Today is A Kilchoan Diary's fifth birthday. The
first post started with a picture like this one taken this morning, with the caption, "What better way to start a blog about Kilchoan than a photo of the Tobermory ferry arriving at the pier just before eight on an October morning." The sentence should have ended with a question mark as there are probably a large number of answers, but the post became the first of 3,009 which have attracted 1,885,289 page views from all over the world - some 20,000 have been from Russia. The few days when a post has not appeared have been when we had prolonged power cuts.
Early yesterday evening the sky was lit by an aurora but cloud intervened so all we saw was a dull pink glow. Almost as the aurora faded, the sky cleared and we had a night brilliantly lit by stars. The morning started with better fortune as a pair of sea eagles flew along the ridge at the back of the house, pursued by a small but noisily angry group of hooded crows.
We spent half the morning in sunshine in the vegetable garden removing dead canes from the raspberries and burning them, and the other half climbing
Glas Bheinn, which gives some fine views across Kilchoan, Ormsaigmore and Ormsaigbeg. The climb was accompanied by the distant roaring of the Ardnamurchan Estate's red deer stags in their rut, though we didn't see any until....
....we were on our way down, when a single stag caught our attention by roaring at us. We later saw that he'd collected a small group of hinds on the middle slopes of
Beinn an Leathaid.
Conditions were ideal for walking, with sunny intervals and a cooling easterly wind. The air was wonderfully clear, perfect for photographs.
As we sat on the front terrace for lunch a kestrel appeared and balanced in the air in front of us. Kestrels are fairly regular visitors along Ormsaigbeg. What we'd really like to see is one of the merlins which, we've been told following the publication of Peter Southern's pictures, have been seen fairly frequently on Ardnamurchan Estate land.
Congratulations on a fantastic five years. This is a wonderful way to keep up with whats going on in one of the most beautiful parts of the world. Keep it up John it is much appreciated. ps. How are the pigs doing?
ReplyDeleteWell done to all at the diary, we read it most days with great interest it also keeps us informed as to what is going on, thanks. By the way has Hughie & the pigs moved into Mingary Castle yet or is it still being built ??? All the best terry & carol.
ReplyDeleteWell done!
ReplyDeleteThank you for 5 wonderful years of your blog!
ReplyDeleteSo interesting. Such beautiful pictures. So much variety.
May you enjoy the very best of health to allow you to continue to do all the hard work needed to write this daily blog for all of your keen followers.
Warmest wishes.
Sheila.
I enjoy your blogs so much, they remind us of all our time staying in Kilchoan. Keep up the good work, it is much appreciated. Thank you
ReplyDeleteMany happy returns of the day! Thank you so much for all your hard work it is much appreciated. We would struggle without our daily dose of Ardnamurchan news.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for your wonderful blog. I look forward to reading it every night - it's like the daily newspaper but much more enjoyable! Thank you! With best wishes - Heather
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to the Diary!!
ReplyDeleteDave K.
Never miss a day of checking out your wonderful photos, news, information. Looking forward to the next five years.
ReplyDeleteGillean
congratulations Jon! The blog is a great way to keep in touch with ardnamurchan and i always look forward to reading the latest! thanks Marietta
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday blog! Keeping me in touch with everything we saw and more from our visit last year. I read it every day. Looking forward to the next trip!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Janet
Many thanks, everyone, for your very kind comments. Jon
ReplyDeleteMany congrats....my daily "fix" is superb, and many thanks for the time and effort you make each day. It is greatly appreciated, particularly your Ships in the Sound..
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for all the posts and photos, this is the first site I visit when I turn the computer on. The next best thing to actually being on Ardnamurchan!
ReplyDeleteDear Diary
ReplyDeleteI too am addicted and my early morning cuppa whilst checking the diary has become a ritual over the past 18 months. With the number of naval ships passing your lens, I think you are the safest place in the world. Best Wishes to you and Mrs Diary and the occasional contributors. One household in Australia will have a piece of cake to celebrate. Liz & Bruce
Happy birthday - and many thanks for all your work. We love your blog.
ReplyDeleteAgain - thank you all. It's so good to know that the Diary gives such pleasure - all over the world! Jon
ReplyDeleteBelated Birthday Greetings and congratulations too. It is a wonderful achievement, Jon. Thank you
ReplyDeletePat G