Spring has sprung...ish

The title says it all. The sun is shining over Rum which is very nice, however the baltic winds ruin a good days sunbathing. We've had a bit of snow too with the tops of Hallival and Askival remaining covered since the start of the week.

 This weeks work has so far been more preparation for calving, data logging and oddjobs, however yesterday we went for the first proper mortality search for a hind that hasn't been seen for a few weeks. Ultimately we decided to just go for a long walk, after we found no trace of the hind from a few hours searching, although in the Shamhnan Insir area there are many places to hide. The beach at Shamhnan Insir is beautiful, I'll need to pack my camera next time I go as it's so remote and unspoilt. From being so far round the coast we walked onto the tops of Mullach Mor and had a wander through the many lochs before dropping back into Kilmory glen. Tomorrow looks to be another days mortality and antler search round the coast to the west, into glen Shellesder and past Bloodstone Hill. The stags tend to occupy this glen and the surrounding hills so I may get a photo or two unless they spook.

My first proper weekend on the island (last weekend) was spent fishing and walking. Not much luck on the fishing yet with only having landed a wee mackeral and hooking a rather annoyed dogfish which got off the hook before I could land him. There's so much kelp about that I'm having a hard time of finding a good spot to fish without snagging my line every time. I think I've maybe got a decent spot finally, but didn't have much of a chance to test it out before the line snapped (think the dogfish maybe did some damage). Luckily I only lost a fairly cheap lure and not one of the nice sparkly new ones. On sunday I went in search of mobile signal so walked up the glen road to the bottom of Mam Tuath (a central mountain). From there I though I'd chance a wee hike so went up Mam Tuath and was rewarded with a very good view of both Kilmory and Kinloch Glens and the big snowy mountains to the south east. I was also rewarded with a frozen gale so took my photos quickly and  left before frostbite set in.

 

This week I've encountered a bit more of the wildlife of Rum as things slowly begin to reappear and return to the island (Although I think the current blasting of cold air might deter some for a few more weeks yet). On my way back from Mam Tuath I found small newt in the flooded wheel ruts of the road. The beaches around Kilmory have also seen the return of many wader and seabird species, most of which I've still to identify properly. The ponies have continued their stay at Kilmory (they have free reign of the whole island) rushing about the place and standing in the road, turning the journey along the Kilmory road into a herding operation.

Kilmory is host to 6 people this weekend with four visitors arriving on the ferry to carry out their own fieldwork projects on the site. Hopefully this means that the rayburn will be kept well fed with coal so the kitchen will be cosy after a we get back from a day on the hill fighting the wind!

P.S I'll maybe be in village on saturday, where I'd aim to get a lot of photos uploaded here as it takes ages from each one to process.