Nigel's Photo Blog

 Icicles at waterfall, Rouken Glen On November 25th I reported on the frosty conditions being experienced here in Glasgow .  Little has changed over the past few days nor is likely to through the weekend. Cause is a blast of cold air from Scandinavia (in the north).  On the plus side we have brilliant, low angle sun coupled with blue skies and little wind which provides good photographic opportunities.Downside being the unusual prolonged chill (for November) with temperatures down to about -5c/23f which affects wildlife as well as people. Parts of the U.K. had their coldest November night since 2010 whilst eastern Scotland and parts of northern England had snow fall of about 2cm/0.8inches. Image below shows a 'feeding frenzy' of hungry ducks at the local pond.Tomorrow, I will take more food with me as this large collection of waterbirds seem to suffering.

  On October 17th of this year I reported on a chance encounter with people providing a specialised, pony-drawn conveyance for the handicapped (mainly youngsters in wheelchairs). This morning, I was pleasantly surprised to see the same pony and gentleman behind the service and special apparatus.Once again, location was our excellent local country park of Rouken Glen. In course of a long discussion with the gentleman I was advised that he was responsible for the unique design and engineering of the trailer/conveyance which he has just enhanced with a special rear wheel to aid steering. Here is an image of 'Obama' the faithful male pony who displays an excellent temperament. Towards the end of our meeting a lady approached the gentleman with a heavily handicapped child and enquired if a trip could be arranged. This was agreed. It was a revelation to me to see the child's eyes and face 'light up' with excitement.

    Image above shows a capture of (for me) first icicles of the season. Site was waterfall at Rouken Glen, Glasgow. Overnight the first meaningful frosts of winter arrived across the U.K. Here is Glasgow temperature went down to about minus 5c (27f).  With a combination of crisp, frosty ground surface, brilliant low angle sun and blue skies I ventured out with hope of obtaining some seasonal pics. On balance, the outcome was better than I had hoped for with downside being a surprising complete absence of ice on the local boating pond.  Golfers at Deacon's Bank Golf Course in frosty conditions Landscape view of Glasgow with Campsie Fells (hills) in background and steam from Strathclyde Distillery at far right of pic. No shortage of golfers - despite the frost. Here's looking at you, kid. Surprisingly friendly grey squirrel. These non-native rodents usually disappear into the trees upon sight of a human but this specimen held its ground. Plume of steam escaping from t...

  Kaims Castle Roman Fortlet, Perthshire, Scotland This evening, I am posting information Kaims Castle in Perthshire, central Scotland. The name is a misnomer because the site was never a castle in the medieval sense of the word but a fortlet from the early Roman period, 1st century AD. Kaims was part of an early military fortification known as the Gask Frontier in central Scotland which was in operation between around AD 79 and AD 87 parts of which were subsequently reoccupied for brief periods in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. Like most Roman sites in Scotland, Kaims Castle is not signposted and requires research and determination to find. I obtained access through the goodwill of adjacent property owner. The site is located between modern-day Braco and Muthill on the A822. However, in Roman times the site was strategically placed equidistant between the principal forts of Ardoch and Strageath. Ardoch is just a few miles away and is probably the best preserved Roman...

This post provides an important development as reported today. For ease of reference my original post of May 17th 2020 is repeated below. The situation regarding the avenue of trees is as follows: The avenue originally comprised 150 beech trees which were planted in 1775. Prior to today's announcement 86 trees remained. A safety check determined that 11 of the remaining trees were in poor condition of which 6 had to be felled.Of the remainder 4 required remedial work with assessment of 1 pending. The remaining trees have an age of about 250 years whereas the typical life span for the species is 150-200 years. Clearly, today's news is detrimental for tourists, especially Outlander fans. Dark Hedges, an incredible and eery site in Northern Ireland May 17, 2020 This evening, I am posting information on the unusual natural feature known as the ‘Dark Hedges’, near Stranocum in Northern Ireland. The feature comprises an avenue of very mature beech t...

  Strathaven Castle This evening, my theme is Strathaven Castle the ruins of which sit on a prominent rocky mound above the conservation village that shares its name. Strathaven is a pleasant country town located about 25 miles south of Glasgow in the west of Scotland. A brief chronology of this castle is as follows: First castle erected in 1170s by the Baird family whose ancestor fought at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. First stone castle built around 1350. This was burnt down in the 1450s, possibly by King James II. By this time the castle was in hands of the Black Earls of Douglas. Around 1455 the castle seems to have been deliberately slighted. Around the mid 1400s the castle was gifted to Sir Andrew Stewart, Lord Avondale, a supporter of the King. Lord Avondale built the castle in the form that we know today. In 1534 the castle passed to Sir James Hamilton of Finnart, a  military architect who served King James V as Master of the King’s Works, The castle pass...

  This morning I encountered the above group of dedicated fund raisers for the U.K. wide charity, Children in Need. This deserving charity  is heavily supported by the BBC and over the years has raised about GBP1bn for benefit of disadvantaged children. The 2023 fund raising culminates tonight in a televised extravaganza. I was advised the lady in the centre of the above image (with polka dot top) has won a special award for raising funds over a period of 35 years. I assume the Piper below was performing to support the fund raising. The tune he is playing is a Scottish song Flower of Scotland which is frequently performed on special occasions and at sporting events as the Nation al anthem of Scotland. I encountered these people at Rouken Glen Boating Pond, Glasgow. Piper playing Flower of Scotland