Another 2 months gone already? I'm aghast.
Even now, as the nights are creeping further back each evening and the sun sneaks into the sky a little earlier each morning, our latest 'shift' of wildlife and reported spottings has arrived!
Things Feathery: late last month, we had some foreign visitors: Waxwings, which were raiding the various berry-bearing bushes with all the ferocity of their fellow Scandinavian coast-raiding forebears. They are still around - lurking in the treetops and eyeing up those juicy berries that the Thrushes don't guard.
We have managed - largely through dogged persistence - to encourage some Goldfinches to attend our daily bird buffet in the front Garden. These beautifully coloured, nimble (and noisy!) birds make a welcome addition. There are rumours of a Long-tailed Tit over to the west end of the village, however, the bird in question has not ventured this far east! More encouragingly, the almost legendary Great spotted woodpecker HAS made it to the easternmost edge of the village, after teasing us with reports of its presence in everyone else's gardens for the last month or so! The Woodpecker was somewhat flummoxed at our feeders, when it tried to climb a metal pole, but couldn't get a grip!
Whilst driving to work, somewhere near Contin, I was forced to stop at the roadside and watch SEVEN red kites 'playing' with each other about 45 ft off the ground, in the stiff breeze. One, okay. Two, perhaps - but SEVEN?
Things Furry: just before Xmas, a local lady who is hostess to a regular late-night deer 'tea party' (she feeds them not far from her home), reported that she was challenged by a stag early one morning! The lady was walking down into the village centre, when she encountered the Stag. The beast was obviously being territorial, and seemed focused on the bag which the woman was carrying at the time. Thankfully, other than the woman becoming a little nervous, nothing came of it. It does, however, remind me that docile as deer seem, they can present a threat - as the old (and true) tale of the Fannich forester will demonstrate (see 'Looking back...')
Otters have also appeared nearby (well, a Highlands-type 'nearby' anyways) according to our Angling correspondent, as one or two have swum over his fishing lines whilst he was out on the loch!
Our correspondents in the shadow of Ben Wyvis, report that their Pine Marten has returned but it appears that it has learned to use a ladder! Perhaps it’s been on a roof tiling course...
Also from the same direction came rumours of an incredibly rare species: the Scottish Grey, Black and White Branch Squirrel. Sadly, these rumours were quashed when it was discovered that it was a Badger which was climbing a branch in their garden, to 'steal' the bird food!
The ingenuity of all of our local creatures remains an inspiration.
Sadly, last week, a young doe who had been hanging about behind our place, and had been subsequently rescued by a one of our caring local folks (who gave it 'bed and board') died. This is a reminder that no matter how well-intentioned we remain, Nature will - in the end - have her way!
In closing, I have one last question: When do the Siskins come back? I'm really looking forward to hearing and seeing them noisily darting to and fro with total disregard for the safety of the other 'air traffic'.
Oh hurry up Spring!
Jim Curry
Even now, as the nights are creeping further back each evening and the sun sneaks into the sky a little earlier each morning, our latest 'shift' of wildlife and reported spottings has arrived!
Things Feathery: late last month, we had some foreign visitors: Waxwings, which were raiding the various berry-bearing bushes with all the ferocity of their fellow Scandinavian coast-raiding forebears. They are still around - lurking in the treetops and eyeing up those juicy berries that the Thrushes don't guard.
We have managed - largely through dogged persistence - to encourage some Goldfinches to attend our daily bird buffet in the front Garden. These beautifully coloured, nimble (and noisy!) birds make a welcome addition. There are rumours of a Long-tailed Tit over to the west end of the village, however, the bird in question has not ventured this far east! More encouragingly, the almost legendary Great spotted woodpecker HAS made it to the easternmost edge of the village, after teasing us with reports of its presence in everyone else's gardens for the last month or so! The Woodpecker was somewhat flummoxed at our feeders, when it tried to climb a metal pole, but couldn't get a grip!
Whilst driving to work, somewhere near Contin, I was forced to stop at the roadside and watch SEVEN red kites 'playing' with each other about 45 ft off the ground, in the stiff breeze. One, okay. Two, perhaps - but SEVEN?
Things Furry: just before Xmas, a local lady who is hostess to a regular late-night deer 'tea party' (she feeds them not far from her home), reported that she was challenged by a stag early one morning! The lady was walking down into the village centre, when she encountered the Stag. The beast was obviously being territorial, and seemed focused on the bag which the woman was carrying at the time. Thankfully, other than the woman becoming a little nervous, nothing came of it. It does, however, remind me that docile as deer seem, they can present a threat - as the old (and true) tale of the Fannich forester will demonstrate (see 'Looking back...')
Otters have also appeared nearby (well, a Highlands-type 'nearby' anyways) according to our Angling correspondent, as one or two have swum over his fishing lines whilst he was out on the loch!
Our correspondents in the shadow of Ben Wyvis, report that their Pine Marten has returned but it appears that it has learned to use a ladder! Perhaps it’s been on a roof tiling course...
Also from the same direction came rumours of an incredibly rare species: the Scottish Grey, Black and White Branch Squirrel. Sadly, these rumours were quashed when it was discovered that it was a Badger which was climbing a branch in their garden, to 'steal' the bird food!
The ingenuity of all of our local creatures remains an inspiration.
Sadly, last week, a young doe who had been hanging about behind our place, and had been subsequently rescued by a one of our caring local folks (who gave it 'bed and board') died. This is a reminder that no matter how well-intentioned we remain, Nature will - in the end - have her way!
In closing, I have one last question: When do the Siskins come back? I'm really looking forward to hearing and seeing them noisily darting to and fro with total disregard for the safety of the other 'air traffic'.
Oh hurry up Spring!
Jim Curry
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