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The Monster
Trapping continues on the Chayne, although the last few weeks have seen a major drop-off in the number of weasels being caught. For a short period at the end of March, I was catching several weasels a day, but with the exception of the occasional straggler, the traps have been ominously quiet throughout April. After… Continue reading
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The First Cuckoo
It seems relevant to mention that I heard my first cuckoo of the year yesterday, then heard two calling on the darkening this evening. Cuckoos are known for being shady and elusive characters, and before I began this project, I could count the number of times that I had seen one on the fingers of… Continue reading
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Highs and Lows
The further away we move from the illusion of death and lifeleness which was so apparent in December and January, the more interesting things become. The seasonal aggression and territorial behaviour of crows is playing against them as, day by day, they vanish into my larsen traps, while lapwings, curlews and oystercatchers are establishing their… Continue reading
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Hard At It.
What with various amphibians, mammals and birds feeling the spirit of spring coursing through their veins, I have recently been placed in uncomfortably voyeuristic positions before mating frogs, black grouse and woodpigeons. Only the frogs have been featured on this blog in photographic form because I wanted to avoid building the unsettling reputation as the… Continue reading
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Further Afield
The blackcock which spent the past few months around the farm buildings vanished around a fortnight ago. His usual haunts were abandoned, and he started to appear in unusual new places. Last year, his lekking displays were confined to a single large field, and he continued to display there even into July. I ascribed his… Continue reading
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Nesting Peewits
Although April is when black grouse lekking behaviour will reach a peak, the month is stolen by one of Britain’s best loved and beautiful waders. Driving up through the Borders yesterday to visit a friend with vast numbers of black grouse, I stopped by the roadside on a stunning day to see what I could… Continue reading
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Spring is Sprung at Last
Having seen my first swallow of the year at 11:07am this morning, I am now satisfied that spring has well and truly sprung. Last year, I saw the first swallow on the 10th of April, and the year before it was the 14th. It’s amazing how those tiny birds can time their arrival so reliably… Continue reading
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Lambing Begins
As the first lambs arrive, I need to prepare for the inevitable onslaught of vermin which is always associated with lambing. Crows are whetting their beaks in anticipation of juicy eyeballs, and foxes have already started filching the first of the new arrivals. If I can make a good impact on those thieving devils over… Continue reading
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Road Rage
The red grouse territories on the Chayne are necessarily massive. The heather quality is so poor that pairs of birds need a great deal of space to rear their broods, and while this is in the process of changing, it limits my ability to learn about the birds. Driving south of Edinburgh this morning, I… Continue reading
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The Heather-gator
Thanks to some fantastic weather recently, the ground has really warmed up and plant growth is heading into overdrive. Many of the more sheltered rowans have cracked their buds, and willows seem to get fluffier by the day. In amongst the undergrowth, some fascinating little beasts are waking up after spending the winter underground, and… 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 