We had 4 real Stars undertake the heavy work while a couple of the Committee provided back-up and sustenance. Our bonfire was somewhat paltry compared to the heath burning blaze that was taking place on Bradda at the same time, nevertheless we had buckets of water at the ready and even informed the Joint Control Room at the Fire Service of our intentions lest anyone spot the smoke and be alarmed!
My personal thanks to all who gave up a weekday morning to come along to help yesterday - another good job ticked off the Ballachurry list.
Wildlife noted during the morning:
SC209693 2 x Blackbird; Great tit.
SC210694 Wren
SC208694 2 x Robins investigating the ashes ( but no Phoenix which would have been a new record!)
SC209694 Wren; Great tit; Lesser Redpoll taking Willowherb seeds near the pond.
Flying over: female Sparrowhawk mobbed by Corvids. ( we were unsure of this at the time but I have looked it up at home since and am now confident of the identification)
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| Getting down to work |
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| chopping up the wood to a manageable size |
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| taking the debris to the bonfire site |
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| building the fire with some dry willow kindling |
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| lighting the fire, more wood at the ready |
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| starting to burn |
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| blazing up nicely |
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| this shouldn't take long! |
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| nearly gone? |
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| no, a bit more yet |
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| we all smelt like kippers afterwards! |
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| finally time to douse it, just ashes left |
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| all that remains - will soon grass over again |
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| the competition on Bradda |
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| the tea trolley |
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| former Blackthorn site number 1 |
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| former Blackthorn site number 2 |
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| seen while putting buckets back in the tool shed |
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| no binoculars with me and the wrong camera but seems to be Lesser Redpoll eating Willowherb seeds. It was there a long time and didn't seem to mind my presence at all. |
