Posts Tagged ‘birds’
Scottish fable given new life in the 21st century
Originally a Scottish fable written in 1440 by Richard Holland, The Book of the Howlat is re-imagining of one of the poetic gems of medieval Scotland. It tells the moral story of being true to one’s own nature. Similar to the Ugly Duckling tale, this children’s book introduces the Howlat, a body-conscious young owl who…
Read MoreScottish gull-proof waste bags trial gets underway
We’ve all seen gulls causing having in town centres and seaside locations all over Scotland by ripping open bin bags with their beaks. But now one Scottish council is fighting back against those those feathered pests. Dumfries and Galloway Council are aware of the issues residents have with gulls. They are tp carry out a…
Read MoreGannets begin to arrive for their breeding season
Scotland’s national conservation and education charity, the Scottish Seabird Centre is celebrating the arrival of the first of this season’s gannets on the Bass Rock. The gannets have been spotted circling the rock in North Berwick for several weeks but, they have finally been seen landing on the island by Seabird Centre guide and gannet…
Read MoreBaby pine martins pose a challenge to rescue centre
TV viewers can find out more about the country’s wildlife when they go inside the Scottish SPCA’s wildlife rescue centre. Born to Be Wild is shown on the BBC Scotland channel on Mondays, and in the next episode, assistant manager Jonny has his hands full when a bunch of baby pine martens are brought in…
Read MoreTaxidermist George is keeping the memory of animals alive
Edinburgh-born taxidermist George Jamieson’s fascination with his craft started at a young age. A creatively inclined child, Jamieson began collecting stuffed birds to paint and sketch. As a reward for passing his 11+ exams, he was given a taxidermied golden eagle. It wasn’t long before Jamieson decided to try it for himself and armed only…
Read MoreThe Scot who was a real-life Robinson Crusoe
The tale of Robinson Crusoe is a familiar one, but less well known is the story of a young Scottish girl who, 170 years ago, survived just such an ordeal herself. On 16 October 1849, a party of sailors from naval ship HMS Rattlesnake, commanded by Captain Owen Stanley, went ashore at Cape York, Queensland,…
Read MoreTake flight to a fascinating avian art exhibition
Aviary, an exhibition reflecting on the significance of the bird as a motif in contemporary Scottish art, will open next weekend. Taking place at the Royal Scottish Academy’s Academicians’ Gallery from 19 January-17 February, exhibiting artists are Ade Adesina, Michael Agnew, Elizabeth Blackadder, John Busby, Joyce Cairns, James Castle, George Donald, James Fairgrieve, Alexander Fraser,…
Read MoreKinloch Castle fundraiser is all set to launch
A campaign to restore a beautiful Scottish castle to its former glory gets underway next week. Nestling in the bay of Loch Scresort on the island of Rum, Kinloch Castle is surrounded by a shelter belt of trees, planted at the same time as the castle was built. It is an impressive and intriguing sight…
Read MoreA chance to re-discover Scotland’s natural wonders
Grab a cup of tea, sit down in the summerhouse and enjoy a moment of tranquility whilst reading Amanda Thomson’s delightful A Scots Dictionary of Nature. Split into six categories – land, wood, weather, birds, water and walking – the author has brought together some long-forgotten words that are customarily used to describe Scotland’s rich…
Read MoreWe try and test the slow cooked free-range Loué turkey crown
We try and test the Slow Cooked Free-Range Loué Turkey Crown in Gravy from Donald Russell. I WANT IT BECAUSE: Christmas is almost upon us but we’re all horribly busy. This is delivered straight to your door, frozen. Royal Warrant holders Donald Russell are a Scottish company, the free-range birds are sustainably produced in France…
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