Well friends, it's been a busy and interesting ten days!
Gail didn't tell me before we set off for Torridon a week last Tuesday that she would be spending most of her time conducting surveys of local plant life, having volunteered to take part in the National Plant Monitoring Scheme, and that I, Nobby, would be assisting her with the field work.
Well I am pleased to report that I took to the role like a duck to water (and believe me, there is plenty of water in this part of the world).
Look, here's me, guarding the SW corner flag of a 5 m square of 'wet heath' on the Kinloch Estate, wherre Gail was surveying the plantlife with fellow volunteer Graham.
I should point out here that Gail was planning to leave me in the car but Graham said no, no, he'll be fine, let him come with us. What a nice man, don't you think?
While the humans got stuck into identifying different types of heather, sedges, moor grasses, bog myrtle and bog asphodel etc. I gave them absolutely no cause for concern by scrambling up and over nearby rocky ledges, and I even helped by making sure the marker poles did not fly away in the wind.
The next day, we ventured into the birch woods on the steep northern flank of Ben Shieldaig, where primroses were still in bloom and the rocks were covered in a baffling variety of mosses. We are in 'temperate rainforest' habitat here.
When Aberdeen neighbour Kirsty came over to stay in the middle of the week, we took a bit of time off the plant stuff and went for a nice walk along the coast (see 25 May post).
But on the following morning I was disappointed to be left in the car while Gail, Kirsty and Graham checked out the plants in a native pinewood area (located too close to the North Coast 500 road for my safety).
Finally, and just 'cos it's pretty, I'll leave you with a picture of me amid the bluebells near our cottage.
Happy Nature Friday friends! Do go and visit the other posts in the LLB Gang's always enjoyable blog hop.
My goodness Nobby, what a clever boy you're turning into! What a fantastic time you had, and how good of you to make sure that marker didn't blow away. I do hope that you were suitably rewarded for all your hard work and dedication. You've made sure that you'll be invited to help out next time.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Inca xx
Blue bells and grass suit you well, Nobby. I am impressed with your flag holding skills and the fact you can go off leash and stay close to your momma. it is a beautiful world you live in... Tell F Mama did not get a dog inside her house until she was 25, but she did have one from age 6 outside and at times as many as 7 strays would be hanging around. Daddy would say Sandra stop feeding those dogs. I once got in trouble because the family was visiting my daddy's cousins and they had hunting dogs out back. the first thing they said was Do NOT pet those dogs. they are hunting dogs not pets. HA HA on them, those dogs got a good bunch of pets and a laydown with them...
ReplyDeleteYou look like you are having a blast exploring, Nobby, and there is so much beauty all around you! Love those pretty bluebells!
ReplyDeleteGrowing up fun! Going new places, learning new things ~ always an adventure awaiting with each new day.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteWell, Nobby, I am delighted to see that you are putting on at least one, if not all four, boots of your predecessor! What a wonderful way to spend some time of each day, drawing the eye down from the expanse of magnificent NW vistas, to small, dedicated landscapes in the microcosm of nature. I have no doubt at all that your attention to the marker posts ensured greater success for Gail et al! Hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx
Nobby yes Graham is an incredibly nice guy!!
ReplyDeleteOMDs my sweet little WFT friend you have found your Nobby niche in your new world. I can see you take the job very seriously and are intent on guarding each flag. I bet each day you wake up in your new home or cottage you wonder just what adventures your Gail has for you. Enjoy each day sweetie. Yes Graham is an incredibly nice guy and aware of your potential as a valuable apprentice!!
Hugs Cecilia
What a great way to spend your time. F spent a large part of the start of her working life doing stuff like counting plants in defined plots in forests in new Zealand. She knows why you would enjoy it. She did (and it rains a lot where she is from too - homesick Scots settled there and gave it lots of names they brought from home).
ReplyDeleteWhat a great week of adventures you had, Nobby. It was so nice of Graham to allow you to join in the plant counting activities.
ReplyDeleteWhat a handsome guy surrounded by bluebells!
ReplyDeleteSound like your time in Torridon was a blast Nobby! We are so glad you got to tag along with Gail and Graham, and we bet they were happy to have you around to keep those flags in place!
xoxo,
Rosy,Jakey and Sunny
Oh this is a wonderful post of nature and your adventure ~ Nobby ~ you too had such a wonderful time ~ Xo
ReplyDeleteWishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Wow! We sure enjoyed seeing all the beautiful plants growing in your part of the world, and you were an excellent guide! Good job, Nobby!
ReplyDeleteHi friend, Ojo here! Ooooh, what a fun adventure! I live in Temperate Rain Forest too! It looks the same, but also different. I wonder if it smells the same?
ReplyDeleteLots of fun times for you, Nobby!! You are a great assistant! Thanks for sharing all the plant life and beauty of your region.
ReplyDeleteWow, looks like you had fun Nobby!
ReplyDeleteYou did a very impressive job at a young age. You are very impressive.
ReplyDeleteSounds like for the most part, you had a great time and were a big helper.
ReplyDeleteThe humans clearly needed some supervision with their task and they are lucky to have had you. Lee and Phod
ReplyDeleteI have been doing some insect monitoring - in many ways a similar sort of survey to the one you'e been involved in. Butterflies are easy and many people report their sightings of those, it's the moths that take the effort - light traps and all that... But I have some friends who are national park rangers and much younger than me, so I don't feel quite so odd lurking about at night and early morning!
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting life you and Gail lead out there in the wilds! How very interesting for you both! Always great to have a change in scenery but you two do it the BEST!
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