This was the last day when golfers could qualify for The Open at Troon. There were 4 events around the country with only 3 qualifying slots at each event. This scoreboard snap was taken just before I left the course with the heavens just about to open. The course is Glasgow Gailes. There was a change as the local hero Colin Montgomerie took 3rd slot on his own, the return of a local hero.
Over the last few years there have been reports that the humble bee is endangered. This is usually related to climate change and the doom and gloom predictions. All I can say is come to our small garden as I have never seen more bees in my lifetime, maybe we just have the right environment for them.
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Out on my morning walk the wood was illuminated with colour when I turned a corner and this wild foxglove stood tall in a brief burst of sunshine. Although seen in many a garden I always think the wild version has something special. The foxgloves are particularly attractive to bumble bees not just for the nectar but also as a protected place to spend the night.
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| Wild Foxglove |
This morning I went to Collenan for a couple of hours fishing and was surprised that no other cars were in the parking area. Later as I walked back from the far end I noticed that the herd of coos had appeared and all sat down in the field right beside my car. Are they trying to tell me something?
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| Collenan Coos |
It was a nice afternoon when Glenn and I took the rare opportunity to get on the bikes and go for a cycle around Troon & Irvine. A very enjoyable short trip.
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| Glenn Irvine Bay |
Today I got the ferry to Arran and climbed Goatfell. Walked almost 13 miles and climbed almost 3000 feet. The views were outstanding and worth the effort. Certainly a day to remember. A full report will appear in my Desmondo's ramblings blog shortly.
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| Goatfell Trig |
There are plenty of times I curse living on the coast in the West of Scotland with the constant wind. However there are plenty of other times when I reflect on how lucky I am. Today, with the empty sands, a lovely golf course and some blue up there it is the latter.
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| Irvine Bay |
When I was out on my walk this morning I came across this egg on the track. I think that it is the egg of a wood pigeon but happy to be put right. The big question is whether it hatched or whether a crow or magpie got there first?
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| Wood pigeon egg |
The iconic cotton grass is showing well at the moment and I am pleased with this close range snap. Usually found on boggy or upland ground. There are apparently 25 species but they are not grasses at all but sedges. The fluffy white cotton was once used to stuff pillows.
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| Cotton Grass |
This yacht was anchored out in Barassie Bay just off the north shore. I took a snap via the telephoto lens on my pocket camera. Always difficult to be sure what you have snapped. It was only when I loaded the snaps onto the PC I spotted the sailor climbing the mast. You can see him on the front mast. I could not see this with the naked eye. Nice boat.
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| Man on mast |
At low tide the beach is carpeted with these familiar coiled lugworm casts. There are plenty of casts around but the worms are rarely seen but are dug up by anglers for bait. The population here must be pretty healthy. The worms can reach 9 inches in size a good feast for a salmon or sea trout.
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| Lugworm casts |
This is just a fantastic place to fish, the scenery is outstanding, a good chance you will be on your own and you might even spot a white tailed sea eagle. The fish were rising so on small dries I caught about a dozen and a half brown trout and lost the same in a two hour spell. Then the wind changed, the waves rose and the fish stopped. That's fishing.
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| Loch Arienas |
The stormy weather bringing high tides is continuing to destroy the once great sand dunes near Irvine Bay. The upper walkway is now in pieces and the only safe walking is on the beach. Sad but nature at work.
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| Collapsing dunes |
It is normal to see and hear aircraft practising circuits and bumps training at Prestwick airport but they are normally ordinary Ryanair jets. This beast of a low flying cargo plane looked as if it was heavily laden and struggling to take off but proceeded to do at least 4 circuits. Unusual to say the least, very large, very slow and very noisy.
A converted fish and chippie has transformed itself into a superb ice cream shop or Gelateria to give it its Italian name. Can't say the best in Scotland but it is very good.
It is only at low tide that this stretch of concrete is exposed and today it looked attractive with its coat of fresh green seaweed and algae.
When we were over in Morvern I picked up some wild venison which has been turned into this delicious casserole, yum yum. Need to stop nibbling or there will be none left for dinner.
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| Venison stew |
The tide has gone out to reveal the stranded jellyfish. There are only 6 species common in the UK and I believe that this is a Moon jellyfish. Amazing creatures and great patterns, all of which are different on each fish.
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| Moon Jellyfish |
There are a few varieties of the Scottish thistle but I am not sure I have come across this one before but it looks a particularly prickly specimen so will fit in well.
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| Thistle |
Got this snap on Loch Oich. Just out of shot the swing-bridge had opened to allow this procession to sail into the canal stretch leading to Loch Lochy.
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| Loch Oich swingbridge |
Scotland has beautiful and isolated countryside. This barren, geological area is in the Morvern peninsula. An isolated track, only really used by the estate vehicles in the deer stalking season, in Gleann Dubh was just a fabulous experience in a place very few people ever see.
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| Gleann Dubh |
Over the last two years I have seen more red deer than I have seen in my whole life. Probably a number of reasons including me being in more remote places; the deer numbers are rising and they are grazing lower down. Still this Stag peaked over the rock line to have a look, a small harem was also in tow. Antlers in the velvet growing stage at this time of the year.
On the Morvern peninsula there are spectacular fault lines probably more evident due to the barren landscape. Still this one is a beauty but I do not think that I would want my house to be at the bottom of this gap.
Anyone who has read my walking and fishing blogs will know about my extreme caution when around cattle, particularly in this case where it is mums with fairly new calves. So what do you do when you reach this point? There is no obvious detour, as on the left there is the river Aline and on the right it is heavily wooded. Do you go straight through that gate or not?
One of my reasons to visit Lochaline was to eat at the Whitehouse restaurant. It has been getting rave reviews. We found all our courses great tasting food but not without criticism. The menu for the night is below.
Scotland has many beautiful remote and isolated beaches and here is a great example, Ardslignish Bay, captured on the majestic drive to Ardnamurchan lighthouse. Ben Hiant sits in the background.
Before leaving Fort William I managed another stretch of the Great Glen Way this morning, going from Clunes to Laggan. It is a beautiful walk with impressive mountains on one side and Loch Lochy on the other side. However it is a remote and isolated stretch without a phone signal so be prepared. This photo looks back to the Nevis range of mountains, still snow on the Ben.
Arrived in Fort William for an overnight stop and had to visit my favourite watering hole in the town, the Grog and Gruel. It does great burgers washed down tonight with Cairngorm brewery's Black Gold, awesome.
I got a surprise when I arrived at the gym this morning. This collection of vintage cars was parked in the Marine carpark with many more around the hotel. The value of these would be many million I presume. One of the Open stands behind.
