Great Spotted woodpeckers

Grey Granite and Rufus walked through Philorth Woods this morning and  appreciated the gentle greening of the woods where the wild garlic is unfurling. They heard, and eventually saw, not one but four great spotted woodpeckers drumming high in an ash tree. They felt privileged to be able to watch these beautiful birds, which Grey Granite always thinks of as solitary, for several minutes.

Aconites and starlings

Aconites on the Cairnhill, certainly a originally garden throw out but now well established in the wild amongst clumps of snowdrops.



A cacophony of loud chattering starlings in the rookery trees at Peathill

A sunny Spring Saturday morning and Grey Granite decided to make the most of the mild weather walking from the Fluke Peel, round by Mains of Pitullie, Peathill and then over the Dry Briggs and down the Cassa Brae. The route took in four of the nine Rosehearty Burgh Boundary stones most of it to the accompaniment of skylarks . At Peathill the rooks were noisily building their nests and we saw several angry corvid squabbles. The rooks were sharing the trees with a vast flock of very noisy starlings. The Dry Briggs footpath was far from dry: there was flooding which sent us briefly over the dyke and into the park at the lowest point of the path. As we walked down towards Rosehearty I regretted the gradual encroachment of new houses on the lower part of the path. Crossing the Cairnhill we were rewarded by a large patch of snowdrops and a few aconites, obviously garden throw outs but now well established. The single celandine in flower by the Byre Hame brings the wild flower species count for the year so far to 18.



The Road less Travelled

The Road not Taken

Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood

and sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveller, long I stood

and looked down one as far as I could

to where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

and having perhaps the better claim

because it was grassy and wanted wear;

though as for that, the passing there

had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

in leaves no feet had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I --

I took the one less travelled by,

and that has made all the difference.

Thank you Rufus

Grey Granite has spoken to several world weary, bureaucracy bogged former colleagues over recent days, all of whom are anxious to benefit from voluntary severance. As her official retirement day approaches, Grey Granite reflects on how glad she is that she took the decision to retire from work early. The last 18 months have been a time of growth and have brought their own unprecedented rewards: following eclectic interests, having time to stand and stare, experiencing the outdoors, reading. Much of her new found enjoyment of life is largely thanks to Rufus who cheerfully facilitates about 30 miles of walking each week.

Yesterday  felt like early Spring,  there was bright sunshine making it a perfect day for walking along the Line, round by Mains of Cairnbulg and back over the Bents.



Rufus loves the Bents, enjoying the exciting rabbit smells and confidently determining which branch of the path we should follow.

Today, in complete contrast, Winter seemed to have returned and  it was very frosty as we walked though Philorth Woods and back along the Line. Rufus has discovered that he can crack puddle ice by standing on it. He then enjoys eating slivers of ice.

 There was a woodpecker drumming in the woods and pineapple weed and red dead nettle in flower by the road bridge over the Water of Philorth .

So many snowdrops

Suddenly there seems to be such a profusion of snowdrops everywhere we go. These were carpeting a copse at Invernorth and are spilling out onto the verge of the road and sides of a nearby ditch.

Candlemas

If Candlemas Day be weet and foul

The half o the Winter is gaen at Yule.

If Candlemas day be fine and fair

The half o the winter is to come and mair.

This Candlemas Day morning began dry and mild with the odd blink of sunshine as we walked through Philorth Woods where the snowdrops are now fully out. By the time we were leaving the Line the drizzle started and gained intensity so that  we were soaked by the time we got home.

What does this augur for the coming season?

Is it really only February?

A bright sunny morning with  a stiff breeze inspired Grey Granite and Rufus to walk down the braes to The Pouk.

The Wastart was very wet and bejewelled with small, temporary lochans which glinted in the sunlight. There were curlews on the cliff tops, eiders bobbing like little corks on the waves, gannets, gulls and cormorants flying past over the sea. Already the cormorants display the distinctive white thigh patches of their breeding plumage.

We walked along the Wastart to Rosehearty then up the line of the old Craigs Roadie and on up to Braco Park. In sheltered spots it was warm walking and felt like Spring. Tomorrow being Candlemass we hope for a foul day since, according to an old weather rhyme, this would indicate that the winter is half over.

Snow drops in the wood at Pitheughie