 |
| Thunder Brewing - pastel on paper 11/6/23 |
An age has passed, and passed me by it seems. A contemplative dwam settled over mind and mood while listening to the soporific gush of this highland burn that splashed on ancient rock below. Surrounded by hundreds of Heath Moths dancing o'er the heather, the thought that this would still be going on long after my passing struck home hard; a sadness within declared, 'all this will be missed, so love it now'.
 |
| Sketching today 11/6/23 |
That sentiment should be with us all when considering the Scottish highlands, the hills and glens, the rivers and burns, the flora and fauna, and importantly a way of life. Things that we enjoy or value now may not last when placed in the hands of those that manufacture change through false claims and media massage. I am happy that the landscape that I sketch has no tree plantations, no wind turbines, nothing invasive other than my beloved Golden Eagles that fly nearby.
 |
| Golden Eagle sub-adult 11/6/23 |
A next generation just might by-pass that love 'thing' for the beautiful hills and glens of Angus if misguided political intentions are not assuaged. Pressure from conservation organisations on wildlife, or from 'green issue' factions concerning climate change, or from those advocating a re-wilding of Scotland's landscape to eliminate the very shooting estate where I sit to sketch; all are thunderous bolts fired into the blue with an uncertain hope of success.
 |
| Shrew 11/6/23 |
God like, their voices are political thunder and not to listen to their agenda is sacrilege but much of that diatribe is ironically sacrilegious to wildlife and the land itself. Create more forest land to allegedly help climate change but destroy the beneficial ecology and wildlife that already exists there; this principle of change makes no sense unless a purse is waiting to be filled in the dingy, two faced corridors of greed.
 |
| Golden Eagle adult female 11/6/23 |
I am a bit fed up with representatives of conservation organisations being economical with the truth, and getting away with it. They blatantly criticise private land ownership when it is used for shooting and weave a web of 'not quite the truth' to satisfy the beliefs of their followers and monied supporters. Sadly the response to this by estate owners, shooting organisations, game-keepers or shooters is like a damp squib fizzling out on a dreich Guy Fawkes Nicht with no thunder or enlightenment.
 |
| Red Kite mobbed by Lapwing 11/6/23 |
Politicians prefer to listen to the voting mega thousands who believe that shooting estates are bad instead of the few hundred country-life votes at the opposite end of the popularity scale that just might be worth listening to if that future 'loving' generation turns into a force to be reckoned with. I must admire 'the estates that educate' program, run by the
regional moorland groups, aimed at introducing youngsters to upland country life. Predictably the 'golden oldies' of the shooting and game-keeping fraternity can be a bit reluctant to admit or realise that their way of life is under threat.
 |
| Oystercatcher and chick 11/6/23 |
So, let's hear some thunder rumbling through and out of the glens. Take time to broadcast what you are all about, write a blog (if I can do it, anyone can .. game-keeper Andy Malcolm's blog started me off), take photos or videos to put on social media, talk to employers or estate owners about public relations and make them aware of pressures that may affect the future. Not all estates can become nature reserves but most are almost there combining public access, shooting, farming, re-wilding and wildlife conservation; use it or lose it.
 |
| Oystercatcher and chick 11/6/23 |
Obviously, what is not needed is fuel for the fire..... no raptor persecution or indirect disturbance, trapping mistakes, intolerance of estate visitor-walkers who, in the main (excepting prats) are there because of that love for the hills and are only too willing to post their day out photos on social media or, indeed, chat to estate workers. Also be aware of 'wolves in sheep's clothing' who denigrate shooting estates on the one hand and then ask a game-keeper for raptor information or a lift to the nest site for ringing purposes .... ah, those lovely raptor study people who could go a long way to healing rifts by being open-source and honest about satellite tagging data and tagging misinformation.
 |
| Lapwing juvenile 11/6/23 |
Until all raptor persecution grinds to a halt and satellite tag failures are not logged as 'suspiciously vanished' a stalemate will continue between grouse moors and the 'public' media express and that is destined for a station called, 'Nogrouse'. Anyway, I am 'farting against thunder' (if my royal readers forgive the term) considering the massive ground swell against anything grouse and shooting; unfortunately most opinions are nurtured on the internet and vectored by the bias published by the likes of the RSPB and not by actually visiting or experiencing a blinking grouse moor ..... such is the sad state of our nation.
 |
| Ring Ouzel 11/6/23 |
 |
| Red Grouse chicks 11/6/23 |
 |
| Bilberry Bumblebee 11/6/23 |
 |
| Common Sandpipers 11/6/23 |
 |
| Golden Plovers 11/6/23 |
 |
| Ring Ouzel juv 11/6/23 |
 |
| Wren 11/6/23 |
 |
| Curlew 11/6/23 |
 |
| Redshank 11/6/23 |
 |
| Wheatear 11/6/23 |
 |
| Heath Moth female 11/6/23 |
 |
| Heath Moth male 11/6/23 |
 |
| Vapourer Moth egg cluster 11/6/23 |
All text, photographs and sketch done on 11 June 2023 (unless dated otherwise) and subject to copyright - no reproduction.
If you are inspired to go out into the hills and glens of Scotland please leave it as you find it, respect the environment, do not litter or discard so called 'biodegradable' fruit and especially if you are a dog walker keep your beast on a lead and do not bag up its waste then chuck it by the wayside. I recently came across one black poo bag neatly hung on a tree branch for someone else to take home and also a bright blue one thrown in the moorland verge .... why?
Moorland birds like Lapwing, Curlew, Golden Plover, Dunlin, Dotterel, Snipe, Red and Black Grouse, Ptarmigan and many raptors nest on the ground, it is advisable to keep dogs on leads at all times especially when walking on the high plateaux of the Cairngorms during summer months.
Please be aware that it is illegal to disturb nesting eagles or other raptors and you may do so inadvertently in your journeys into the highlands. Observe protected species at a respectful distance usually from about 1000 metres and for short periods of time only.
No wildlife was unduly or knowingly disturbed by my presence or for the purposes of this web page other than what would be expected on a normal hill walk. Many geographic names and location recognizable photos have been omitted to prevent persecution or inquisitive disturbance to named species.
Canon camera 200D with optical zoom lens EFS 55-250mm used; please note that the zoom range ZR distance if given is calculated by OS map from subject location to camera.
