Red squirrel watching - almost!

Today i visited Haddo House, a National Trust property in the north east of Scotland and set in some lovely woodland. Up until today, i must admit i felt like a fraudulent naturalist: i live in Scotland yet i have never ever managed to see a red squirrel before. However, i am both delighted and devastated to announce that i saw one today, moments before it was frightened away by a dog walker. i'm the proud witness of a red squirrel's bottom and bushy tail bouncing off into the undergrowth and out of sight. I suppose that i have now seen at least half a red squirrel, which is more than before - now i just need to spot the other half!

The house itself was beautiful and the garden was well tended. I greatly enjoyed befriending several dozen ducks and geese at the lake with a bag of barley purchased from the gift shop!

My last night in the Scottish Borders

On my last night at home before travelling back to Aberdeen i took a final stroll up our country lane. I love to walk up to this ploughed field to watch the hares, who sit bolt upright and watch me back. The sun begins to set between the Eildon hills and a barn owl swoops from post to post along a hedgerow in the distance. A 7-spot ladybird scuttles across my outstreched hand and i wonder what this view will look like on my next visit.

National Garden Bioblitz

I recently did the national garden bioblitz with my 7 year old sister - here are just a handful of the species we spotted. In total we recorded more than 60 different creatures over just a short 30 minutes outside. There are over 23 million gardens in Britain and even small ones can contain hundreds of different species! To find out how you can give nature a home in your patch visit the RSPB campaign website.

Wasp nests welcome!

It's common knowledge that wasps aren't the most popular insect around, in fact I've heard many question the point in their existence altogether. I suppose this resentment is understandable - after all these angry little creatures appear to enjoy striking fear and pain amongst the human population. However, since all species exist only where there is opportunity to do so, we must assume that wasps too have some purpose to fulfil. 

The truth is wasps do a great lot of good in the garden! They control numerous pests such as aphids and some species even pollinate plants. Their nests are delicate papery balls constructed by the queen. You may have even heard a wasp scraping a wooden surface with its mandibles to create the pulp needed for it's new pad.

I spotted this nest inside my chicken house

Did you know that only female wasps can sting? They tend to become more aggressive towards humans at the end of summer from August to September. This is because they switch their eating habits from insects to gorging themselves on rotting fallen fruit. The fruit has an alcoholic effect which causes the wasps to become easily irritated and prone to a few drunken brawls (perhaps you can relate/sympathise!?)

Despite their flaws wasps really are fascinating insects. There are hundreds of thousands of different species in every colour of the rainbow (many of which can't sting at all.) Consider not destroying a nest if you are able to just avoid it for a while. If you ignore the wasps they will likely ignore you too!

Home again in the Scottish Borders

 

 I'm back in the Scottish Borders at my parent's farmhouse. The country lanes are avenues of white hawthorn and cow parsley and the garden has suddenly burst into colour. I didn't realise that the phrase "don't cast a clout until May is out" refers to the blossoms of the hawthorn which is also known as maythorn. Apparently you can grow hawthorn from 6 inch cuttings - i'll be giving this a go soon to form a wildlife hedge down one side of the garden.