Nairn tales of the riverbank
JT keeps us up to date with the latest dramas happening around the river, with a lot going on at the moment. – The Swans: 6 cygnets hatched, but one has already been killed by the crows – The Ducks: at least 19 ducklings, and showing some cunning at defending themselves against the crows and [...]
Black Isle Red Kites being poisoned?
A sad indictment reported on the BBC, suggesting that Red Kites – among other birds of prey – are being illegally poisoned: Scotland’s red kites under threat from illegal killing The birds were reintroduced having been hunted to extinction in most of the UK in the 1870s. Equal numbers of the distinctive bird of prey [...]
Wind Farms: the battle Lines are drawn
The battle lines for the latest wind farms in the Highlands are being drawn, with an application for one south of Inverness recommended for approval, but councillors who object being forbidden to speak out. We also have a development on Dava Moor still in the planning stages, and the owners of nearby land certainly don’t [...]
Joe gets things done!
The photo exhibition of Joe’s photos on the swans is still available to view outside of the library – didn’t actually get to stop and enjoy it until yesterday, and certainly worth a look before it finishes on Monday. In the meantime, though, he’s been keeping busy – by getting the HC to be busy [...]
Scotlands coldest Winter
As Nairn sees more snow drift in over the past few days, the met office have reportedly declared the current Scottish Winter the coldest for almost 100 years – since records began in 1914. Ice patches still remain from the previous snow falls, rain had already soaked the roads and ground, so freezing temperatures and [...]
The Pylons are coming!
So the Scottish government has finally rubber stamped the power line upgrade between Beauly and Denny: Power line upgrade given go-ahead. Certainly I’ve seen a lot of passionate protesting about the issue, both around Stirling as well as the Highlands, as people become horrified at the idea of taller pylons marching across the Cairngorms. The [...]
A Year by the Riverbank
JT posts a pictorial summary of his coverage of Nairn by the river over the past year – certainly well worth a look: Pictorial River Review 2009
Seagull in distress
Driving back on the school run this morning, saw something big and white in the middle of Lochloy Road that the rest of the traffic was driving around. Turned out to be a badly injured seagull, so I stopped and having no idea what to do with it, other than it seemed more cruel to [...]
Sonny Seagul dies
Sad news for those of us who were following the story of the rescue of Sonny Seagul on Simply Superb Swans – alas, Sonny has died. It was a surprisingly touching story, with a variety of roller coasters, as Sonny appeared to be gaining health, only to relapse to an infection, seemed to be getting [...]
Another dead sperm whale in Scotland
The BBC reports that another Sperm Whale has washed up dead on the coast of Scotland, this time at Balmedie Beach in Aberdeenshire. It’s just over a year since one died in the Moray Firth and was washed up at the headland at Allanfearn (picture above). It has been a busy year for Cetaceans, though, [...]