Sunday 26 July 2015

Sunday 26.07.2015

A cool afternoon - no - let`s face it, a cold afternoon with a no-nonsense wind setting the metal gates to their slightly eerie wailing as we walked up the road. Once in the woods the percussive accompaniment continued, the trees buffeted by the wind sounding, as they always do in these conditions, like a very rough sea.

On the ground though we were sheltered and able to hear the birds - the cry of a Buzzard, the "little-bit-of-bread-and-no-cheese" of a Yellowhammer and the insistent two note refrain of a Great Tit. And the grasses are at their very best just now - just glad I don`t suffer from hay fever so can really appreciate them!







But it was the butterflies that made the walk a little special in the end. The sun appeared briefly as we turned for home and suddenly there were dozens of beautiful chocolate brown butterflies flitting round our ankles. Fairly sure they were Ringlets, even though the guide says they`re absent from the north of Scotland. Not this afternoon they weren`t. :)




Back out of the woods and down the road the gates were still wailing in the cold but the sky was bluer and it had at least stayed dry......small mercies. :)

Thursday 23 July 2015

Thursday 23.07.2015

The sun tried in vain to get through the grey clouds this evening
and there was a cool breeze but it was mercifully dry and an excellent cobweb banishing jaunt.





There was a bit of blue sky as we turned for home and later in the evening there was a brief burst of sunshine sending great long shadows across the fields.
And just now, with a glint of light remaining, there`s a beautiful demi-moon suspended in the south west and a few stars just appearing.

Wednesday 22 July 2015

Tuesday 21.07.2015

Fresh and grey this evening but after two long days yakka and with the prospect of a day off tomorrow, a trot round the woods seemed a good idea.
And despite the cool air it was indisputably a summer`s evening with pungent scents that are familiar but hard to pinpoint.
Doubtless if I had the olfactory gift bestowed on dogs I could distinguish between types of vegetation, fungus and animals but instead the smells flood the nose, and thence the brain, in a single wave, producing the completely inadequate description of woodsy.


And as always the woods threw up a moment of pure bliss when, as we turned for home,the breeze dropped and the sun made a brief appearance between the grey clouds, casting long shadows and making lacy silhouettes out of the trees.







For a second or two it was completely still,quiet and warm and all you could do was stand and stare.









It`s why it`s possible to walk the same piece of land day in and day out and for it to be a different experience every time.

And in other news - finished another Elizabeth Wein book today. Black Dove White Raven. In fact sat in the car at lunchtime in order to be able to finish it in peace. It`s as gripping and un-put-down-able as the other two I`ve read - Code Name Verity and Rose Under Fire - and, like them, is action-packed, thought-provoking and full of strong characters. Can`t recommend them highly enough.

Wednesday 15 July 2015

Wednesday 15.07.2015

Rained all morning. By the time we ventured out the clouds were still hanging low enough to touch



and the air was thick and muggy making breathing and walking hard work.

The grass seems to have shot up just in the last few days






and some of it is very pretty.......




Thankfully as we came back down the hill the cloud had lifted and the air had cleared...b-r-e-a-t-h-e.......

Sunday 12 July 2015

Sunday 12.07.2015

Around and up Bennachie all weekend, house-sitting two dogs, five horses, seven sheep and four chickens. Out early before work on Saturday morning,(just me and the dogs) the dew sparkling in the sunshine, and then again later in the evening,the shadows gathering, the air still and warm.

And this morning perfect conditions for the "three peaks", bosky and beautiful in the woods


and above the tree line on the way up to Mither Tap, a goodly breeze keeping us cool,splendid views



and Oxen Crag beckoning.


Stunning skies as we walked across

and even clearer views from the top - still snow on The Cairngorm....


Then another path, across to Craigshannoch, the baby of the "three", before descending onto the bottom path where there were birds, bees, butterflies and....bagpipes, heard in the perfect, some would say the only, way - their familiar drone drifting across the fields.
And so we strolled back through the lush and leafy woodland,


and there was even time for a quick dip.

Thursday 2 July 2015

Thursday 02.07.2015

And just before bed/just after midnight it was very busy out there under a stunning peachy moon, the last of the baling with tractors shining their floodlights across the field, noisy birds still flying over head, bats patrolling between the trees, hopefully eating some of the midges, and beautiful blue moths rising silently out of the long grass. If not for work today I would have stayed out longer........

Wednesday 1 July 2015

Wednesday 01.07.2015

Had to think twice about the bird noise I was hearing at the top of the hill this morning and then remembered: lapwings! Fifteen plus, tumbling over the field with one anxious pair warning me and the dogs away. So long since there`s been any numbers, it was a moment to savour. Yellowhammers, great tits, skylarks, a kestrel - all busy on this warm but breezy full-on summer morning - none of the energy sapping, sweltering temperatures they`re enduring further south (poor things.........)


Beautiful shapes,textures and colours



though this is being baled up this evening, leaving the field bare and pale yellow.
Someone`s been busy in the woods too, cutting the grass again into wide pathways which does make the summer walking easier but also makes the place feel more like a park. Plenty of cow parsley left though - the pungent smell everywhere -










and plenty of little windy pathways too......











And in other news - went to Glasgow instead of Mr. Grohl`s cancelled gig.....always plenty to see and listen to (they were really good)




strangers to chat to, walks through the parks






and by the river

and then there are the walks during work days, also on pavement, also with buildings to take note of - not to mention the pleasure of peering over people`s fences.......it doesn`t matter as long as one can continue to put one foot in front of the other......have I mentioned Stuart Maconie`s book? A real treasure of which more later.