We’ve been lucky to have some very good weather over the last few weeks which has meant a lot of time out of the office. I particularly enjoy walking
Swainbost Machair
on the machair at the moment as the flowers are in full bloom, not only producing a raft of colour but the smell as you walk through it is amazing. My guided walks programme started at the beginning of the month, turnout has been slow but that is expected in June as the tourist season is just building up. I have been surprised by the number of local people coming along, or expressing an interest in the walks this year, it seems that the locations are a bit more appealing to them as their not the usual tourist locations.
As well as my walks I have also done a talk on local wildflowers for the local women for mission group, set up through the free church to support projects overseas. I thoroughly enjoy doing talks like, unfortunately I don’t get to do them as much as I would like.
Painted lady butterfly - photo by Alison Brown
Wildlife wise things have been good, this year seems to be a bumper year for the painted lady butterfly, with numerous sightings being reported around the estate. The mute swans on Loch Stiapabhat are also doing well and are now the proud parents of a single cygnet. I’m also pleased to see that the Arctic Terns are back at Dun Eistean after a short absence. I paid them a visit a last week to try and assess how many nests there were but true to form the Terns bombarded me with a mass aerial assault so I wasn’t able to get close enough to count!
Lots coming up in the next few weeks with the walks programme continuing, end of terms school visits and various surveys so there will be plenty to keep me busy.
how do we get hold of your walks programme schedule?