EAGLE NEWS

This shows recent movements of last year's eagle chick. Click on the pic to enlarge.
I understand the bird had been caught in a crow trap- and released unharmed.

FOREST SCOPING (2)

Today's meeting was main stakeholders, who shared their views on our forest scoping.
We plan to produce a report of both the public and agency meetings: we can put it on the blog.

FILMING IN GLEN TANAR

Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd. Calum Youngson completes his outside shots for the psychological thriller, using locations in Glen Tanar.

FOREST SCOPING

Busy now working on the Glen Tanar Forest Scoping exercise. The subject of this is the plan for the forest for the next 20 years.
First we prepare maps and pix to give people an idea of the sort of things we might be doing: planting, thinning, felling, etc. Then we take this out to consultation: locally, in the Victory Hall Aboyne on 21st March, thereafter in the Braeloine Visitor Centre for a week or so. We will also be meeting with agencies and major stakeholders. Once we get responses back, we will produce our scoping report- probably ready early June. If you want to know more, why not contact us?

Signs of Spring

The female eagle hatched and matured in Glen Tanar last year has moved into a nearby glen, and appears to have met up with a male from up the strath.

MIDWINTER IN GLEN TANAR

Candlemas in Glen Tanar brought fresh snow: in the valley, only a couple of inches, so no problem walking: further up the Glen, it gets deeper, so a bit of a trudge, unless you're on skis. And cold, even between snow showers: the sort of day where, if you're out, you dont want to lose sight of your rucsac.
I'm writing this as snow falls outside my window: flakes close enough to touch, but visibility down to 25metres, and the heavy snow filled sky resting on the tree tops.

The link above gives an indication of the many associations people have made to 'Candlemas'. One of the first I came across here on Deeside was the rhyme:

'Candlemas Day, gin ye be fair, The half o' winter's to come and mair; Candlemas Day, gin ye be foul, The half o' winter's gane at Yule.'

This, and more like it, can be got from 'The Silver Bough', by F. Marian McNeill.

CHRISTMAS EVE

4.30pm, Christmas Eve, the sun just setting, and Jupiter rising. A beautiful evening.

Happy Christmas.