Nature on the Hoof

by Paul Murdoch

Surrounded by moorland, farmland, rivers, lochs, hills and crags - our area is teaming with wildlife.

Here are a few recent snapshots.

I call this first photo my ‘leaping Bambi’ picture.

I spotted the Roe Deer buck in a grassy field as I climbed the steep track towards Carman Hill.

However, as I came level, the startled stag bellowed in annoyance and broke into a series of leaps and bounds.

Of our two native species, Roe Deer rather than the bigger Red Deer are the ones you’ll most likely spot around this area.

The Fallow, Sika and Reindeer have all been introduced elsewhere in Scotland.

My second shot features a Song Thrush.

More slender than Mistle Thrush, it has a wonderfully complex song where it repeats intricate phrases.

They eat worms, insects and snails, often using specific stones as ‘anvils’ where they smash snail shells to get at the juicy bits inside.

The Song Thrush population dipped by about half recently but, personally, I’m beginning to see and hear more of them again.

I haven’t seen any Mistle Thrush since about February, which may mean our lot have travelled south for the summer.

It’s always easier to get a good photograph of a bird when it’s displaying or singing.

The trouble with this time of the year is that the leaves are out, so dancers and chanters may be well hidden.

Get more info on creatures and shots here : Paul Murdoch website and look out for a regular column from Paul in future issues of Clydesider