Monday, September 29, 2025
A South Uist farmer is convinced that eagles are to blame for the loss of five Shetland pony foals that disappeared from his fields between May and July. I don't know whether this is likely or not and so I keep an open mind - but it's interesting that the BBC News website has reported two similar cases this year. A Shetland foal called Lucy disappeared from Cornwall in July and was later found in Hertfordshire; and six Shetland ponies went missing from the New Forest, also in July. Apparently, two of the latter were later found in "a London borough" - although I doubt if the picture on the BBC website is of a Shetland pony - it looks more like a New Forest pony! But anyway, eagles could hardly be suspected in these cases, and pony rustling is clearly "a thing".
I've added some numbers to my last post regarding the minke whale. When I counted my (wretched) photos I was surprised to find that I'd snapped twenty-four breaches in thirty minutes.
There were a few that I missed with the camera. Also - a man who was already on site when I arrived was happy that he and his wife had had a good hour watching the whale - so goodness knows how many times it breached altogether. Just before I left, the Shearwater came down the loch heading for the spot where it had been feeding, and I felt sorry for them because I was fairly sure the whale had gone.
I was very lucky to see what I saw - and I almost didn't. After spotting it from the ferry the previous day, I'd decided to try and see the whale again: Either I would drive all the way round to Achduart, which would get me much closer, or I would walk from home along the beach to Rhue. If I had done either, I would have missed the whale.
I haven't driven to Rhue for some time because of the behaviour of a farmer there. He's a bully. I'd only just parked once when he walked over and asked if I was thinking of staying. He then got me to re-park my car, and walked away saying "after all, we must give everyone else a chance". I was fuming. If anyone is a considerate parker, I am! On another occasion when I arrived he was standing talking to a man from one of the chalets; they kept staring at me, but the farmer couldn't complain about my parking as I was the first one there. He walked off, while the other man continued to look round at me as he walked up to his chalet. I set off down to the lighthouse, and after a while I realised the chalet man was walking behind me. I turned right at the lighthouse, following the path towards Ardmair - and still the man kept coming. He was walking fairly fast. This was after lockdown but we were still supposed to be socially distancing, so I walked down towards the sea so that he could pass me. After a while I glanced to my right - but he was nowhere to be seen. I glanced to my left - ditto. I turned round - and he had stopped on the path directly behind me and was staring at me with a smirk on his face. I turned right round then to face him, presumably looking as furious as I felt, and got my camera out. He promptly turned and walked back up to the car park. So - what was all that about?
I don't usually allow men to intimidate me with regard to the great outdoors, normally going wherever I please; but I admit I stayed away from Rhue last year (although I walked there once). It was time to reassert my rights! I drove to Rhue - and I saw the whale. Job done.
// posted by Christine @ 4:47 AM 
