Original teaser trailer for the wildlife documentary Last of the Scottish Wildcats, view the full length preview on our channel or at coffeefilms.com/scottishwildcats where you can also order the DVD
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Although often thought of for its oil and granite, the city of Aberdeen and its surrounding shire offer an abundance of wildlife for nature fans to observe. As well as frequent sightings of foxes, badgers and red squirrels, visitors to the north east of Scotland often report seeing numerous varieties of birds – both to tourist bodies and to friends and families as they recount their time travelling in and around Aberdeen. As a harbour town, fishing is a vital part of Aberdeen’s history and culture and as with any city with large fishing fleets, seagulls are always nearby. The seagulls in Aberdeen, however, have achieved notoriety – whether it’s for their abnormally large size or for making national news for learning to pilfer crisps from newsagents. Birds of prey are a popular sight and these can be found in the city centre as well as more abundantly on the outskirts and in the suburbs of the city. Peregrine falcons have recently been taking up nests in prominent positions across Aberdeen as they look to take advantage of the high number of pigeons that they can feast on. Farther away from the city centre – and closer to the farmyard animals just outside Aberdeen – birds of prey are more frequently seen, including buzzards. Perhaps the most sought after bird is the golden eagle that is regularly spotted in the nearby Cairngorms mountains. For lovers of more gentle birds, Troup Head – around 50 miles north of Aberdeen – houses the only gannet colony on mainland Britain. Every summer around 150,000 breeding seabirds flock to the area – that includes gannets as well as kittiwakes, guillemots and puffins; the nearby water houses dolphins, seals and minke whales. Later in the year – as the leaves drop from the trees – large numbers of birdwatchers descend upon the Loch of Strathbeg (roughly 40 miles north of Aberdeen) – to watch displays of flighting geese. While these geese only make annual trip to Scotland, some visitors take flights to Aberdeen throughout the year and want to see wildlife at more convenient times. One such location that offers this – for bird lovers as well as animal lovers – is Doonies Farm. Situated on the southeast edge of the city, near the village of Cove, Doonies is a haven for rare breeds of animals and offers visitors a hands-on experience, with many people getting their first real taste of the countryside at the location. With so many options for wildlife lovers in and around Aberdeen, there’s no reason for its image of being a city only valued for its oil and granite. The information contained within this article is the opinion of the author and is intended purely for information and interest purposes only. It should not be used to make any decisions or take any actions. Any links are included for information purposes only.
Glencoe’s spring sky looked bleak; wrathful clouds glared, threatening imminent showers. Columns of light penetrated the cloud, stood as sentinels guarding entrance to the sweeping valley. The scent of springtime was in the air; a new harvest was approaching. Animals all around were preparing their nests for new siblings and a busy summer. The echoes of songbirds and their merry tunes sang throughout the valley; the season of courtship was upon us. A crisp breeze was a reminder of a recent winter; Glencoe was still adjusting to the new season. The wind was the only sound of an otherwise silent valley. Ahead, a small cluster of trees were dwarfed by the gargantuan mountainside rising steeply from the flat. Foliage managed to climb about a third of the way up the mountain face before conceding to the barefaced rock. It looked impossible to climb; the dominant face was almost vertical. As the clouds began to clear, the cool, shallow waters to my right reflected an ever changing sky. The lake was fringed by marshland and navigable only by the local wildlife. I continued my march along the lonely valley road and soon encountered a public house, wonderfully isolated from civilization. It was cast in shadow as the sun hid behind the mountain peaks, threatening to emerge and flood the valley with light. “Passing through?” enquired the barman politely, breaking his conversation with an elderly gentleman on the opposite side of the bar. “Heading for the village,” I replied and grabbed the nearest chair to soothe my aching limbs. “Coke please.” Refreshed and revitalised, I continued my trek along the forsaken road, twisting and turning with the contours of the land. Glencoe’s history can be traced back over 5,000 years. Perhaps most infamous was one macabre night during the early hours of 13th February 1692. The resurgence of the Jacobites worried King William the Third and he ordered all clan chiefs to declare their allegiances no later than 1st January 1692. Maclain of Glencoe however was delayed and didn’t sign until 6th January 1692. Unaware of the decision to punish him and his men, Maclain returned to his land believing all was well. Campbell of Glenlyon led a group of 128 soldiers who stayed with the Macdonalds for 12 nights before murdering 38 of them as they slept during the early hours. Studying this tranquil landscape, it’s hard to imagine such a brutal event ever taking place. Despite its barren appearance, the land is teeming with wildlife; nature accompanies my every step. In a world seemingly awash with terror and violence, it’s good to know these places still exist. Away from the rigours of city life, Glencoe has evolved as nature intended. |
Edinburgh
September 4, 2010, 6:47 pm
 Sunny 20°Creal feel: 19°C
current pressure: 1019 mb
humidity: 55%
wind speed: 4 m/s ESE
wind gusts: 4 m/s
sunrise: 6:24
sunset: 20:01
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