The Hills Are Alight - Again

   
Two photos from Raptor Persecution Scotland taken in an Angus Glen in modern day Scotland, April 2021. The same year we are hosting COP26 in an attempt to persuade the World to protect the climate and our natural resources - our countryside and wildlife, so that we may save ourselves from a climate disaster. 

The first photo shows a range of patches of the heather which have been burned purely to facilitate higher numbers of Red Grouse - to be shot with lead shot, lead being highly poisonous to all life if consumed.

The second photo shows a survivor, probably one of just a few animals and invertebrates that might have survived the fire. It's a Common Lizard and it's tail is burnt black.

I can't wait to ask the prospective new MSP's who may canvass during the next few weeks hoping to persuade me to give them my vote, just when are they going to stop the destruction.

Fire, and by an appropriately named band, click here  do you think it's a ritual performed in remote bothies?

It looks like at least nine different strips on the hillside have been burned

A Common Lizard, if it avoids infection its tail might grow back

What every woman wants - A Chocolate Mining Bee

(Before feminists jump up and down, the women I know all like chocolate, the more expensive the better).   

Every year a species of Mining Bees arrive in a small border in Olive's garden and eventually they mine nests for their next generations. They haven't started nest building yet and with today's cold gale blowing it won't be today. Thanks again to Anne for the ID confirmation, and I've even bought a book at her recommendation to learn a bit more about the insect life I encounter.

One of the books suggested was by Steven Falk whose Flickr pages I've viewed in the past, he has nearly 49,000 photos mostly of insects, I've posted the link below this.

Steven Falk Collections, click here    Steven Falk Albums, click here  

Andrena scotica (The Chocolate Mining Bee)

House Sparrow cleaning out old nesting material from a nest last used in 2019

One of my neighbours puts out bread and old rolls and this is the result, an almost resident Herring Gull pair, this one testing the safety of my lawn