Foxgloves, Crackaig walls.
A ewe above Crackaig with Iona and Staffa in the distance.
Hot weather for sheep work last week, but good to get it done. The gathering was done either early or late in the day, and the fank work took place in small lots. Overall lamb numbers on the hill are a little down on last year, but the in-bye cheviots were up alot so in all we marked 2 less lambs this year than last. We have found one or two remains of lambs on the hill, and the frustrating thing is never really getting to the bottom of what happened to them. It was a wild and wet winter that cannot have been easy on any animal living out on the hill. Last year when Farmer's back prevented him from being in full charge of his flock, the lambs were not taken off the ewes until the beginning of September. This year he will try and do that earlier, get them to an earlier sale, so that the ewes have an extra month before tupping and the whole cycle starts again.
Our neighbour keeps bees. They are loving the foxgloves. As am I.
Crackaig.
Three in a row.
A Crackaig doorway and the ash tree. It was very peaceful there. A few sheep and their lambs gathering themselves away from us as we walked through with Jan, Farmer's dog. We took the high sheep paths along the cliff tops to Ach na Coile. Lovely views from above, and looking down on the bays, grassy raised beaches and coves. Not many people walk along the tops, and all we met were ewes with lambs, and red deer hinds, who ran from sight as soon as they smelled or heard us. The hill was noticeably dry and brown. The burns are dry in lots of places. Cracked earth where usually boggy. Could almost say the wild flowers look stressed from lack of moisture.
Speedwell, near one of the ruins.
The view from above Crackaig over Ulva and beyond.
Midway between Crackaig and Ach na Coile.
Daughter thought I was swearing when I exclaimed "Bloody Cranesbill".
We have chicks! The broody who was living in the flower pot has produced some chicks. I haven't counted them yet, but will get some photos soon.