Shoot and run (Days 232 - 240)

Day 232 - Scaffold around the old Lamlash Church

The last 10 days have been fairly frantic with weddings, workshops and plenty of commercial jobs to complete. Most of the photo's for the project have really be grabbed along the way - some on my pocket compact as flash cards filled up with jobs and batteries were charged.

The conversion of the old church into residential property seems to be taking a while but with the scaffolding up I'm sure it will suddenly be finished.  Looking forward to seeing them.

Day 233 - Brambles

I love this time of year, so much colour in the berries, the mushrooms are starting to appear in great numbers and there is still plenty of wildlife around.

Day 234 - Cooling swim

Still managing to get some cani-cross training in with Watson despite the busy week.  He enjoys a swim when we're near any water and it's good for him to cool off and see the training as fun.

Day 235 - Graveyard shift

 Monday evening class and a trip to a couple of graveyards for tonight's exercises. I like the old graveyards as the stones tell more of a story giving a feel for the people who have gone before.

Day 236 - The happy couple

Today I had the privilege of  photographing Vivienne and Angus's wedding.  The swans floated by when we were on the bridge and stayed in shot for a short while.  It was a beautiful day.

Day 237 - Bambi

Full day workshops and an island tour taking in the deer at Lochranza, including this little 'bambi'. So cute.

Day 238 - In full sail

More workshops and back to Kildonan. The day was hazy and it gave a mystical feel to the sailing ship.  I wish it had been a little closer as I think it would have looked spectacular.

Day 239 - Nuts

Today it's editing day and I try not to be too distracted by the wildlife outside my window.  But it is good to give the eyes a rest and focus on something a little further away every so often (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it).

Day 240 - Lunch grab

Another quick lunch time job but the upside is I get fed at this one. And what a view from the restaurant at Altachorvie.

G is for Golf

With 7 golf courses and a driving range on the Isle of Arran, it could be described as a golfers paradise.  The courses are varied and all quite different.  They range from 9 to 18 holes, some have tearooms, some have restaurants.  And some are dog friendly - provided the dogs don't steal opponents golf balls! The courses are Brodick, Lamlash, Shiskine, Whiting Bay, Corrie, Lochranza and Machrie.

Machrie Bay Gold Course

The cheapest way to play the courses is to buy a Golf Pass and the 'Golf on Arran' site is worthwhile checking as there are frequent offers including ferries or meals.  There are a few unique features on some of the courses, such as the red deer which frequent Lochranza, the tee across the road at Machrie and other obstacles such as high tides and wind (lets not mention the midges in summer).

Shiskine Golf Course (at Blackwaterfoot)

I do not play golf but regularly frequent the tearooms, which provide an endless supply of cakes and coffee - some remaining open throughout the winter.

Deer grazing on Lochranza Golf course

Deer of the red variety and a Double blog day! (A to Z challenge)

Yes madness set in a while ago but it truly is starting to show as I now try to juggle two challenges, one lasting a whole year and the other just for the month of April.  But trying to blog daily is a little scary, and I am doing it to try to improve my writing skills and not the image side. 

Stag during rut

Red deer abound on the Isle of Arran and there is much history surrounding the herds and previous land estate owners who take on the responsibility of managing the numbers.

On the hill sides and in the glens herds roam and can easily be seen even from the road (especially along the String and Boguillie).  The red deer that inhabit the mountains and forests are wild and will move away from people, unlike the herds that gravitate around Lochranza.  These are less fearful of people and this can lull visitors into a false sense of believing the animals are tame.  Beware they are NOT!  During the rut, males can become especially aggressive and the antlers are lethal weapons.  Likewise the deer do not like dogs and will frequently attack lose dogs that approach too closely (as the local vet can testify)!  Two stags fighting over a harem, can be a violent affair if earlier posturing has not deterred one of them.  Antlers get broken and deep gouges / stab wounds may cause the death of a rival (meanwhile the females / hinds graze on).

Mountain stag

The deer shed their antlers every year and these can sometimes be found lying in the heather.  Tiny scratch marks on these are caused by small voles and mammals gnawing to ingest vital minerals.The Lochranza deer are attracted to the lush green grass of the golf course – an amusing hazard for Arran golfers (not just the deer but also the poo).

Close up of antler showing lethal points

Further information about the deer and peculiarities can be found on these links:-

Red deer on Arran

Strange antlers on red deer