Art in Nature

Spot the figures, which can be seen from one of the David Marshall Lodge walks in Aberfoyle. Spooky but tasteful.

Bye Bye Michele and Mark :-(

As the summer camping season comes to an end we had to say bye bye for now to Michele and Mark. Here we all are enjoying some rare time out altogether after the silly season of camping and ranger walks.

Fungi Forays

They're everywhere again. Here's a Shaggy Ink Cap, or Judges Wig, it was really wobbly, he, he :-D. You can eat it when its young, but as soon as possible after you pick it. Will picked it, but he didn't eat it quick enough! It was a gooey inky mess the next day, what a waste. The slugs would have been tucking into it the next day anyway though.

Faery Rings and ???

Help, we can't find what these fungi are???? One is part of a fairy ring on the edge of a coniferous forest logging road and has a butterwort in the middle. The other one is massive and it was growing in a moss and wood sorrel covered floor under dense Spruce and Larch?

Scottish Deer Centre

Just up the road from Falkland is the Scottish Deer Centre. Lots of deer there, but also birds of prey, cows, sheep and recently, otters. I've still never been lucky enough to see otters in the wild, but I have seen a Highland cow! 'Blackmail' originates from highland cows as they were typically black and used as money or trading. It wasn't until later that the MacGregors' changed the meaning to what we know now as they demanded cattle for protection and immunity to raids.

Monarch of the Glen

On the left is Sherry, a red deer hind, who was brought up in a lady's kitchen until she was six. Being so tame she can't be released in the wild, so she let us stoke and feed her. The red deer stag on the right is one of two at the centre, but have had to be separated as it is rutting season at the moment. Being that they are in a fenced area they can't risk too many conflicts so they have a harem of females each. This one has the maximum of 8 points or tines, so he's an emperial.

Falkland, Fife

Had a trip to Falkland to surprise our friend Brian, who was there on a 50th birthday holiday. You don't look it young man!Excellent work Caroline, for keeping our visit a secret and keeping a straight face as we walked in the pub to surpirse him! A really good couple of days catching up with good food, drink and live music.