"The spirit was already aloft, I was pulling on my boots" - W H Murray, Mountaineering in Scotland
Stuc a' Chroin and Ben Vorich
Friday, 2 September 2011
Scottish Gamekeepers Association
The SGA has raised the question of whether a sea eagle could distinguish between its natural prey and children. The report can be found here. Oh dear, what next.
Are we *honestly* surprised by this? This association exists to support the slaughter of grouse. I would imagine sea eagles would take quite a fancy to grouse. These are the people who lay poisoned bait out on the hills to kill off these beautiful birds and then lay the blame on a very junior member of their staff. Spineless, nasty pieces of work, with silly little scare stories this time.
I would like to bring some Sea Eagles to the centre of Manchester preferably after the shops have closed and the “Good” hardworking people have gone home.
You'd wonder whether this story was even genuine were it not for the presence of the Very Reverend Hunter Farquharson. Who would create a fictional character with a name like that?
Alan's right: too many landowners consider themselves to be above the law. Unfortunately, north and south of Hadrian's Wall, we have politicians happy to allow them to pursue that belief with impunity.
Gamekeepers - reminds me of an incident on my Lowestoft to St Bees Head walk last year - Here is an extract from my journal:"
...from Commondale it was gently up onto the moors. There really is a feeling in these parts that you are on top of the World all the time. I met a Landrover coming the other way which did not amuse me and I was not overjoyed when it stopped and the guy wanted to talk. I asked him if he was just an offroader or did he have some official capacity? There was something about this guy I didn't like. He was wearing a military style khaki shirt and there was a belt of 12 bore cartridges draped accross the passenger seat, his reply was evasive but eventually he said that he was a gamekeeper; well I suppose there are some good and some bad but they are not a fraternity that I take to, so I cut the conversation as short as possible and carried on my way.
Byeways and Sir Hugh - I've had my fair share of conflicts with keepers, mainly in the 1980s and usually on estates in the NW, walking Rights of Way with our dog during the stalking season. I initially took the view that being pleasant and reasonable was the best approach but when that failed to work, I decided to make all such encouters as unpleasant as possible. I never once turned back.
Recently when walking on the Invercauld estates around Loch Callater a grouse shoot was in progress, but we were met with nothing but courtesy I have to say. That's my experience nowadays.
Of course that doesn't change my view about all the drivel we hear from landowners about the adverse effects of sea eagles etc.
6 comments:
Are we *honestly* surprised by this? This association exists to support the slaughter of grouse. I would imagine sea eagles would take quite a fancy to grouse.
These are the people who lay poisoned bait out on the hills to kill off these beautiful birds and then lay the blame on a very junior member of their staff.
Spineless, nasty pieces of work, with silly little scare stories this time.
Surprised? Err.. no. Your comments are always welcome on this blog Alan. Don't hold back so much though - say it like it is!
I would like to bring some Sea Eagles to the centre of Manchester preferably after the shops have closed and the “Good” hardworking people have gone home.
You'd wonder whether this story was even genuine were it not for the presence of the Very Reverend Hunter Farquharson. Who would create a fictional character with a name like that?
Alan's right: too many landowners consider themselves to be above the law. Unfortunately, north and south of Hadrian's Wall, we have politicians happy to allow them to pursue that belief with impunity.
Gamekeepers - reminds me of an incident on my Lowestoft to St Bees Head walk last year - Here is an extract from my journal:"
...from Commondale it was gently up onto the moors. There really is a feeling in these parts that you are on top of the World all the time. I met a Landrover coming the other way which did not amuse me and I was not overjoyed when it stopped and the guy wanted to talk. I asked him if he was just an offroader or did he have some official capacity? There was something about this guy I didn't like. He was wearing a military style khaki shirt and there was a belt of 12 bore cartridges draped accross the passenger seat, his reply was evasive but eventually he said that he was a gamekeeper; well I suppose there are some good and some bad but they are not a fraternity that I take to, so I cut the conversation as short as possible and carried on my way.
Byeways and Sir Hugh - I've had my fair share of conflicts with keepers, mainly in the 1980s and usually on estates in the NW, walking Rights of Way with our dog during the stalking season. I initially took the view that being pleasant and reasonable was the best approach but when that failed to work, I decided to make all such encouters as unpleasant as possible. I never once turned back.
Recently when walking on the Invercauld estates around Loch Callater a grouse shoot was in progress, but we were met with nothing but courtesy I have to say. That's my experience nowadays.
Of course that doesn't change my view about all the drivel we hear from landowners about the adverse effects of sea eagles etc.
As for the Reverend - well what can you say?
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