Articles in ‘Scotland’
March 17th, 2010
The RSPB is gathering extensive information about exactly where swifts are nesting in the UK. It is suspected that their rapid decline in recent years is linked with a drop in suitable nesting sites, as buildings are modernised.
The first year’s survey reveals that of the houses where swifts are nesting:
- Over half (51%) were built before 1919
- Exactly a quarter were built between 1919-1944
- Over half (52%)had been known swift nesting sites for more than 10 years
- Almost a fifth (16%) were considered threatened
- Almost 5% of swifts were recorded in churches
The data will be used to make sure that exhilarating displays of screaming swifts continue being part of British summers.
Architecture and nature, Birds of Britain, Conservation issues in the UK, Scotland | Tags: decline of swift nesting sites, decline of swifts, RSPB collect data about swifts, where swifts nest|
February 4th, 2010
Amazing pair of images in the Daily Telegraph here of a kestrel and a barn owl’ battling it out over a vole. By wildlife photographer Mark Hancox.
Birds of Britain, Birds of prey of Britain, Nature and landscape photography of Britain, Scotland | Tags: barn owls in Briitain, Owls in Britain|
November 27th, 2009
The charity Trees for Life have undertaken a project to restore native woodland on their Scottish Dundreggan Estate in Inverness-shire. The birch/juniper wood is being smothered by impenetrable, towering bracken, severely reducing biodiversity and very difficult to control as its fronds are toxic for most animals. Here’s where the wild boar step in: by digging up and eating the roots they can halt the bracken’s relentless spread. They will also be creating seed-beds for a variety of species by ploughing up the soil. Although boar were originally part of Britain’s ecosystem, before being hunted to extinction in the 13th century, this is not a reintroduction programme and they will be controlled within a 30-acre site enclosed by a special boar-proof fence. BBC
Mammals of Britain, Scotland, Woodland in the UK, boar in Britain | Tags: advantages of boars, boar stop the spread of bracken, boars are good for biodiversity, how to stop the spread of bracken, wild boar in Scotland, wild boar increase biodiversity in forests|
November 5th, 2009
Some lovely photos by Owen Humphreys in The Guardian of the mass return of starlings to Britain from Russia and northern Europe. They come here to roost in the relative warmth. Some flocks have as many as two million birds. However, starling numbers have fallen dramatically in the UK in recent years probably due to the loss of insects because of the increase in chemical use on farms since the 1970s and new grassland management techniques. Visit
Birds of Britain, Nature and landscape photography of Britain, Scotland | Tags: Starlings in Britain|
October 12th, 2009
The largest mammal in Britain is, according to the Daily Telegraph, the Exmoor Emperor, a 300lb, 9ft red deer stag, a “truly magnificent” example of the species. The deer on Exmoor are among the biggest in the country.
Deer in Britain, Mammals of Britain, Scotland | Tags: Biggest red deer, deer on Exmoor, Exmoor Emperor, How big are stag?, information about Red deer, red deer in Britain|
October 4th, 2009
The landscape painters of the 18th century were among the first promoters of nature tourism in Britain. Their work inspired people to go on tours of wild places and admire the grandeur of nature. One popular destination, much sketched, painted and written about, was the Falls of the Clyde in Scotland.
Jacob More’s work is a romanticised view of the highest and largest of the Falls, the Corra Linn. Viewers of the painting could identify with the group of tourists in the corner, awe-struck by this “rude slope of furious foam”, as 18th century travel writer Thomas Pennant described them. They might even be galvanized to do a trip to the wilds of Scotland themselves. Read the rest of this entry
Landforms of Britain, Landscape paintings of Scotland, Nature in art and literature, Scotland | Tags: Falls of Clyde, Falls of Clyde by Jacob More, Falls of Clyde by Turner, growth of nature tourism, Jacob More landscapes, landscape painting in the 18th century, nature tourism in Britain, Turner landscapes, waterfalls in landscape painting, waterfalls in Scotland|
September 20th, 2009
The Isle of Mull is one of the best bases for watching whales and dolphins in Britain.
These people offer excellent short whale watching breaks:
This popular weekend break gives you two days on the boat exploring the islands (Eigg, Muck, Coll, Tiree, Staffa, all with their own character and charm). You will sail through the whale and dolphin grounds and land on islands with colonies of puffins, razorbills, gannets, shearwaters, and otters…The people who run these trips carry out marine research and they work closely with local charity the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust
One client wrote:
The most memorable part of the holiday was the surveys trip … seeing Minke whales and basking sharks on such a beautiful day - I will remember this for many years to come. We even moored on a tiny island close to Coll and Tiree - it was like being on a Pacific atoll … seals swimming, white sand, clear blue sea - just perfect. More
Read here
Nature tourism in Scotland, Nature tourism in the UK, Scotland | Tags: Best places to go whale watching in Scotland, Isle of Mull, Minke whales in Mull, Scottish whales, Whale watching in Scotland, whales in Britain|
September 20th, 2009
Cirl buntings, the UK’s rarest resident farmland bird, are a conservation success story amid the general decline of farmland birds. In Devon, farmers have been persuaded to leave just a corner of their fields and the population has risen from just 118 pairs in 1989 to more than 800 pairs today. “Conservationists say the success of the Cirl Bunting Project is “blazing a trail” for a new way of managing the landscape alongside farmers that brings hope for scores of other birds threatened by modern farming methods” Daily Telegraph
Birds of Britain, Farmland birds of Britain, Scotland | Tags: Cirl buntings, Cirl buntings in England|
September 18th, 2009
photo taken near Dundee by John Gilmour as featured in AuroraWatch
Of course the best viewing place is in the Arctic Circle, but the Northern Lights are occasionally visible from Britain. On rare occasions they are visible as far south as the Mediterranean.
Lancaster University’s AuroraWatch has a gallery of images that testify to the visibility of the Aurora in places like Folkestone and Staffordshire. The photographs show awe-inspiring displays of green and red light rampaging above the roof tops and television aerials. Read the rest of this entry
Natural phenomena in Britain, Nature folklore, Nature trivia about Britain, Scotland | Tags: aurora borealis in Britain, can you see the northern lights in Britain, Northern Lights in Scotland, Northern Lights in Scottish folklore, where to see the Northern Lights in Britain|
September 16th, 2009
The sighting of a Tufted Puffin in the Oare Marshes nature reserve on the Swale estuary has still to be officially verified, but hordes of twitchers are heading to Kent in hope of a glimpse. It would be the first sighting of this North Pacific Ocean species in Britain. One theory for its appearance so far from home is that melting Arctic ice is creating a new corridor for seabirds to move from one ocean to another. Another explanation is that it’s an escapee from Living Coasts in Torquay. The Tufted Puffin is a striking bird with blond head plumes and a thick red bill. See Wikipedia
Birds of Britain, Nature trivia about Britain, Scotland, The Shetlands, Weather and climate | Tags: climate change effect on birds, non native bird in Britian, Pacific seabirds seen in Atlantic, Tufted Puffin sighting in Kent|
September 7th, 2009
After the successful breeding season of Scotland’s sea birds and an increase, at least temporary, of British butterflies this summer, comes the good news about Bitterns. Their recovery is remarkable because they were close to extinction as recently as 12 years ago. Extensive conservation work in wetland areas has paid off, particularly the restoration of dry reedbeds and creation of wet reedbeds. At least 82 booming males have been recorded in 2009, a high point since their total extinction at the end of the 19th century. Read more at the RSPB. Photo by Andy Hay.
Birds of Britain, Conservation issues in the UK, Scotland, Wetland birds of Britain, extinct birds | Tags: bird species doing well in Britain, bitterns in Britain, increase in bitterns, wetland restoration|
September 6th, 2009
This is a rather nice static webcam by the RSPB from Abernethy Forest in Scotland. Lots of red squirrels and birds such as crested tits and siskins come to feed at the table. The image refreshes every two minutes.
Visit the Abernethy Forest webcam
Scotland, UK wildlife videos | Tags: Abernethy Forest, Best wildlife webcams in Britain, Wildlife webcams in Scotland|
August 28th, 2009
I enjoyed this short diary from the Highland News on the ups and downs of wildlife in the Highlands this summer and how to attract pine martens with jam. It also mentions the old persecution dippers which were shot in “unbelievable numbers” on many Highland rivers as they were thought to have a marked effect on the eggs and young of the salmon.
Scotland, The Highlands | Tags: Dippers and Salmon, Dippers in Scotland|
August 21st, 2009
The unique Hebridean machair habitat, home to traditional crofting and a wealth of rare wildlife, is to protected through significant funding. RSPB
The RSPB notes:
The Hebridean machair is a strip of coastal land stretching from North Uist to Islay, with small pockets extending to the north of Lewis. Traditional crofting methods, including mixed grazing and late harvesting of arable crops for winter cattle fodder produces a magical landscape rich in wild flowers, herbs and grasses, bursting with seasonal colours. This in turn makes perfect conditions for threatened birds like corncrake, chough and corn bunting. The machair is also home to 16,000 breeding pairs of wading birds such as lapwings and ringed plovers, and insects such as the declining great yellow bumblebee. Scottish machair is globally important for this wildlife, which has disappeared from many other parts of Europe. Without the right support, however, the active crofting systems that maintain it are at risk.
Scotland | Tags: Crofting, Hebridean wildlife, Machair|
August 14th, 2009
Red deer - Britain’s largest land mammals - are at their most impressive during the autumn rut, when they advertise their power by prolonged roaring. There are many places to watch and listen to this natural spectacle, but perhaps the most accessible is Richmond Park in southwest London. Read the rest of this entry
Deer in Britain, Mammals of Britain, Scotland, urban nature in Britain | Tags: autumn holiday in Scotland, deer rutting in Richmond park, deer rutting in Scotland, Isle of Rum accommodation, isle of rum deer, largest mammal in Britain, places to see deer rutting, red deer fighting|
A new generation of commoners will receive financial support to ensure animals continue to graze in the New Forest and so conserve its rich biodiversity.
The Co-op is further expanding its 
There are now some excellent landscape blogs covering Britain. Here are a few:
With more and more people wanting to grow their own fruit and vegetables, the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners have over 100,000 people on their waiting lists. The National Trust have responded to this demand by allocating land for “super allotments” or community farms. In return for a monthly fee, members will decide what should be grown, and have the opportunity to work on the farms, receiving a share of the produce. 
