It is unbelievable that this mild spell can continue, we have not had rain for well over a week and the temperature has stayed above freezing overnight for ages. Looking back on previous years of writing this blog I have been out clearing snow on many occasions during this period. Having said that I will have most probably jinx’s it by saying this and the weather will change for the worse.
9th.
Went down to Loch Dunmore today just to see what other trees the Beaver has cut down and it has been very busy, with at least twenty trees down, all Willow.
Although no sign of the migratory birds I said about in the last blog, at least the Goldfinches are enjoying them. (I must add that all bird shots on this particular blog are shut through double glazing so may appear a bit soft)
10th.
Being the closest Sunday to the first World War (which ended on the eleventh day of the eleventh month at eleven o’clock ), here in Britain we remember all those that died in conflicts and it is known as Remembrance Sunday. Our village is very special in as much as Blair Castle is the only place in the country to (by royal ascent) be allowed to have a private army, granted by Queen Victoria. So on this special day they are the main focus for the remembrance service. below are some shots I took on that day.
The army mustering outside the castle gates.
Part of the army is the band, here we have the Drum Major and the Head Piper discussing the parade outside the village hall.
The pipe band leading the soldiers towards the War Memorial.
The soldiers in their tartan uniform.
The Granite stone is our War Memorial. The lady by the band gives a lament on the bagpipes later on.
We have a small church service followed by a two minute silence for all to reflect and remember, followed by the laying of the Poppy wreaths. Poppies are a sign of hope for the future as the following year after fighting stopped, the Flanders (France) fields were many soldiers died on both sides, was full of Poppies.
The wreaths are from various organisations, some military others from the council and even local youth organisations. The small crosses are personal family remembrance’s.
12th.
Well the weather has turned a bit colder and in came the European birds migrated over here for the winter. We had a huge number of them flock in, including Starlings, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, a few Fieldfare but mainly Redwings, literally hundreds of them. I said in my last blog that the Rowan berries would be a huge attraction and they sure were, they just eat them hole as the first and last shot shows and in the last shot you can see why they are called “Redwings”.
14th.
Just to prove that we had a real attack on the berries, I have included the shot from the last blog of the tree full of berries and have followed it up with todays shot of that same tree, totally bare of any berries. I can assure you there are none on the ground either as the smaller finches picked up what was dropped.
I see no berries?
P.S.I did jinx the weather, the last two nights have gone below zero C.