Breeding Pheasant - Cute chicks

Whilst the breeding of the pheasant is closely controlled by David the Gamekeeper, mother nature shows us how it's really done and we have plenty of pheasant nesting in the scrub around the grounds. All very well camouflaged.

These seem to be doing quite well, with large clutches of eggs and we try to disturb them as little as possible. All of them, Estate reared or not will be well fed and mingle once they are grown.

Meanwhile the eggs are 'pippin' in large numbers in the hatchery as the little chicks fight their way out. The trays are no longer rocking and the bases are solid so the chicks can't fall through.

It's fascinating to watch as the chick cuts a circular hole around the top of the egg as it cuts it's own 'hatch' out. For linguists - verb 'hatch' as in life from an egg, noun 'hatch' as in doorway (often nautical).

Flipping the top back and emerging as an independent life. 

Looking a little grumpy before the feathers fluff up.  The temperature and humidity are still regulated to give it the best chance of survival before being taken into the 'nursery'.

Little chick being transported into the nursery.

Lots of mates to play with, and still temperature regulated.

Not long before they get moved to the outside pens.

Introducing David

Gamekeeper - David

David joined the Estate on the 1^st July this year as our new gamekeeper after Alastair moved back to the mainland to take up a new post. Drew will continue to stay with us as the underkeeper whilst attending college during the year.

Alastair on a shoot last year

David has come from the Knockando Estate in Aberlour where he was the stalker / ghillie.  With over 20 years under his belt he is an experienced gamekeeper having run the pheasant shoots, stalking for both red and roe deer, along with fishing on the River Spey. At the same time as this he was responsible for the keepering at the Castle Grant shoots.

David has brought his own working dogs with him, a Labrador, spaniel and two pointers.  One is still very much a puppy that is still undergoing training and won't be out on shoots this year.

The castle like Towers

David has taken up residence at the Towers with his wife Jan and their 4 year old son, also called David. David will be attending Shiskine primary school when term starts and is enjoying living in a house that looks like a castle.  Jan has been helping with the estates holiday houses and is looking to meet new people on the island.  

Strange Antlers on Red Deer

Antler deformities

Arran is well known for its red deer which are easily seen around  Lochranza and on the flanks of the fells when going across the Sting Road, for those who don’t want to stray off the beaten path.  The Estates and Forestry Commission on Arran take the management of deer seriously, ensuring that stocks stay healthy and numbers are maintained.



Little and large antler - asymetric so likely to be injury related.

But like any wild animal anomalies and injuries can occur, sometimes with striking results for the red deer!

Antler deformity, injury or disease?

Antlers are large, branching bony appendages on the heads of the male red deer.  Antlers are shed and re grown each year from a pedicle.  New antlers are covered with a soft skin called velvet which helps too supply nutrients to the underlying growing bone. Once the antler is fully grown the velvet is shed and the bone underneath dies becoming very hard.  It is this dead bone that is the mature antler.

Curly antlers used to be seen around Catacol believed to be genetic

The growth of the antler requires a significant amount of nutrition and is the fastest known bone growth of any mammal. Lack of nutrition or minerals may be the cause for some abnormalities.

Fractured skull around pedicle caused this one.

The antlers are fully grown and hard by the time of the rut (mating season) and they serve as fearsome weapons between battling males, and can inflict fatal injuries. Fighting may damage or break an antler but it does not cause the growth anomalies shown in these pictures.

Plain antlers without tines, likely to be genetic.

The full reasons for abnormal antlers are not fully understood although some conditions are hereditary (most likely cause for the curly antlers), and these occur year on year and genetic causes will affect both antlers. Curly antlers were once a regular feature of deer around Catacol.

Hooks at the ends of the tines in this case were thought to be caused by liver fluke

Injury to the pedicle or skull can cause a direct anomaly to the antler, and also it has been well documented that an injury to the leg can cause a deformity in the antler on the same side! Both of these display as a one sided defect.


Curly antlers

Parasites and disease such as cryptorchism and hypogonadism, are the other most likely causes, along with the previously mentioned nutrition.

A closer view of the fractured skull and resulting deformity.

More curls

All images copyright of Arran in Focus

http://www.arraninfocus.co.uk/

Pheasant - A brief overview

Pheasant cock

Pheasant are not a native bird in the UK although they have been around for a considerable time, possibly as early as the 10^th century. They are a regular sight on many country roads where they seem to forage at road edges, dicing with death, near to car wheels. They are very easy to spot along the Machrie Moor Road.

Cock with hen in the background

The main habitat of pheasant is around woodland edges, grassland and shrubby open ground, although they roost in trees of an evening and take shelter in woodlands.

Muted tones of the hen pheasant

The Estates that rear pheasant and conduct shoots take considerable care in managing the bird welfare and habitat for the birds.  This has an impact on other wildlife and a study by Game and wildlife conservation trust found this created favourable conditions for song birds and fauna.  It is the opinion of some experts that the pheasant population would collapse without the regular release of reared birds and the land management that goes with it.

Red legged partridge, also found in small numbers on Arran

The popularity of the pheasant as a game bird grew throughout the 19^th & 20^th century, overtaking the partridge. It is estimated that around 30 million pheasants are released each year. The pheasant is believed to be the most hunted bird in the world! Although commonly seen, the birds quickly recognise hunting parties and retreat to safety and hiding.

Pheasant retreating from human contact

The birds do not fly by choice, preferring to run or walk.  When they do fly, it is only for short distances and with a noisy wing sound and alarm call.

Working dog retrieving a hen pheasant

The male is known as a cock and the female a hen. The female, as with most birds, is much plainer and has a shorter tail. Young take the appearance of a female until they are around 10 weeks old when the male plumage begins to appear.

Some of a shoot 'bag'

The season for shoots in the UK is the 1^st October to the 1^st February, the birds are protected outside these months.


All photographs copyright of Arran in Focus

Tartan and tweeds

Alastair wearing the Dougarie Estate Tweed

Originally tweeds were associated with Scottish or Irish clans and was made of a very rough, and almost felted, woven wool material. These tweeds associated to names are known as tartans. This later developed into a hard wearing cloth, generally for the working man, and was used to identify groups of people linked to a particular land owner or Estate (it could be compared or considered the forerunner to denim!); when the owner couldn’t claim a right to use a tartan they designed their own tweed. Many modern tweeds have developed into a more refined cloth and include luxurious wools such as cashmere and mohair.

Dougarie Estate Tweed

The name ‘tweed’ is thought to have been derived from the word twilled or tweeled (the Scottish version of twilled). Twilled is a method of weaving where the weaves are stronger and create a diagonal pattern in the cloth. The conversion of the name from tweeled to tweed appears to originate from a London Merchant in 1830 who misread some handwriting and advertised the cloth as ‘tweed’.  The name has stuck ever since.


A more colourful tweed

Tweed continues to be favoured by Scottish Estates and provides a tough, wind and water resistant fabric for anyone involved with country sports. Water resistance is provided by the outer part of the fabric absorbing a small amount of water and swelling, hence keeping the inner dry. The designs are created so that they blend with the mountain surroundings, providing camouflage for stalkers and shooters alike. Despite the need for camouflage there is an amazing array of colours used in the weaves. The Dougarie Estate tweed was designed by Haggarts of Aberfeldy for Mr Gibbs in 1974. This tweed blends well with the mountain surroundings encountered during the main sporting season.  Bolts of fabric are made up into traditional sporting clothing of jackets, breeches, waistcoat and hats.  The breeches are known as ‘plus-fours’.  Plus fours extend 4 inches below the knee and give a greater freedom of movement, particularly when climbing upwards, than plus twos (2” below knee) or knickerbockers (knee length).

There are over 200 different Estate tweeds most of which are detailed in a book by Johnstons of Elgin.

 

Red deer on Arran

Red deer stag

There are 4 species of wild deer in Scotland but only one on Arran – the Red Deer. The red deer is easily recognisable and can be found on the open hills throughout the year and is often seen from the String Road.

Deer roaming through the glen 

Since the native wolf population disappeared there are no natural predators of deer, but numbers do not range out of control as Mother Nature naturally culls by providing harsh winters and limited food supplies.  In addition, there is an active Deer Management policy across Arran. Deer on Arran are counted every March, using helicopters to access more remote glens, and these numbers help to determine management policies

A Hind  

The stags weigh around 150 – 240 kg, and the hinds 110 – 170kg.  Stags are typically around 4 foot tall at the shoulder, but the neck, head and antlers make them appear much larger.

The velvet covering on new antlers

The antlers are shed each year at the end of winter.  New growth is covered with velvet, before this is shed to reveal the calcified horn below. October is the time of the mating season, known as the rut.  Bellows ring out through the glens and stags can be seen pacing parallel to each other as they assess their components size before either retreating or fighting to secure harems of hinds. If a fight does happen, serious injury can be inflicted by the antlers.  After the rut, at the start of winter coats become thicker and in stags a ‘mane’ can sometimes be seen.

Stags often collect branches and other debris on their antlers during the rut - it may be an attempt to make the antlers appear larger and therefore be a more formidable opponent. 

Brodick Castle has an amazing collection of 87 mounted stag heads adorning the walls of the main hall and staircase. These show off the antlers and just how lethal a weapon they can be.  A stag with 14 points is known as an Imperial, and one with 12 points a Royal.  Large numbers of points are only found in mature stags.

2 Stags in winter coats

Red deer, as wild animals, belong to no-one, however, the right to shoot an animal lies with the owner of the land and this is done through stalking, usually with a trained gamekeeper and only at certain times of the year.

Winter Walking - not a miniature adventure!

Glen Iorsa and Loch  Tanna. Taken September 2012 on a clear day. 

The larger mountains such as Goatfell as Caisteal Abhail draw enthusiastic hill walkers of all abilities through out the year and the slightly lower fells on the western side often get overlooked.

Deer at Lochan a Mhill. The Loch was partially frozen. 26th January 2013. 10.00am

However, these fells provide challenges that can stretch any seasoned hiker and provide some stunning walking, not to mention the '4 seasons in one day' experience!!

Red deer are easy to spot for quiet walkers.

The majority of peaks / routes on this side of the island are pathless and require some navigational skills (unless you are remarkably lucky with the weather and have your crystal ball to ensure it won't change).

26th January 2013 - Reaching the snow line, Meall nan Damh. 10.30am

As the routes are pathless and through rugged terrain, the mileage takes a lot longer and saps energy as heather is battled with, boggy bits squelched through, and streams crossed.  Slopes are often steep, which is no problem going up, but fairly treacherous coming down, especially when its wet.  This year many a stream has turned into a raging torrent forcing walkers to detour or take risks they were not expecting.

26th January 2013 - Watch that cloud. 12.00pm

The Island does have a mountain rescue team (and a very good one), but these are not the catch all  and anyone making a foray into the hills should be well prepared. To start with why not fill out a 'going to the hills' form, which can be found on this link. A map and compass should be carried, the ability to walk on a bearing, a survival bag, extra clothing, food and having let someone know where you are going are fairly essential, not to mention having a 'plan b and c'.  A mobile phone may or may not be of any use as signal coverage is poor and cannot be relied upon. In some instances a text may get through, so have you registered your phone to enable 999 texting?  If not do so, the link is here for instructions.

26th January 2013 -  Gale force winds and severe wind chill. This was forecast and expected.  12.45pm.  

Visibility can quickly disappear and terrain become featureless.

For those wanting a good walk and not an epic, there are some paths at lower levels to places such as Loch Tanna and Loch Iorsa.  However, even the track to Loch Iorsa has a fairly deep ford to cross, but in reality this route could be done in wellingtons.  The path towards Loch Tanna has numerous wet and boggy bits, with a few streams as well and does really need walking boots due to the rocky surface.

26th January 2013 - On the way home, Allt nan Calman usually a trickle to be crossed on the Loch Tanna path.  3pm

Other routes slightly south of Dougarie Lodge include the Kings Cave, Machrie Moor standing stones, or further north there are numerous routes around the Cock of Arran and Lochranza.

Two of our holiday houses are particularly suited to walking groups as they have single and twin rooms. Details can be found on our website. 

Images courtesy of Arran in Focus.

Dougarie Lodge - Isle of Arran

Dougarie Lodge sits on the western side of the Isle of Arran, just north of Machrie.  The lodge was built in 1864/65 as a shooting lodge for William Hamilton the 11th Duke of Hamilton. The Duke was married to Princess Marie of Baden and they had three children, William, Charles and Mary.  Mary married PrinceAlbert of Monaco and later Count Tassilo Festetics of Hungary. It is thought that her European connections and perhaps the influence from Bavaria and Hungary gave the interior a uniqueness – certainly in Scotland – of deer skin panelled passages, windows over fireplaces and horn door handles.  The lodge can be seen clearly from the road however other aspects of the estate are not so obvious.

To the front of the lodge a lawn stretches to the banks of the River Iorsa, and to the side lays terraced gardens in a castellated folly designed by James Mather in 1905.  The gardens are opened to the public 1 day a year, and no doubt will be subject of a more detailed blog then!

Further away from the road and separate from the lodge is the Towers.  Plans for this ruinous castellated style, were drawn in 1875 by John Currie. Although the 1^st edition OS maps show buildings on this site in 1837 but these are presumed to be older parts of the present complex.  The Towers includes a domestic house, bothy, kennels and various outbuildings.

At the side of the Towers is the Game Larder.  This was built in 1883, but little is actually known about it as no plans have been found. It is a large dodecagonal building very similar to the Bavarian summer house at Brodick Castle (also formerly owned by the Dukes of Hamilton).

All the buildings mentioned are Grade B listed. Oh, and Dougarie is pronounced 'Doo gry'