Forgot to mention that on the 27th January, this blog celebrated its 2nd birthday. Many thanks to the various visitors who continue to support the blog and the project it is covering both in thought and deed – it’s great to hear from you all! What started out as a way of documenting my obsession [...]
Archive for January, 2012
Two Years of Working for Grouse
Posted in Grouse on January 31, 2012 | 1 Comment »
Out with a Bang!
Posted in Sport on January 31, 2012 | 2 Comments »
Tonight sees the end of the inland wildfowling season – and what a damp squib it’s been for me this year. What with the mild weather and having to move house over New Year, I hardly got down to the mud at all this year, and only had one fleeting morning at the wigeon at [...]
The Next Step (Hedge-wise)
Posted in Land on January 31, 2012 | 1 Comment »
After a few days of miserable but intense work, the one hundred yard section of rotten fence has been torn down and replaced with two new fences to form an enclosure for a section of hedgerow. The gap between the two fences is just a little over three metres, which should be enough to stop [...]
The Encouraging Rat
Posted in Vermin on January 29, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
After three months of feeding wild birds with my pheasant hoppers, I finally have concrete evidence to suggest that pheasants and chaffinches are not the only ones to be benefitting. On the offchance, I set a Fenn trap in a wooden tunnel beside one of my hoppers last month. This morning, I had a visitor. [...]
The Return of Winter
Posted in Land on January 29, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
After a wild and mild few weeks, winter has returned with a somewhat half hearted attempt at snow. There have been some decent frosts and the occassional flurry on the low ground, but the hills seem to be holding the white stuff quite well, and it certainly is cold up here. The snow has provided [...]
January Harriers
Posted in Wildlife on January 25, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Almost a year to the day since they appeared on the Chayne, the hen harriers have returned. Last year, more than five harriers at a time were seen cruising over the low ground below the moor, and this morning I happened to come across a cock and hen bird flying together over a patch of [...]
“For People, For Birds, For Ever”
Posted in Grouse on January 25, 2012 | 2 Comments »
I happened to notice yesterday that the RSPB are again advertising for paid lek surveyors in Dumfries and Galloway. Candidates are required, in the terms of the job offer, to “undertake surveys for black grouse, with the expectation of searching approximately fifteen 5km squares for black grouse lekking locations and record relevant information e.g. lek [...]
Hedge Plans
Posted in Land on January 25, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
With the hill more or less dead and lifeless, now seems to be the time to make plans for the spring. Although it doesn’t seem it, the growing season is almost here, and I’ve got big plans for planting. One of the most important projects I’m working on this year is creating (or resurrecting in [...]
Snares, Red Grouse and an Early Bath
Posted in The Dog on January 22, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Just thought it was worth documenting a great walk up the hill this afternoon, under a mild sun with views down to the Lake District and the Isle of Man. My snare midden has been working for the past two weeks and although it hasn’t produced the goods yet, it’s come tantalisingly close. Yesterday, I [...]
Jimny Complications
Posted in Uncategorized on January 22, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
I don’t know a thing about cars. I like to think that I’m not a stupid person and I can often pick up new information quite quickly when it interests me. The problem is that cars don’t interest me. I’ve been driving for almost nine years and have driven a huge assortment of old bangers [...]
