Nigel's Photo Blog

Introduction This evening I am reporting on the White -throated Dipper, an environmentally threatened small bird which is usually found in fresh water environments.   Information on the Dipper Dippers are easily recognized as a function of their 'jerky' movements when hunting for for food-hence the name.    Whilst not a committed bird-watcher I will certainly jump at the opportunity to capture rare or unusual avian images when opportunity permits. One such opportunity arose a couple of days ago at Rouken Glen Country Park in Glasgow, Scotland. In this case the bird was motionless but I took the image anyway and later received confirmation of identity. Please bear in mind the image was taken with a cellphone camera over some distance, hence quality is not ideal. Dippers are at risk of declining populations due to environmental factors . They are particularly sensitive to changes in water pH levels.There has occurred a 39pct fall in dipper populations since 1995 and th...

Here are a couple of images taken this morning of Highland Cows forming part of a 'fold' (herd) at Pollok Country Park Glasgow , Scotland. More information For more information on Glasgow and Scotland in general please refer Visitors’ Guide to Scotland, ISBN 978-1-9161332-0-4. This book is also available via Kindle .

On January 25th of this year I published information on the above John MacLean in my separate  ancestry blog By a chance meeting with a local today I learned that John MacLean is a person of historical importance.The following extract is taken from an article in the Scottish Banner publication:- This year marks 100 years since the death of John Maclean, “the most dangerous man in Britain” and “Lenin’s man in Scotland”.  A Glaswegian born of Highland parents, he was the leading light in the Red Clydeside era. He died at just aged 44 from pneumonia after he’d given his only overcoat to a destitute man. His funeral was one of the largest ever in Glasgow and he was considered both a political pariah and champion of the Scottish working class. Today, MacLean would  be categorised as a hard left militant but from another angle he was simply trying to improve the lot of the grinding poverty in working class Glasgow of the time.He died because he gave his only coat to a destitu...

 

Introduction  This evening I am reporting on an aspect of Scotland’s flora.This is an invasive, non-native plant known as Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) which originates from Southern Russia and Georgia.   Giant Hogweed  Information on Giant Hogweed . This plant colonises riverbanks and grows to about twelve feet in height.It damages native wildlife by dominating sites and shading out vegetation. The sap of the plant can cause serious burns when in contact with the skin. A potential natural, non-chemical solution has been found in the form of sheep of which there are some 6.8m in Scotland. Trials have showed that sheep suffer no ill effects from the sap and actually develop a taste for the plant. A trial is underway to ascertain if grazing by sheep represents a cost-effective option for controlling the pest. Giant Hogweed plant at Rouken Glen, Glasgow.  More information The publication Visitors’ Guide to Scotland contains information on Sc...

 Calf stuck in mud Today, I planned a 6 mile hike starting and finishing Barrhead Railway Station near Glasgow .The route initially rises (over rough ground) to a height of 600 feet (180 m) which provides panoramic views over Paisley and the Clyde Valley. On the way down there is a rapid flowing burn (stream) with waterfalls. There is also a compact site of prehistoric rock carvings.  Although very wet and slippery underfoot I made it to the top whereupon chanced upon a calf stuck in mud in a field adjoining the trail. The poor animal may well have been there for some time. Instinctively, I tried to get through the barbed wire fence to reach the calf but achieved little other then a ripped jacket. I then had to navigate round the edges of the field until reaching an access gate from where I was able to reach the calf. As the images show this was a substantial animal. However, after much pushing and heaving I was finally able to free the animal from the jaws of the mud.Surpris...