March 2012 Blog Posts (10)

For the past three weeks I've been trying to spot and identify a bird I keep hearing when I'm out and about. I've tried looking it up on many websites and listened to loads of sound recordings and just can't get it. It's driving me quite mad. Such a distinctive call. 

This weekend, I've set myself another mission. Dug out my Zoom 4 track, handheld recorder and I'll capture the call. Hopefully then I'll be able to post here and on forums to get the help I need to identify it. I'm sure…

Yesterday late afternoon I nipped across to Kirkgate Park (accessed via a little narrow road near the southern end of Leven's main street) after meeting a friend for late lunch and a spot of horticultural retail therapy at Dobbies, Kinross :)  Light not inspiring but atmospheric so enjoyed a bit of photography ...

Kat and I spent a lovely sunny (and quite warm!) afternoon in Culross on Thursday, the best day weather-wise this week.  The sea air when I stepped out of the car smelt wonderful :))  Firstly we had a snack lunch on the terrace of the pottery cafe.  It was lovely sitting there in the sunshine surrounded by plants, birds, shrubs, trees and characterful historic buildings :)  Kat then gave me a guided tour of the area where the Bluther Burn joins the Forth.  She showed me the ancient bridge…

This weekend I've set myself the challenge of capturing a decent photo of a yellowhammer.

There are loads of them around where we live so I wouldn't have thought it would be too difficult. Having found a way of managing my camera and the beagles at the same time, I was all set this morning and hopeful even if it was/is a bit misty. 

They all went into hiding. Just one showed face. I caught it but the shot isn't as good as my efforts last year so I'm still on a…

Lovely sunny dry day yesterday :))  Hubby asked where did I want to go walkies ...  The choice was easy because we needed somewhere nearby as today we have the Mother's Day visit, which is a longer drive, so a longish car journey didn't appeal yesterday.  Hubby's first walk at Torry Bay.  He was impressed. :)  We didn't walk along to Crombie Point as his back was bothering him quite a bit.  Instead we followed the coastal path up the slope past the intriguing old stone doorway which features…

Mrs Elizabeth Smith who lived in Buckie, was in the tuberculosis ward of Campbell Hospital for two years and during her stay she kept a diary.

In around 1949/50 she wrote her story in a notebook. She called it, "Two Years of My Life"

I am now attempting to copy all 165 pages to a…

On Sunday afternoon we snatched a bit of time out (on the way further west to visit family) to get a bit of fresh air and exercise in the lower part of Dollar Glen, one of my favourite locations for a walk :)  Imagine my delight on arriving to discover the glen bathed in sunshine and the hill backed by blue sky and a fluffy white cloud :))  Cue photography ...  Result - a few photos taken from the same spot (no time for anything more), the best of which I've uploaded on here :)

This afternoon hubby took a notion to cross to the other side of the river.  We ended up in Cramond, having first checked out the location of Hopetoun House (impressive gates!) ...  Superb parking spot by the shore, looked fab for birdwatching :)   Wife kept quiet as he drove along the shore road through the middle of S Queensferry.  Was v busy due to the sunshine.  Hubby dislikes this!

First ever visit to Cramond!  A friend had recommended it and we weren't disappointed, although we…

Feeling pleased with myself!  Have found a way to upload the photos without having to burn them onto a cd first!  Truth be told, hubby discovered it but, semi-computer-literate that I am, I was delighted with myself that I managed to copy his lead! ;)  Is a bit longwinded - have to copy them to the desktop then delete them from there after uploading them!  If anyone knows of an easier way to do this on a MacBook, I'd be delighted to know! :)

Met up with Kat this afternoon at Torry Bay :)  She gave me a lovely guided tour of the walk along to Crombie Point :)

The light was good at the start of the walk, with some interesting cloud formations :)  I took a couple of pics; will be interesting to see if they are any good.  It was lovely to see and hear the seabirds and various countryside/garden birds in the adjacent trees, etc.  Also the numerous narcissi and quite a few snowdrops :)  Some wild flowers too :)  This is now…