and even… Continue reading
-
As Cunning As A…
Coming into the third year of my project up on the hill, I realise that the problem of foxes has still not been properly addressed. I’ve shot my fair share either while lamping or happening across them during early morning patrols, but I haven’t found any reliable or systematic way of dealing with them. They… Continue reading
-
Feeding Pinks
Continuing with the general “autumn” theme, I thought it was worth including this picture which I took on the road into work this morning. Around a hundred pink footed geese came sweeping in to the barley stubbles above the coast at Auchencairn, and it was a hair raising experience to hear them roar as they… Continue reading
-
A Chance Encounter
It was a fine clear morning on the Chayne this morning, and despite the wind, the conditions were actually quite mild. Coming back off the hill after visiting my partridge pens, I came across this roe deer in a scrubby stand of pines and bracken. I am getting to know this deer, which is one… Continue reading
-
Up to the Heather
Trying to learn about black grouse through first hand observation is not easy. Trying to learn about greyhens is next to impossible. These immaculately camouflaged birds can vanish in a moment, and on open hillside, they are masters of disguise. One greyhen in particular spent almost every morning in September on the inbye fields above… 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 