Nigel's Photo Blog

 Further to my recent post covering synchronised hatching of ducks, geese and swans on a local pond, this morning I happened to chance upon a brood of recently hatched Coot chicks. For a week or so I have been monitoring a Coot nest but observations were hampered by distance-about 50 yards from water's edge. Here is a recent image of the nest (with parent bird in situ) taken with a long lens camera.   This morning I was stunned to find a brood of four chicks near the water's edge with two parent birds keeping a watchful eye on the youngsters.Images are shown below. Here are three of the four youngsters.   Feed time for two lucky chicks.  Coots are cousins of Moorhens. Refer this web page for more information on bird watching in Scotland. M ore information For information on Scotland’s extensive history , wildlife , geology , sightseeing and much more please refer to the publication Visitors’ Guide to Scotland, ISBN 978-1-9161332-0-4. This book is als...

  Introduction This morning, I am reporting on a recent visit to Appleby-in-Westmoreland. Information on on the trip and the market town of Appleby. Key rehearsals: Appleby probably has its origins as a settlement by incoming Norwegians in the late 1st millennium AD.  Location is about 50 miles south of the Anglo-Scottish border in NW England. After the Norman-French conquest of England in 1066 the Normans built a stone keep (castle) on high ground for defensive purposes. This dates from the 12th century. Population is about 3,200. I travelled by train from Carlisle which entailed passing through rolling, lush green landscapes populated with cattle,sheep and arable farms. On arrival I walked down into the town then availed of a coffee in a delightful, quaint coffee shop and then proceeded to explore. It transpires the original village was built by the Normans with defense in mind. The linear layout is relatively short with narrow access points. In 1388 the Norman church of St ...

Introduction On Monday 18th I paid one of my regular visits to the archaeology in process at Carlisle Cricket Ground  Report and Background on the Carlisle Site The Romans invaded Britain in AD 43. A landing took place of the shores of what is now southern England sometimes facing stiff resistance from the local tribes.   Carlisle (pop 110,000) has evolved from the Roman fort of Luguvalium which was established in AD72. Later, in the 2nd century, Hadrian's Wall was constructed east to west across what is now northern England. Luguvalium benefited from this in that it fell within the Romanised territory to the south of the Wall. Furthermore, the Wall incorporated 17 major forts of which one, Uxelodunum was situated a short distance from Luguvalium to the N.E. Consistent with Roman military practice, a bathhouse was constructed to serve the 1000 strong garrison at Uxelodunum. This facility was located roughly equidistant between Uxelodunum and Luguvalium and close to ...

 FEB 21ST 2015 Waterfall, Finlaystone Woodlands, Scotland This afternoon, I visited the woodlands section of Finlaystone Country Estate which is located about 20 miles west of Glasgow on the south bank of the Firth of Clyde. Key purpose of visit was to view the very extensive banks of snowdrops which were at their peak. However, in addition to the snowdrops I was impressed by the extensive woodland which incorporated a wide range of trees plus a burn (stream) which produced numerous cascading waterfalls. This natural backdrop, coupled with sunshine, provided excellent photographic opportunities with only negative being the sun shining directly from a low angle. Finlaystone House ( image no 10 below) has a history dating back to the 14th century. Here lives the Chief of Clan MacMillan, latest in a line of six generations of the same family who have occupied the mansion. There is also a connection with Robert Burns, Scotland’s National Poet (1759-1796) who benefited f...

 Introduction Today, my wife and myself visited the Finlaystone Country Estate in S.W. Scotland. Location is about 7 miles S.E of Greenock and 20 miles N.W of Glasgow .   Information on Finlaystone Country Estate   Here lives the Chief of Clan MacMillan, latest in a line of five generations of the same family who have occupied the site. There is also a connection with Robert Burns, Scotland’s National Poet (1759-1796) who benefited from patronage by the Cunninghams, previous occupiers of Finlaystone. During a visit to Finlaystone Robert Burns scratched his name on a window pane. The estate comprises 250-acres of woodlands and formal gardens which are perched high above the  River Clyde .  Our focus was on the gardens where we benefited from a fortunate convergence of sunshine, visibility and seasonal flowering.                                       ...