Another One Away.

It was a lovely dusk so went for a run, saw an eagle riding the thermals, but then unfortunately came across this poor wee squirrel.

As it was a collared one we took it around to Alaister the Dundonnell gamekeeper. It seems that this is the seventh that someone has brought in, but how many haven't bothered?
It was quite stiff, had been dead a while. Was a wonder the eagle hadn't spied it, or a fox, pine marten, crows.........

Slow Down.

Dundonnell Estate are attempting to reintroduce the red squirrel to these parts. These signs are a necessity, but unfortunately people don't seem to be taking any notice.

Fish Farms.

We have a fish farm at the top of the Loch, I know nowhere is perfect, but many would prefer it was not here, would prefer if they didn't exist at all.
On our run round today we saw Brian a gamekeeper we know well repairing a wall that deer are getting through. The other week there was a meeting at the local hotel about fish farms, but we couldn't go, so we stopped to spear Brian about it as we knew he was in some way involved.
As it was getting dark & I we needed to get on & get home to lock the hens in, he told me to look at YouTube. Here's the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eggrGn0V0fg

A Favourite Tree

I love this tree on Dundonnell Estate. There's some thing Art Nouveau about it's roots.

Good News.

Today was one of those cold damp days where you have to get outside for a while or the day will melt into the next.

I'm attempting to tackle the brambles on the bottom of the croft. The long fronds are as thick as men's thumbs, the jagged spines like barbed wire. I've been using a mattock to get the root balls out - that are the size of fists. I do a couple of hours down there most days. A couple of lambs that are getting under the fence have been trapped by them, but I've got them freed. It seems quiet now that most of the male lambs went off to market last Thursday. I'd love to keep them all, but I can't. I didn't get great prices, but it's always a little something towards the feed.

I entered a Halloween competition over at Microhorror & was delighted to learn that I was one of the winners: http://www.microhorror.com

A Sad Day.

We had to go over to Ullapool today. It lashed down again. When we got home it was already starting to get dark, even though it was only 4pm. I went and gathered a box of twigs from down the wood. It's a routine I have, clears the brash off the floor. After it's sat drying overnight beside the stove, I use it as kindlers the following day. By the time I've got a big box load I've made my way up to the hen houses, so I shut them in for the night, keep them safe from pine martens, foxes & otters.

Jim had gone to feed the sheep, but got delayed rescuing a male lamb from a patch of brambles down on the bottom field. They are fenced out of it, but about three Houdinis seem to be able to limbo dance under the tiniest gaps. He came back, we had a coffee & he went back to fence off the gap he thinks they are getting under and also to wash his bloodied hand. We seem to have the nastiest brambles in the whole of Scotland - the fronds as thick as a man's thumb & the spines as jagged as barbed wire. I've got them tamed on the top fields, but the bottom is a jungle of them. Another Winter's job.

By the time he went onto the lower apportionment to feed the ewes & the female lambs it was dark, although a blurry moon gave off some light. I thought Jim was slow, taking his time, so I went to see what was keeping him. I heard him shouting for Harriet as I walked up the track. I knew then in a way that she was away, but you hope. She'd become trapped the other week & I'd feared the worst then & we'd found her wedged - I hoped it would be the same, but kinda knew deep down she was gone.
We walked, looking & shouting for about an hour, in the, by now torrential rain. Hardly having eaten since we'd left for Ullapool in the morning, we'd started to flag, so we came back to the caravan, had a quick something to eat & went back out with torches.

We found her drowned in a shallow part of the burn. She must have fallen further up & been swept down. It's been heavy rain for a few days.

It feels such a waste. She was a character, but dippy, yet so friendly, and like an eager puppy wanted your undivided attention, would follow you across the croft. It seems such a short time ago when I used to hop over the fence to give her & Jem (the other orphan) their bottles. The only Cheviot I've had - I got her from Harry the fencer to rear as he couldn't spare the time being busy  & working away from home during the day, & she was a good mate for Jem.
I shall miss her.

Tomorrow we have to double ear tag the male lambs that are going off to market. It'll be a time of catching them & getting them transported along to a neighbour & he'll take them through to Dingwall for us.

Tonight I have to decant some wine into other demi-johns, strain the apple wine & get that going, & tidy up this cluttered space. In a way I'm glad I'm busy, one shouldn't feel so sad about the loss of a lamb, but I bloody well do.