A recent trip to Ardnurmurchan revealed its scenery and wild life at its best, both resplendent with winter coat and glowing all manner of reds, golds, browns and greens in the winter sunshine.
Having played happily rock hopping and taking happy snaps of the bouncy sea until the water attempted to circle around the rocks i was stood on, a hasty retreat back to sand ....which was rapidly depleting in the incoming tide. Not quite sure what anyone would have made of my ungainly return to land...had i had my wetsuit on it would have been a different matter but fully clothed ....well i can't say that i was not temped!!!!
With water cutting off one adventure and the lighthouse (http://www.ardnamurchanlighthouse.com/) only a mile away it was off to play on the rocks there. At certain times of the year i can be seen sat on the rocks with a flask of tea .....chocolate...camera and a pair of bino's (after my deer feeding trip i really do need to get a pair of leica ones....!) watching for basking sharks, minke whales and dolphins as well as the abundance of waterfowl that inhabit the area.
It was a fabulously blowy day, a great time to see the waves pounding against the steep rocks, frothy foam inviting you to play but hiding the treacherous sharpness that lies beneath the water. Having visited the lighthouse during the tail end of hurricane Bertha, with dark skies and alot of rain it would be fab to see it with the sun shining too.
Turning right from Portuick towards the light house three deer, stag, hind and baby bounded easily over one fence crossed the road and over the next before disappearing into the landscape as if painted over! The winding road leaves passengers in cars to wow at the magnificence of the landscape.
Then suddenly an unusual colour catches my eye....a pale almost white deer, laid in the grass, nearby two others of differing colours and markings one clearly very young. Would they stay long enough for me to take pictures? Yes they did!!!! A black sheep with large rounded horns coming for a look too, they were wary but not unduly bothered by my presence.
Pictures taken, it was off to the lighthouse to clamber over the rock face to get as close to the water as possible. The water this time a wonderful emerald green, the waves no smaller than my last visit. Lots of pictures later, a good soaking from a hail storm and the spray of the water and grinning it was back into the car with freezing fingers and with the intention of heading back to the lodge where i was staying.
Where the trio of deer now were a small batch of deer, standing with those wonderful inquisitive but gentle brown eyes, the reason why they showed no fear was soon to be clear. A man walking up the road carrying a bucket of feed, he saw me taking photo's and kindly invited me in with him to get a closer view and also to be able to take pictures without the wire fence in the way.
Entering slowly, the animals approaching, more interested in food than me, which allowed me to become snap happy. The little one staying close to its friends. I discovered its heart breaking tale - its an orphan!
Mum had passed on to that great deer house in the sky, and it was discovered that the cause of death was the amount of plastic found in her stomach. Mankind it seems, has put this poor hind to a premature death...and would it have taken a lot to have prevented it...not really. Its simple, if you bring it with you, you can take it home or find the nearest bin to put it in!!!! Simples as they say!!
It is lucky that the others have taken this little one under their wing or she may not be here for us to admire, and i hope that she survives the winter so when i return in warmer weathers she is there to hopefully take more pictures off.....and all it took was for you to take.....not a life but your rubbish home with you!
Its not that hard really, to keep the countryside tidy we have to tidy up after ourselves....the deer cant do it for us...the result is too tragic!!!! Its a privilege to drive, walk and swim and to be able to see these wonderful animals roaming around....a small act means that we will all be able to enjoy it too....take it home folks!!!
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