Taexalia

wild.life

Curious Coincidence of the Squirrel and the Property Developer

The BBC reports the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS), and the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association (SRPBA) are involved in the Saving Scotland's Squirrels Project. It is a curious coincidence that David Fyffe, owner of Fetternear Estate by Kemnay, has been granted a license to fell trees by the very same Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS). This licensed tree-felling is needed to clear land for a proposed housing ... read more

Foxes Full Of Beans

This morning brought another snowstorm and with it the best ever garden fox watching extravaganza. Our vixen was full of high jinx tiddling about in the snow, burying scavenged bread under the snow and flinging something into the air and playing with it. She was disturbed a few times by an inconsiderate human who kept opening the window to see better... pfffft! Our vixen also involved herself in a game of tag with a crow and two magpies which she lost gracefully. A little while later her ... read more

The Daily Fox

This morning sees blue sky and sunshine working to erase the last of the snow from the grass. Our fox pair were not caught on camera flirting in the garden and although they never seem to notice me at the window, I wonder if it is a sixth sense that moves them frustratingly behind fences and into the long undergrowth almost as soon as I get my camera organised... But wait! There are three of them! One is settled in the overgrown plot just behind ... read more

Battle on to save Red Squirrels

This is an actual Fetternear Red Squirrel

The Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is under threat. The two main culprits are habitat loss perpetuated by human development, and the spread of the non-native Grey Squirrel (stupidly imported from America in the 19th century).

Scotland now accounts for 75% of the UK Red Squirrel ... read more

There’s snow business like fox business…

Almost a year ago I found myself a voyuer at midday for around half an hour as our resident fox pair enjoyed the Quickening. Further research suggests they had actually gotten themselves stuck. Bless. Today I'm trying to knuckle down and do some book-keeping when I hear Crow carking and sounding a bit enraged. I look outside and see both foxes flirting and chasing each other across the snow. The pair of crows are flitting about keeping a close eye on proceedings and the foxies are looking up ... read more

Arctic Vixen

Last night the snow was still falling and the blanket of white was almost intact, blurring the boundaries and creating an erie light. This morning the world of humans has taken over and where the road and pavement were one there is clear tarmac and orange stripes of salty sand. The cars, you see, must go on. The gardens tell more interesting tales as the criss-cross of animal tracks bely the journeys of the night. In the dim morning light under clouds laden with more snowfall to come ... read more

Night Vision

I am finally willing to believe that there is snow in the UK. I have been seing reports of chaos and pictures of snowmen, and even a picture of a macaque monkey making a snowball... but here in Edinburgh there has been no snow. OK there was a day of snowfall but it all melted. OK there has been a dusting of snow on Arthur's Seat for the last couple of days - but slidy pavements and snowmen? Not a chance. Tonight however not only is the weather forecast accurate and the snow is actually ... read more

2009 Carbuncle Awards ~ Trump Wins Worst Planning Decision for Destroying Protected Coastline

Architecture Scotland have concluded that the Scottish Government's decision to allow the destruction of a protected stretch of undeveloped coastline in Aberdeenshire is the worst planning decision of 2008. I concluded this quite some time ago. The problem is it wasn't quite a planning decision - it was an example of the erosion of democracy and a demonstration of just exactly what Alex Salmond is - a paternalistic power over screw the people screw the landscape screw ethics numpty. How ... read more

It is all in the timing

Some of you may know that we replaced our entire central heating system in the early months of 2007. What none of you will know is that after I had pulled up all those nails and lifted the hardboard that lies over the floorboards (definitely not the most bizarre flooring combination in this block I can assure you!), and after the lovely men had performed noisily for an entire week... a decision was made that the hardboards would henceforth be attached to the floorboards with screws instead of ... read more

Watching Over Predators

The kind I have some respect for that is... I noticed Mr Fox skulking past the Sparrow Bush as I was making my toast and felt blessed because I could have missed the split second sighting so easily. A moment later I gasped as I realised that Mrs Fox was curled up in the long grass of the untamed (thankfully) garden cleaning herself and enjoying the sunshine. Mr Fox skulked back and curled himself up a few feet away to do the same. They have been relaxing and sleeping this way for over ... read more

No Change There Then!

I have been quite sceptical about all the marketing around Barack Obama. I have in fact been dumped by a couple of friends because I was unable to see things their way. Ho hum. But here's a couple of enlightening snippets from Barack Obama's great gob, spoken at the National Prayer Breakfast where he met "leading British politician" (er he isn't anymore) Tony Blair ~ Mr Obama praised Mr Blair as "somebody who did it first and perhaps did it better than I will do". After the address Mr ... read more

Rhythms and Ruptures

The other day I was forgiving myself for losing my rhythm with regard to creativity and also healthier habits. On the one hand I think it's true that I'm a cyclic being, but on the other there is a tendency to get lost in negativity, and I think that's been afoot recently too. I try to be gentle with myself about this since I'm still living in a scenario where Outside Influences, that I cannot do anything more to control for the moment, impact me. It is enough that I keep trying to reclaim ... read more