On a cold
and windy night during the recent inclement weather, a full audience attended
for Brian Pettit’s enjoyable talk on the wildlife of Scotland. Brian took us on
a journey from the south up through Scotland, starting on the grouse moors. The
patterns on the hillsides were due to controlled burning of sections of land,
giving rise to heathers of differing ages, which is beneficial for feeding of
the wildlife. Red legged Partridge, mainly bred in captivity, and Red Grouse
are shoot on the moors. Due to the moors being driven by beaters, there are few
predators. Boxes are placed on the moors containing oyster shell grit for the
bird’s digestion. Some predators are evident, Kestrels and Merlin especially as
the gamekeepers tolerate these as they are too small to take grouse. Short
eared Owls, which fly during the day just take voles, rats and mice.
Brian had
photographs of the Mountain Hare, smaller than the Brown Hare, and lacks
camouflage when there is no snow on the moors. Brian also showed us huge
colonies of Common Gulls, which nest in the heather, ideal for them due to the
lack of predators.
Travelling
further north to the inland lochs, the bird life was similar to our local
species – Meadow Pipits, Golden Plover, Northern Lapwing, Curlew and Snipe.
Buzzards are evident and Red Kites returning. In the valley streams we saw a Dipper
feeding on aquatic larvae, and viewed the nest in holes in the bank.
Flycatchers, Grey Wagtails and Mallards were also by the stream.
Brian then
took us to Dunbar harbour, where large numbers of Kittiwakes were nesting in
the walls of Dunbar castle. These Kittiwakes are relatively tame and would
allow the photographers to approach quite closely. A Grey Seal, with its Roman
nose was swimming in the harbour.
At Oban
port, there were nests of Black Guillemot in the harbour wall. These guillemot
are distinctive birds with bright red feet and bright red inside their mouths.
We saw the difficulties for the photographer here, as armed with a large lens
to focus on the guillemot at a distance, one bird landed near to his feet and was
too near for a clear picture!
Further
north in the Cairngorms we saw jet black Water Voles and herds of Reindeer,
which are not British natives, at the reindeer centre. Brian showed us a fence
outside a farm with hundreds of dead Moles hung out – this allows the farmer to
see how many the mole catcher had caught.
We saw Osprey
nesting by a water sport centre, whilst Brian was watching this nest he
photographed Bank Voles, shrews and Red Squirrels feeding nearby.
We saw herds
of Wild Goats on the mountain sides. At further inland lochs were Common
Sandpiper, Pied Wagtails, Redshanks and Greenshanks. At the Handa Island nature
reserve is a colony of puffins , 30-50 pairs strong. These are small birds,
Brian informed us that a Great Black backed Bull could swallow one whole.
Brian
showed us the now deserted crofts at North Uist, where an otter was spotted and
finally arriving at Bearnharaigh, where there is an unusual mix of flora and
fauna. They still cut peat for fuel in this area.
Visitors
and new members always welcome at both indoor and field meetings. See
lymnats.org.uk for details.
