This afternoon I had the pleasure of taking a group from the Wigtown Book Festival down to the Crook on a walk. They had attended Mathew Curry's talk about his poetry and how Galloway had inspired him.
We came across a nice party of 5 Ruff in the saltmarsh pools feeding as we walked down Skylark Walk always a delight to see them and five is my personal best and as far as I know the Crooks.
Tomorrow I have another guided walk so I do hope they are there again and with the tide a few more I hope.
Thanks to the visitor to the Book Festival that introduced themselves in the county buildings it is always nice to put a face to a name. Not that I remember the name and come to it the face except to say I think I know that person. So I must apologise should I look blank next time we meet. The Wife tells me it is a man thing I think it is my age.
Paul
I admit to being the anonymous Wigtown resident! see Paul's comment on 29 Sep re the state of the Crook access road. Since then there's been really good progress, and DGFirst have agreed to repair the road, and probably fairly soon. It will not be resurfaced - at prohibitive cost - but patched and filled to what we hope will be an adequate standard. It certainly can't be worse than it is at present! Will keep you posted.
Hi, Paul - and Ian - thanks for all your efforts during the Book Festival, but especially for putting up with us all week! Wishing you well with the "road" to the Crook, as also with the habitat improvements and other issues there.
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
We are not getting the hot weather the best day was Wednesday. It is warmer than usual at night and the days are pleasant but nowhere near the heat of the south.
The dragonflies are able to bask in the sun but have not seen much difference in the other wildlife and it is all downhill today with mist and rain that the dear weather man did not predict and tomorrow and the weekend are looking very wet.
Had to drop some equipment at the Wood of Cree this morning and the wildlife that is enjoying the warm damp weather are the midges. We were covered in them in minutes.
Trust your guided walk on the 28th went well Paul. I'm wondering if this unseasonally warm weather is making itself felt where you are and what effect it may be having on the wildlife.
Thanks for that Brian, My hope is that within the next couple of years things will really mature.
But one of my main aims after the complaints we have had this past week is for this winter to get the council to do something with the road. I have heard today that a resident from Wigtown is very unhappy and has rung the council. I wish them luck I have tried on several occasions to engage with the council highways department about the road that leads down to our entrance but to no avail.