Wild flower season begins in earnest

It feels like the wild flowers start quite slowly in April.  But as the month progresses so many different ones start flowering, it is difficult to keep track.  Every year I think I am going to do a portrait of each flower and every year I become overwhelmed by the number of new species flowering and I fail! 

Blackthorn

Butterbur

Speedwell 

Wood anemone

Cuckoo flower 

Early purple orchid

Spurge

Marsh marigold 

Wood anemones 

 

British Summer Time

We woke this morning to British Summer Time.  Wind and rain.   Not a great start to 'summer time' weather wise.

Lambing is 2 weeks away so Farmer got a shock at feeding time this morning when he found an abandoned newborn lamb in the field of ewes all expecting twins.   He looked around and unfortunately found the second lamb drowned in a ditch.  No sign of the mother anywhere.   The lamb (Lois) is now warm and cosy in our porch, with a full belly, and is thankfully thriving. 

Earlier in the week we had to go over to our neighbour's fank to film some ewes he is selling to send to the potential buyer.  It is one of the few stone fanks still in use on the island and has an amazing view across to Treshnish! 

The day before I had been down in the Ross of Mull photographing stone fanks with the drone.  This one is at Knockvologan, beautifully made with high walls.  It was last used about 30 years ago. 

Now the Equinox is past it is wonderful to see the sun setting this side of Treshnish Point. 

Toechtamhor had guests from the Ross of Mull last weekend, I was down there measuring for new curtains in the double bedroom, and the sun was out.  Just lovely! 

A lot of feeding going on just now.  Keeping the ewes in good shape for the latter part of their pregnancies. 

This one has realised that being brave means having a few titbits before Farmer feeds everyone else. 

The Common gulls are back at their nesting site, and following the quad bike around the different areas where the sheep are fed. 

This blue tin used to line the walls of a tin shed near Fionnphort.  I have photographed it many times.  The beautiful rusted aged tin has now been taken off the walls, and new box profile has replaced it.  It keeps the shed going and serving a useful purpose which is great, but I will mourn the old cladding and its photographic potential. 

Dog walks. 

The Herdwick ewes were put through the fank yesterday so they could have a pre-lambing checkover and receive their annual worm drench.   

This ewe is expecting triplets so she is staying in the shed to have her lambs where we can easily see her, and help if need be. 

Up in the air!

I was given a drone for my birthday two birthdays ago, and it has taken me all this time to get it up in the air!  I am now hooked!

Here are some of the photographs from the first couple of flights.

Calgary Bay with the Treshnish headland appearing on the left horizon.

Turquoise Calgary beach.

East with its new tin roof.

Toechtamhor.

A fragment of coastline between Dun Haunn and the Point

The mouth of Ensay Burn

Here I was standing in the field in front of the farmhouse, so the woodland bottom right, is the woodland near the house.  Looking towards Calgary Beach.

Studio, Shieling, Shian and Duill.