Thanks Rig. But I'm not that fit! The pouring sweat was washing off the Skin So Soft faster than I could put it on Pretty warm today!

Great picture of the cormorants. I thought I might see some chicks today but no luck . Did see some grouse chicks on a hill a couple of weeks ago though. Very cute! Gave me a fright as they jumped out of the heather right at my feet!

Cheers
Sheila

Eigg and Rum ..............................paradise

Them's DUCKS, Rig!

Oh dear, we do have cormorants too, and the daddy cormorant was nearby on a mast, so I assumed they were his! Why does the mummy have such a long neck, then??

Adds quickly - and I've now posted my walk in Naaf valley pictures on original post above the 'ducks' pic... I am SO sad now, Puffin - you've ruined my weekend...

Them cormorants look a bit like Common Scoters to me

Heading for the Cotswolds tomorrow for a fifteen miler near Cheltenham taking in the seventh highest hill in southern England, Cleeve hill.

Great photos Sheila

Don't think they're those, either, Stevie: the head markings don't fit and anyway, CS wouldn't be as far south at this time of year, let alone down the Rhine as far as Koln.

Sorry to have ruined your weekend, Rig - and I hate to cast further nasturtiums but...

"Why does the mummy have such a long neck, then??"

Well, I did wonder if perhaps there was a suggestion of *whispers* farmyard duck in there somewhere - a touch of the Indian Runners maybe.

Lovely photos, Rig! Such pretty houses.

Now - how to crawl back into Rig's good books? (Spud! Help, please, you're good at this! ) I know - RORY IS WONDERFUL!

They certainly were last Monday and Tuesday when we went! (There will be some pics in due course -it's just that I've got so many it's taking forever to sort them out!)

My first thought were that they were domestic hybrids as well, not being big on domestic breeds though I've no idea what they might have been crossed with.

Hi Sheila,

And thank you very much for sharing your pictures !!! Always nice pictures to watch.

I would like to ask you about the mountain flowers you saw. Do you know any of them ?

Do you think I could find a book about Scottish mountain flowers ... so that I can get to know some of them next August when I walk in Scotland. Do you know any of these books ?

I had a great walk today and I will post some pictures later.

Greetings from France,

Lionel

Hi Lionel

Some of the flowers I saw yesterday are: thyme, butterwort,stitchwort, tormentil, orchids (3 different ones), ragged robin, speedwell, lady's bedstraw, woundwort, lousewort, meadowsweet, milkwort, common violets, wood sorrell, lady's mantle, harebell, buttercup, daisy, red clover, common vetch, mountain pansy ....

My favorites are here: Butterwort Harebell

The books I have are Collins Nature Guide "Wild Flowers of Britain and Europe " by W. Lippert and D.Podlech - a very comprehensive pocket size guide

and "The Lomond Guide to Wild Flowers" - also a good pocket guide

And 2 websites I use are this one which helps you to identify flowers you find: Find Wildflowers

and this one which is a nice photo gallery: Wildflower Gallery

Hope this helps you. Most of the local bookshops will have wildflower books. I know there are a few different ones in the Nevisport shop in Fort William so maybe you will get one there in August.

Looking forward to seeing your pictures later

Cheers
Sheila

Awww Auntie Rig, I'm sure Auntie Puff didn't mean to ruin your weekend *gives Auntie Rig a big hug*.

I've decided (with lots of help.... any offers??? hehe!) that I want to do something challenging in my life..... I want to climb the 3 highest peaks in the UK (well, try).

I think I have a lot of training to do (especially as I have never done a peak at all )

Any tips, advice (on clothing and stuff too, I'm a complete beginner) would be very much appreciated.

Spud I would happily do Snowdon and Scafell pike with you.

Spud, Tiz - is there a charity 3 peaks in the offing. Who's going to train you up Spud?. I did Snowdon, Scafell and Nevis in 24 hours, 10 years ago. That's the best order to do them in. 9 am Snowden, tea time at Seathwaite, Cumbria. Fish and Chips in Keswick 10.30pm, then overnight drive to Nevis, starting ascent at about 2.30am in the dark for a couple of hours and down for Scotch Pie and chips at the cafe at 9, where all the other folk are on bacon and egg!