South Kessock

I’ve been curious about an area of land we see directly out of the lounge room window and today we went to check it out. It is called the Merkinch Nature Reserve and there were walks across it. Some small birds were about but I think it’s still too cold for much wildlife to be about. After walking through the Nature Reserve we went back to the edge of the Firth and watched the happenings there. In exposed areas the wind was bitterly cold but walking between Whins ( Gorse) was much nicer and when the sun came out it felt lovely on our backs.

A clock tower has had us intrigued for a while and we stopped today to check that out. It seems between 1652 and 1658 a fort was created by Oliver Cromwell. He demolished various churches and monasteries, including some parts of The Priory in Beauly, to get the necessary materials. He had over 1000 soldiers living in the fort but all the soldiers were sent home and the fort was demolished in 1662 on the orders of Charles II. The clock tower is believed to have been built using remains of the fort.

Section of wind turbine loaded onto transporter.

Section of wind tower being offloaded. Manufactured in Nigg.

Pleasure craft returning to the marina.

Chaffinch

Squabbling seagulls.

Blackbird

Male Swan showing off.

Goose

Clock Tower, built from the remains of Cromwell’s fort.

Dolphin in the firth.

Whins or Gorse – lovely flowers but nasty thorns.