Ben Donich

Ben Donich is one of the Arrochar Alps, a cluster of mountains near the Argyll village of Arrochar. This hill is 847m high, which makes it a Corbett.

This is the view from the summit, looking towards Ben Lomond, with The Cobbler and Ben Narnain on the left.

One of the features of the walk up from the Rest and Be Thankful is the rock step, which has to be descended on the ascent and ascended on the descent. It sounds more exciting than it is, although it’s a real obstacle in icy conditions.

That was my first proper hill of the year, and a reminder that there’s an awful lot of up involved in going up a hill.

Whooper swans leaving Argyll

Yesterday afternoon I watched this group of 15 whooper swans fly in to Loch Ederline; this morning I saw them fly off on their spring migration north to their summer breeding grounds. There were a total of around 32 whoopers overnighting on the loch, being given close attention by the resident pair of mute swans.

The flock circled around the village a couple of times and then headed out west towards the sea. There are a number of juveniles in this group of birds.

It won’t be long now before the incoming migrants, ospreys, swallows and martens return from lower latitudes. Spring’s finally around the corner.

Messing about with mike

Another dreich day in old Argyll, so something from my desk will have to do.

I’ve just installed Photoshop, so this is first attempt at an edit using that.

Root and rock

Tree roots growing around slabs of natural rock. Taken by the old mill on the Taynish National Nature Reserve in Knapdale.

Primroses (Primula vulgaris)

A wee clump of primroses on the Taynish National Nature Reserve in Knapdale this weekend.

European robin (Erithacus rubecula)

A robin singing in a tree by Loch Barnluasgan in North Knapdale this afternoon.

Tiny moss carpet

A miniature carpet of tiny moss plants by Cam Loch in North Knapdale.

Mosslets

Tiny moss plants growing up between lichen plaques. Taken on a walk into North Knapdale on Sunday.

(Another Lightroom edit)

More brackets

Brackets from a fallen tree in the neglected gardens of Kilmory, Lochgilphead, Argyll.

(This is my first edit with Adobe Lightroom)