Autumn

We have had some lovely summer days but September signals a change. It is cooler and of course the days are becoming noticeably shorter.

September/October is also the rutting season and the raucous bellowing of the local stag can be heard in the early hours. We have also felt his presence…

We awoke one morning to find that several of our young conifers in their tubes had been trampled. Clearly some big event had taken place in that part of our small plantation of trees! But, there must have been a guardian angel there as although some of the tubes were damaged and support poles snapped like twigs, the trees themselves were unharmed!

Deer hinds still visit us every morning but are very scared as apart from the marauding stag, it is also culling season… For us the deer are welcome; they were here first.

Young deer

Recently had a family member visiting who seemed to attract the local deer. A group of about 8 hinds and…3 fawns pitched up almost every day! But one thing we cannot understand is that the mums, after jumping a fence leave their young Bambis frantically running up and down the fence. But, at the end of the day, they all seem to somehow get together again.

Of course, with so many deer about some of our plants have suffered. So, we have to stretch our imaginations to make our tubs of plants deer-proof.  If we ever succeed, we will have to patent the solution!

Longest day

More sunny days, lots of birds about, grass turning greener…could it be summer?

It has been a slow start this year but the countryside is looking beautiful. The weather seems to be improving.

We have had some foggy days but Knock castle looks spectacular wrapped in mist!

Our saplings have grown amazingly with many reaching a good two thirds up the tubes. Of the 115 saplings only two seem to be struggling.

The deer and the sheep are noticing our new shrubs and plants and we are trying some new ideas of discouraging them to have a go at these delights! One lamb got to our rockery and before you could say “Hoy!” a whole fern had gone down the hatch!

We have just put new links on our site for Walk Highlands, Isle of Skye.com, Visit Sleat and Visit Scotland. There is also a link to SEALL (Skye events for all).

Ours guests have seen seals and golden eagles in the vicinity and there have been reports in the paper of sea (white tailed) eagles at Kylerhea.

Spring slow to come

Winter is just not letting go! But it has compensations. We have been treated to magnificent sunsets and some stunning cloud effects. Just wish the rain would slow down!

Despite the weather, the grass is pushing through and the saplings are growing apace.

We have starlings nesting in our roof …we think the young have arrived.

There is also a pair of cuckoos in the area, who are heard often and we see them from time to time.