Tuesday 30 June 2009

On the Spey..........


Another beautiful picture from Alistair makinson. For contact details, see the post below.

Friday 26 June 2009

On the open hills........


Alistair Makinson has made a key contribution to our overall fundraising effort for our catchments project, selling prints of both rivers, and, like this one, wider wildlife scenes. You can see some more of his work at: http://www.alistairmakinson.com/ or look out for him in the artists tent at the Scone Game Fair.

Wednesday 24 June 2009

Breadalbane Deer Management Group visit to South Rannoch


Mark Duncan, Colin Lavin and John McNulty of the Forestry Commission kindly hosted a meeting of the Breadalbane Deer Management Group at South Rannoch on Monday 22nd June, meeting at Tummel Bridge larder, and spending a good part of the day in South Rannoch Forest. A very enjoyable and interesting day was had by all. Thanks to Mark, Colin and John for pulling things together, and to George Coyne of Auchlyne who organized most of the stalkers to come along, but who unfortunately could not be there on the day himself. Vice-chair Emma paterson thanked FC on behalf of the DMG for hosting the visit.
Any of these images can be enlarged to full screen size simply by clicking on them.

Mark Duncan presents....!!


Mark Duncan explains deer management on FC land on Tayside, and within the Breadalbane DMG area in particular.

Looking on


We had about 15 people on the day.

Having a chat.....


Jimmy Irvine of DCS and Tim Frost of Boreland catch up....... take your hands out of your pockets Jimmy!!

Taking things in.....


The vice- chair looks on.......

FC visitor record book


A big container with a roof over the top


The FC larder at Tummel Bridge is effectively a container that could be moved by way of a low loader if necessary. The shed was put up later to give added protection from the weather, but cuts down the potential for moving the larder if that was deemed to be necessary. Not impossible though........

In the chill......


Bert Shearer, David Pirie and Chris Murphy in the Tummel Bridge larder.

Carcase tag.......


Having a look........


South Rannoch Forest Design Plan


In the larder........


Two fallow deers


These will have been culled further down the valley towards Pitlochry.

Mark and Chris Murphy of Meggernie


Mark and Tim Fison in the larder


FC deer stalking areas on Tayside


Different colours are responsibility of different people........

Forestry Commission woodland areas on Tayside


Breadalbane Deer Management Group area


Restock site at Rannoch



Planted with Sitka Spruce to give it a chance against any internal deer pressure.

Looking out over Rannoch


Three deer dudes.....


David Piie, Ally McAskill and Colin Lavin of FC.

Jimmy Irvine and John Sinclair of Managed Estates


Deer control on restock sites


Mark Duncan explaining deer control to protect restock sites at South Rannoch

The listening crowd........


Taking things in.......


David Pirie of Innerwick, Ally MacAskill of JMT, Colin Lavin of FC, John McNulty of FC,and Jimmy Irvine of DCS

Sitka Spruce on re-stock site


Mark Duncan of FC


FC stalker John McNulty holds court........


What was that.......?


Listening to Tim.........


John Sinclair and Chris Murphy


Lunch time


Slowly growing & unthinned Scots Pine


Looking through the forest at South Rannoch


New watergates at South Rannoch


FC have four of these new water gates installed at South Rannoch.....they rise and fall with the water, and boulders etc can roll through underneath. To date, they seem to be working well.

John McNulty explains his new watergates.......


Closer..........


Two dudes......


David Pirie of Innerwick and Tim Fison of HPCLT......

Bottom of the watergate


Looking out over Innerwick


Tim Frost and vice-Chair Emma Paterson


Having a laugh.........


Friday 19 June 2009

Making the most of your photos


This is a photo that has been enhanced using Photoshop, the first to be processed in this manner on this blogsite by me, although Kristina Hayward has been known to tinker with these things from time to time. Although previously a sceptic of such technology, I have been persuaded to give it a go, and Colin Riach spent some time on this image of Killin from the road above Loch Tay. The original is posted below. I have been amazed by the results.
I am currently pulling together our catchment report, and this image will almost certainly now be used for the front cover. Seperately, Chris Thompson, below, touched up a photo of Ben Lui for me. There will be a piece in the final report on "Where is the Source of the Tay". I will use Chris's photo for that.
Well done guys. A real eye-opener.......

Original Image


Enhanced image of Ben Lui.


This is Ben Lui with the Hole in the Wall waterfall in the foreground, the furthest point that salmon can access on the Tay. Chris Thompson has touched up this image for me, ehhancing the trees in the foreground, giving a more defined outline to the mountain, and generally bringing out the colours a bit better.

Original Image


Sunday 7 June 2009