Grazing cages

Readers of this blog will perhaps remember that last October Lynne and I came across these structures on Glas Maol. See here.



Well, Rene van der Wal of the University of Aberdeen has commented on the post saying:

“These are grazing cages which I have erected with colleagues to determine the influence of primarily sheep grazing on the summit vegetation on Glas Maol. We are particularly interested in the fate of woolly fringe moss, or Racomitrium lanuginosum, which is perhaps best known as key habitat for dotterel to exist.” Very interesting and thanks to Rene for taking the trouble to provide this explanation.

Search and Rescue Training Flight - Ochils

We heard the helicopter before we saw it, but knew from the engine noise that it was not from the type that whisks the wealthy from Edinburgh Airport to Gleneagles Hotel. Alas, neither was it a helicopter gunship on a mission to destroy the Burnfoot wind power station!

Unfortunately, the quality of the uploaded video is poorer than the original.

Livid

See why here. Lock them up and throw away the key. B******s.

Sea eagle

Something to lift the spirits I think - here

'Overambitious' Scottish renewable energy plans

A brief BBC report can be found here. Could the tide be turning? 

This is not a quiz

Anyone know what this might be? We saw a small amount of this jelly-like substance on the road near the fish farm and thought it was related to processes carried out there, but this picture is taken well up the hill. The fact that it's next to a wooden post is irrelevant.

Windhead Moor wind farm plans withdrawn

'Hen harriers 'scupper' wind farm'. Article here

Excellent news.

Cononish Gold Mine

Plans to mine for gold at Cononish have been approved by Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park. Would this be approved in the Lake District today? You can read the article  here

Anyone thinking of climbing Ben Lui had better get it done soon unless they like to view spoil heaps en route.

Seen on Glas Maol

 
As we crossed the moss and soft turf of the Glas Maol plateau we came across several of these structures. I think they are a form of ‘quadrats’ used to sample and study, in this case, the montane vegetation.

If anyone knows anything different, I’ll be happy to hear from you.

Also, after our descent to the col on the way to Creag Leacach we came across a small howff which in the best traditions was wet and dank! We had lunch outside.

Click to enlarge

The Tiger’s Back – sort of

Another snippet while I organise myself for our next foray north. (well, Lynne organises me/us really. I just label the pics we've taken!). From Carn na Drochaide to the slopes of Sron nan Gabhar.

Where is this?

This should be easy for any Challengers who visit this blog! Just back from another trip, so more later.