Mark Scott's Blog

Autumn colours at Dunham Massey Park

2010-11-06T19:45:00.002Z

My goodness it’s ages since I posted to the blog, so here are some autumnal pics from today when Megan and I went to Dunham Massey. Our visit was cut short by a mountain rescue callout! See more of the pictures on Flickr here.

North Pennines and North Western Lake District

2009-07-15T16:22:00.016+01:00

Megan and I are just back from another hill walking holiday. This time we camped, first near Barnard Castle where we did walks around High Force and up Cross Fell (the latter in bad weather) then in the Lake District. We saw uncle Colin in Bishop Auckland for the first time in many years, and watched an outdoor production of Shakspeare's The Tempest. From there we moved over to Buttermere to a campsite by two pubs, probably the most beautiful valley in the Lakes and with beer and food on hand in-between walking the hills, what could be better?

Here are some pics and vids of this holiday - click to enlarge / view.

Megan taking in the view from the summit of the superb Glaramara - Prince of Peaks.

Buttermere with Fleetwith Pike at its head. This is probably the most beautiful valley in the Lake District.

Video of the Buttermere panorama from Red Pike:

Triple Buttress - another soaking!

2009-05-06T22:04:00.001+01:00

Mark at Loch Coire Mhic Fhearchair (circa. 2000ft)

The Triple Buttress walk is a great excursion into wild places you can't see from the road. It's a four mile mountain walk to a corrie with majestic scenery all the way, and a fine path underfoot. It follows the valley between Bein Eighe and Liathach and then swings round to the right contouring endlessly into a dramatic corrie with waterfalls (very much in spate at the moment), a Loch (it was so windy, there were waves lapping the shores!), and huge rock buttresses. The weather was nice as we started, iffy as we approached the corrie, then it went from bad to terrible. Continuous driving hard rain most of the way down. As well as both being soaked our legs are now suffering badly from the recent adventures. But it was well worth doing.

A Big Hill: Liathach in challenging conditions

2009-05-05T21:52:00.002+01:00

On the high ridge of Liathach heading for Spidean a Choire Leith (3456ft)

Yesterday the weather was bad so we did the "Mountain Trail" from Loch Maree up into the Beinn Eighe range. It's waymarked all the way which is handy, but make no mistake it's hard work! Step aerobics on steroids I'd say, 2000 feet of ascent in the rain in hardly any distance at all.

Today we reasoned that although the weather is bad, the forecast is for it to get worse. So if we were going to do a Big Hill, maybe today was going to have to be the day. So it was we headed up into the Liathach range with cloud base around 700m hiding the tops far above. More step aerobics - over 3000 ft of ascent in about a mile and a half - amazingly steep tracks. As we got higher the weather got more and more challenging. Soon the rain turned to snow as we headed up. Visibility was poor and it was decidedly slippy. Occasionally we were treated to a peep at the truly majestic scenery around us, but mostly it was well hidden.

We arrived at the snowy summit of Spidean a Choire Leith (3456ft) with the weather at its worse. No view, snow, rain, wind and fog, but a sense of achievement nevertheless. But we could not hang around, we needed to get down lower below the worse of this weather. More peeps at the scenery on the long way down.

At least we had done a Big Hill (the highest in this region) despite the horrible weather. A lie in tomorrow, then!

Scottish Highlands - Kinlochewe and Torridon

2009-05-03T20:56:00.003+01:00

Beinn Eighe

Liathach

Megan at the summit cairn, Beinn Damh

Hello friends and family and Happy Birthday for yesterday Mum! (21 again??!!)

Megan and I are on another walking holiday up here and have just done an ascent of Beinn Damh, 2957ft. Just short of a Munro (which requires 3000 ft), but a fine mountain with spectacular views of all the famous mountains around it. A fall of snow overnight gave an unexpected bonus. The mountains always look at their best with a bit of snow on them, as hopefully the photos show. It was a smashing day and already we have managed something we didn't manage on our recent Skye holiday - a summit!

As we were at the summit admiring the views we saw very bad weather heading our way, so we packed up quickly and headed down. Soon we were in a real blizzard - in May! We were covered in snow, then just as quickly it stopped, the sun came out, and it was nice again.

Birding has been good, with Osprey and Golden Eagle seen on the nine hour drive up, and today Wheatear and a Scottish Speciality - Ptarmigan.

Good views on the way home from Skye

2009-03-27T21:59:00.002Z

It's a long drive back from Skye to Horwich - 400 miles and 8 1/2 hours, but much of that time is spent travelling through lovely Scottish scenery. This picture was taken on the drive back, a view of Loch Garry.

Bad weather forces a retreat from Skye's Bla Bheinn

2009-03-25T20:22:00.001Z

It is said that Skye's Bla Bheinn (pronounced "Blaven") is the best mountain in Britain. It's just over 3000 feet high (a "Munro") and the ascent starts from near sea level, so it's quite a way up. Today, Megan and I attempted this, having had inclement weather and no peaks so far this holiday. The forecast was for some bad weather, yes, but in-between that some nicer breaks. So off we went to see if we could get up the mountain's East ridge and see the legendary view of the Cuillins from the top.

But it was not to be. We were constantly battered by very high winds, driving rain and very poor visibility. Certainly no views to speak of. The last 1000 feet up the ridge was hard going on scree and steep rock / grass, with the wind so strong at times I couldn't stand up (big chap) let alone
Megan (a bit smaller!).

So we took the decision to go down. We reckoned there would be nothing to see anyway, and sure enough it did not improve all day.

Shame, but we tried, and we got down safely.

A curry was called for as a consolation prize!

Tomorrow the forecast is even worse, with blizzards and severe gale force winds coming in. Nice :-)

Views from the North of Skye

2009-03-23T22:57:00.001Z

The weather here on Skye is incredibly variable. It changes from dreadful to lovely in the space of minutes and does this again and again. So we haven't done any big hills yet, but we (Mark, Megan, and Joe) have enjoyed the place nevertheless.

Today we walked up to The Old Man of Storr which was a great little walk full of interest, as the three photos hopefully show.

I'm well pleased that our cottage has a good mobile signal that includes GPRS, and that I brought my laptop, and that my phone has Bluetooth. Wireless internet in a crofter's cottage on Skye - whatever next!

Mark

Throwing Arrows reach Reach in Cambridgeshire

2008-05-30T21:57:00.004+01:00

What's this all about? Witness young nephew Gwilym from the village of Reach displaying a fine thrower's posture as he learns the gentle art of throwing arrows from me. For those of you who have no idea what a throwing arrow is, it's a remarkable and surprising way of launching a stick for an unfeasible distance using the whiplash principle. Sharpen the end, two slots at right angles, insert card flights. Next, wrap a length of string with a bulky knot near the end around the base of the flights, tension, hold near tip, and throw. It can go for a remarkable distance if you get the technique right! Keep the Art alive, Gwilym!

Migrant football - a kind of bird race - with Andy R

2008-04-22T22:46:00.001+01:00

What is it? It's a little game I invented last year.

Warning: it must only played by consenting birders!

Each year, from late March, bird species arrive in th UK having migrated from places like sub-Saharan Africa to breed here. Birders eagerly await their arrival. Almost always the first is the Chiffchaff, a warbler. Later come Willow Warblers, and Swallows (one of whicha alone does not a summer make, as the saying goes). Others include the Cuckoo, Swift, Common Tern, and lesser known birds like Ring Ousel and Grasshopper Warbler.

The game, which needs two players, starts with the player who spots the first migrant scoring a "goal". Each new migrant not spotted by the other player is a goal.

Last year I beat Andy R 8-3 or something, a right thrashing. Not bad considering he works outside among the local fields and moorland, and I have basically an office job.

This year he scared me by bagging Chiffchaff, Swallow and Sand Martin in one go and going 3-0 up. Ouch. I fought back with, in one day, House Martin, Willow Warbler and Blackcap in Derbyshire on one day 3-3, then a Wheatear the following day, just the merest glimpse from the car as we sped past Snake Pass returning home. 4-3! I'm in the lead thank goodness, and then an extremely early Swift over Bolton town centre made it a respectable 5-3 so far. That's better. Poor Andy, he's gutted. Loser! Loser! (I did say FOOTBALL so you expect moronic chants don't you?).

But it's not over yet. A furtive trip to Pennington Flash produced nothing. I need a plan. I must consolidate my lead!

The Isle of Arran - winter peaks, birds and sea

2008-03-23T19:54:00.008Z

On top of the world - this is Arran!

The week before Easter saw Megan and I heading up to the Isle of Arran for the first time. Day one dawned bright and clear with what looked from the valley like a dusting of snow on the jagged granite peaks. We soon found out how different things were on top. We headed up Glen Rosa making for Beinn Nuis, when yours truly pulled off both left and right handholds trying to climb out of the far side of a mean and gushing burn and went swimming as a punishment. Totally soaked, but I figured the wind was strong enough to dry me out before we made Beinn Nuis and the ridge to Beinn Tarsuinn, and my outer clothing were dry, having been in my sack. And so it was, and the route was superb, with breathtaking views and good firm snow. Coming down from the summit to the col on the other side got a bit tricky - out came the crampons and the rope (a shorty 20m 8mm static line) as we went down ice and snow on granite slabs that would have been a pleasant scramble in summer but were quite serious in winter. Four short pitches - one I could not lead down safely, so I did a classic abseil from a spike. Hmm! Some "walk" this!
The pic shows us on the tricky roped descent to the col below.

This slowed us down and made the route seem a bit of an epic, but it was the right and safe thing to do and so we got down (my is it a long way down!) safely after ten hours on the hill, just as it was getting dark.

And so it went on. We did some superb coastal walks, and then (when stiffness had subsided a bit) Goatfell from Corrie via the exciting snowy Stacach Ridge from North Goatfell. More amazing mountain scenery, and more interesting wintery walking. We were lucky with the snow, most of the time it was good and firm.

All this and Arran whisky, and good birding too! Golden Eagle, Snow Buntings, various Divers and Grebes, Eiders making their weird mating coos, Pergrines plunge diving...

Arran is a truly fabulous place. Why have we never been there before?

More pictures of mountain and coastal scenery from our Arran trip will be linked from here soon.

Speeches, little planes, and shipwrecks - stranded on the Isle of Man

2008-03-02T16:58:00.005Z

My goodness, is it that long since I wrote anything for the blog? I must I must start writing regularly before my non-existent readers get bored.

Last Friday was fun. Up to Blackpool, a place I'm fond of, to climb aboard a tiny little plane for a flight to IoM. It was wet and very windy. Helimed 8 was parked up and would not be doing many jobs today, I thought. It's the new shiny one - complete with fancy enclosed tail rotor. Just a week before I'd had a long phone conversation with one of the Helimed paramedics about medical issues in mountain rescue, but I digress, and that's another story.

Off to IoM, the sea was choppy and as we approached the island the waves hitting the sea cliffs were spectacular. It was a scary landing, with the little plane being thrown all over the place, which I love.

For what, I hear you ask? For to be a VIP at the college! For to award teaching certificates to students who followed my University's course, which I designed nearly ten years ago. For to give a speech, with the IoM Minister of Education listening and all. Smashing ceremony, students in gowns, mums and dads proud, the odd baby dotted about quite well behaved but not quiet. I (in my "Spanish inquisition" gown) was a bit nervous as my time approached, but the speech went ok, and I enjoyed all the hand-shaking. Someone came up to me afterwards and said it was obviously from the heart, which pleased me cos it was.

Meanwhile, the winds got stronger and stronger. After an island-brewed fine pint, I was at the airport being told little planes and severe gales don't mix. I was stuck and would have to crash in a hotel for the night with no bar, no restaurant, one of these stupid "express hotels" next to the airport. So I walked to a pub and got utterly soaked. More of that island beer - I soon forgot the soaking.

A flight next morning, lovely and sunny, but very windy. We flew over a gas rig and then the wrecked ship recently beeched at Blackpool, a fantastic sight in more ways than one, then an even more scary landing.

Hard work, but somebody's got to do it!

I took the video clip below on a similar trip. It's a pilot's eye view (almost!) of the final approach into Blackpool Airport.

The French and Swiss Alps: Samoens, Chamonix and Grindlewald

2007-08-25T21:19:00.001+01:00

The Mont Blanc range seen from the Brevent - my favourite pic of the hol

Megan, Joe and I have just got back from two weeks in the Alps. Opening the tent in the morning one day and seeing the North Face of the Eiger right in front of me will be something I'll never forget. Lots of good walks on mountain trails - the best pics will be put online soon for those that are interested.

Meanwhile, here's a taster to add to the pic above. It's The Eiger Nordwand. I took far too many pictures of it, but this is one of the best.

The North Face of the Eiger

We walked the "Eiger Trail" that runs at the foot of this. I've never seen the North face of the Eiger for real, but I've read about it many times since I became interested in mountaineering, so I was thrilled to see the real thing, even though there's no way I'd climb that wall!

Andy and Helen's Wedding

2007-06-13T10:47:00.001+01:00

Congratulations to my Bro Andy and my new Sis Helen on their wedding last Saturday. What a fantastic day it was! Being Andy's best man was an honour, despite the worry about the speech etc. The weather was lovely despite the forecast storms. For family and guests there are lots of pics online here

So, for anybody else wondering, why the vintage ambulance, crew and stretcher? Well, both bride and groom have a link to this: Andy is an ambulance technician, Helen an Accident and Emergency Nurse. There were actually two vintage ambulances, and they were the "wedding cars". Riding in the one I went in with Andy was great fun, although I still don't understand preselction gears.

Northern Lake District

2007-05-26T20:43:00.000+01:00

Another week in the hills, this time the Northern Lake District. It was a chance to climb some hills that have been avoiding us, mainly by being a bit further away than the Southern ones. Amazingly good weather again meant some nice pictures: see gallery 9 on markgscott.net featuring Megan daring the infamous Sharp Edge of Blencathra!

The picture above is the famous Napes Needle on Great Gable, instantly recognisable to all English rock climbers.

Scottish mountain holiday picture gallery to view

2007-04-08T22:43:00.000+01:00

Holiday in Scotland - one week at the end of March / start of April 2007, based at Onich near Fort William. As promised, I've put some of the better pictures online in a small gallery.

Click here for the gallery.

The picture below is of a Ptarmigan. Birders will appreciate this mountain grouse. The picture was taken in Glencoe on the first substantial climb of the trip. It was taken on full zoon, then magnified, so the quality is not so good, but such a rare bird deserves to be seen!

Ben Nevis - finally got round to doing it

2007-04-07T23:36:00.000+01:00

On 3rd April 2007, Megan and I finally did Ben Nevis, 4400ft, Britain's highest mountain. It amazes me that there was hard snow and ice up there even though down in the valley and almost everywhere else it was hot and sunny. It's a tough walk because it starts from sea level, unlike many other ascents, so the amount of ascent really is 4400ft. But it was a great day with spectacular snowy scenery and the highlight of a smashing holiday. For those that are interested I'll be posting a link to many more photographs as the weather was very photogenic and we did lots of other exciting walks. Good birding too: highlights were Ptarmigan, Golden Eagle, Great Northern Diver, Black Guillemot, Red Grouse, Dipper, Golden Plover, Stonechat, Whinchat, Raven. It's slightly embarrasing, given the miles we walked, that the Eagle, Guillemot and Diver were all seen from rather nice pubs whilst enjoying a beer!

Lisa and Rick get married

2007-03-24T19:53:00.000Z

My Fair Lady weds the Gentle Giant! A fairytale opening to the first blog entry for a while. A wonderful wedding and a wonderful reception, especially as the catering for the reception featured the unmatched curries of Rice and Three, Great Moor Street, Bolton (yes that's a plug and you won't be dissapointed if you try them). Thanks for a smashing day you two, and I hope Rice likes the pressy! xx M&M

Joe improves his playing by unexpected means

2007-01-02T10:46:00.000Z

Christmas day December 2006 sees son Joe discovering a way to get a better sound from Gareth and Lesley's old piano. If you have broadband, don't miss this video clip of

Joe!

Other highlights of interest to family will be Timmy's Dalek attacking Lesley in the kitchen (yes, she was exterminated) and Martin the Human Graphic Equaliser. For the whole grisly set see gallery 7 on markgscott.net

Die-Hards' Party - 8 Dec 06

2006-12-09T20:33:00.000Z

Who are the die-hards? A bunch of climbers of varying but generally rather limited ability, and of immensely varying age. We had a get-together at my place with lots of beer, wine, Pimms (thanks Laura!). What a great - really memorable - slide show (the projector got bust - no slide show!). Still the computer came to the rescue and it was cosy gathered around it looking at climbing pics. Loads and loads of food and drink (thanks everybody). Special mention is due for Gerry's home made wanchamps and extra-special sauce, and Laura's chicken dips and home-made mincemeat. But Bill's amazing carrot cake stole the prize. Talking of prizes, I got one along with a very long and touching speech from Bill - thanks, I will treasure the rope sling forever as proof-positive of my membership of the die-hards. Unsurprisingly I had a fearsome hangover the following day. I just hope I'm not the only one. Pics for those interested see gallery 6 on markgscott.net

Visit to see Tin Tin in York

2006-11-19T20:28:00.000Z

On Saturday we crossed the Pennines and invaded York for the weekend to see son Martin (a.k.a. Tin Tin), his friends, and his amazing medieval replica broad sword. Alas, no picture of this fearsome object, whose terrifying appearance and feel is matched only by its staggering price tag. Fine weather meant the light quality was exceptional this weekend (Martin said I reported this illuminating fact dozens of times) so I got some nice pics. If you like the image above (click for a larger version), visit gallery 5 on my web site for edited highlights of a weekend's Yorkish photography: http://www.markgscott.net/galleries/gallery5/index.html

Getting out in wind and rain is good for the soul

2006-11-16T23:42:00.000Z

What's this post all about? Well, Andy R said I should write something about the fun that was had on Wednesday evening (yesterday). So I will. It's dark, windy, threatening rain. People kitted out mainly in red congregate below the moors and are given a briefing. Their mission (should they accept it) is to seek out little poles with orange flags on them, scattered around Darwen Moor. Each flag has a symbol on it, and to prove you got to it, you record the symbol. It's even darker. It's now pouring with rain. The wind is very strong and you can't see too well (speccy steamed-up four-eyes that you are). Soon you are soaked, and wandering the moors seemingly lost. Who would choose to spend their evening doing this? Well, not everybody, I accept, but it was great fun. There's something about doing this kind of thing that drives away the hassle of work and plonks you in a simpler world of wind and wet and dark and mates and laughter. And orange flags, of course. Blessed be those that are found. Cursed are those that eluded us. Even more cursed are those that found those that we did not. Wonderful catharsis, and a pint after in the pub to boot.

So what's the picture got to do with all this? Nothing specific, lots in general. It's Fontainebleau Forest (France), lots of years ago. The link with the story above is about how this photo captures a simpler, more basic, more beautiful existence that is still there to enjoy and be distracted by. Also, I half suspect Andy R will like it. Also (again) it ain't half Tolkienesque (is that an Ent on the left of the pic?).

New Alexander episode premieres in Lowdham

2006-11-05T15:29:00.000Z

Meet Rebecca and Matthew, my niece and nephew, who I love to bits. They were the first in the world to hear a brand new Alexander story this Thursday evening when I stayed with them briefly en route to Loughborough. For those not in the know, a little explanation is needed. Alexander stories began some years ago when son Martin was very young and very ill in hospital. In the bed adjacent to Martin's was a boy of about the same age: Alexander, the very one, the original. He was notable for being very naughty indeed and Martin, being a very well-behaved lad, was quite shocked by young Alexander's antics, commenting open-mouthed on his outbursts. Thus was born the original Alexander story: "Alexander and the broken cars", the first of a series including "Alexander and the Airport" and a number of others. All the stories are made up on-the-fly and all delve into scary suspense as Alexender gets into a series of increasingly improbable scrapes usually precipitated by running away (albeit briefly) from his long-suffering parents. The most recent episode, prompted by the usual "go on Mark, tell us another Alexander story!", features a Hovercraft, a huge white Ocean Liner and (inevitably, because of the way these stories go) Alexander ends up at the controls of the hovercraft which he promptly crashes into the Liner. Equally inevitably, it all ends up happily ever after, with tears as Alexander is reunited with mum and dad amidst remarkably little telling-off. So, Rebecca and Matthew and Andy and Helen, thanks for a lovely stay and see you soon!

Sunset over Horwich

2006-10-28T22:34:00.000+01:00

Here's anothing picture taken in my locality that shows what lovely things light can do. It's taken from our back garden in Horwich. The garden is steeply sloping and quite high up, looking out towards Blackrod at the back - we do get good sunsets regularly, therefore. The picture has not been manipulated in any way. This is how it appeared when I inspected the camera's contents. It's also what it looked like to me at the time (I was more than impressed) - all credit to the camera. Click the picture to see a larger image.

Manchester City Skyline

2006-10-22T19:39:00.000+01:00

I took this picture on the way to work this Friday. Taken from Chorley Old Road between Horwich and Bolton, it shows how the new Beetham Tower dominates the City. The Peak District hills are visible in the background to its right. To get this picture I had to park rather hazardously, put my "I'm inconsiderately parked" hazard lights on, and steady the camera on the wet car roof. I ended up with very wet sleeves and a picture I'm quite pleased with. Click the picture for a larger image.

If you ever find yourself stuck up a tower crane or similar ...

2006-10-19T11:11:00.000+01:00

Last Sunday 15 October was another one of those big smile days. I spent the day with my rescue team mates and the fire service doing practice rescues off a tower crane in the centre of Bolton. We managed to get three brave volunteer "casualities" down by various means. For me the highlight was abseiling down the oustide of the tower (see picture) with the rope bag on my back. A friend from university days says aren't I getting too old for such things? Well Martin, if that's true, I'm just not paying much attention to the creaking joints. Plus, it's is great fun. Steve: sorry you got battered and bruised on being lowered by me down the inside. You drew the short straw: it was a scarier but less bruising journeying down the outside! Laura will have to make up a potion for you.

Laura M appreciates rainbows

2006-10-04T10:24:00.000+01:00

Special mention is due for Laura M whose brainy biochemistry credentials now have to be added to with credentials of a different type: first ever go at climbing, and after initial terror she was up and down the face like a good-un. She has a good eye for a colour scheme too, preferring to mix and match the pretty coloured holds, rather than sticking to boring old monochromatic. She also now knows that, for those of slight build such as her, belaying is about being catapulted skywards when Gerry falls off, as he sometimes does! The burning question on everyone's lips: will she try again next week? Watch this space.

The Curry Mile (and about my brainy readership)

2006-09-29T14:15:00.000+01:00

I've been lucky to be able to travel all over the world with my job, but I now know one of the most marvellous and exotic places is right on my doorstep. As a curry fan (well, addict really) I can't understand why the delights of the Curry Mile (a.k.a. Rusholme, Manchester) have not yet been sampled by me. Last night, in the company of my lifelong friends Graham and Yvonne from Baslow, Derbyshire, that situation changed. What a place! So many restaurants, cafes, Asian sweet bars, all crammed together with Las Vegas-style (well, almost) neon lights. The food was just delicious, and very reasonably priced. I want to go again! Now!

As for my brainy readers and their pseudo -biochemistry, I think they are making it all up. Huh! Well, you two, I used to be brainy once. And that was before fancy computerised spectrowhatitsnames that do everything for you and take the thinking out of the science. :-)

We were kind to our teddies because we had no mobile phones to record happy-teddy-slappy vids on!

Off to Cambridge University this weekend, to take young Joe for the start of his three-year brainy adventure.

Campus breathes a sigh of relief as fungus alert subsides

2006-09-26T14:09:00.000+01:00

I've just had an email from Michael at the British Association of Fungus Groups. He has carried out "... a simple test with the spores, using Melzer's Reagent ..." (whatever that is!) on the Amanita fungus outbreak on my campus, using the vertical section slice I posted to him recently (see picture). He confirms with certainty that the species is Amanita spissa:

http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~5532~gid~.asp

Although not the very rare and deadly poisonous species A., pantherina that was suspected (that I had secretly hoped for, despite the peril) this is nevertheless a poisonous species. We won't be making mushroom bhajis from it just yet, therefore (well, only for people we don't like).

This little episode has re-ignited my interest in fungi, so who knows, I may yet take up Michael's very flattering suggestion that I join in the NorthWest outpost of the British Association of Fungus Groups!

Thanks to my very small but very loyal readership, for their encouraging comments so far :-)

The Horwich Wryneck, found by Her Indoors

2006-09-22T21:51:00.000+01:00

Well, this blog is turning into a natural history one the way things are going. The picture (which I have temporarily borrowed from a Thai web site, thanks) is of a Wryneck, a snake-like bird that is a rare passage visitor in the UK and completely impossible (or thereabouts) inland in a place like Horwich, near Manchester. That didn't stop the wife finding one in September 2005, to the delight of many subsequent twitchers (me included - eventually. It took me four visits to see the bird she almost stood on). Well, the news is the bird, the very one, is featured on the cover of the "Birds in Greater Manchester - County Bird Report 2005" just published. It's a stunning photo, far better than the Thai one here. Delve inside and there are details of the find, including an article I wrote about it. Fame does not come much smaller than this, but it's nice nevertheless.

Excitement over campus fungi grows

2006-09-22T10:56:00.000+01:00

Well, dear non-existent readers of this blog, the fungi plot thickens. Acording to a friend with a PhD in environmental science (I tease him by saying he's a chap with a PhD in Meadow Pipit droppings), the fungi are probably both rare and poisounous. He put me on to the Association of British Fungus Groups, whose helpful representative in Exeter explained how I should take a section of one vertically and send it to him for analysis, after drying it. I have to admit, with all this talk of deadly poison, I used medical gloves to handle it! I posted the slice today, as the magnificent crop of death (or not) descends into mucky goo and broken bits. By the time the fungi have had their microscopic analysis down in Somerset, all that will be left will be the memory of them, and the knowledge of the thing underground that will surely erupt again in some future favourable year.

Mystery fungi appear on university campus

2006-09-20T10:53:00.000+01:00

A fantastic crop of Agaric, maybe Amanita and maybe the "rare, POISONOUS" Amanita Pantherina toadstools have appeared outside the block next to mine. The picture shows one of the many groups. I'm waiting for experts to get back to me. Do we need to protect people from these glorious things, or are they harmless? Watch this space.

Cotswolds and Sussex

2006-09-16T19:28:00.000+01:00

The best of the photographs from our recent summer holidays are now online in the gallery section of my web site at http://www.markgscott.net/gal.htm

If you like flowers, chalk cliffs, gardens, insects, and chocolate-box scenes of the classic British countryside, you'll like these.

I created this page using Picassa, an excellent and * free * tool from Google.

Who will be the first visitor to leave a comment?

Belthorn festival - keeping the children under control

2006-09-09T22:53:00.000+01:00

A fun day today - mostly spent strapping children to the Bell stretcher and doing things like carrying them, propping them up, scaring them. All by way of a thank you to the one of the festival organisers who has given the team thousands.

The evening was also special: Joe playing in a concert at the Preston Guildhall, as a guest bass trombonist for the Lancashire Youth Orchestra. It was a smashing concert.

Great climb, great name

2006-09-08T23:03:00.000+01:00

This is a climb I did with Chris G a few weeks back. I'm climbing, Chris is belaying me at the top. It's on Denham Quarry, near Chorley, and it is a lovely route. It's got the most amazing name of any climb, anywhere in the world: Mohhamed the Mad Monk of Moorside Home for Mental Misfits. Beat that. It's VS 4c for those that know what that means. Nice delicate moves up the scoop that reward good technique.

Dragonfly picture from our holiday

2006-09-08T22:20:00.000+01:00

I took this picture on holiday a few weeks ago. It's not very often a dragonfly is as obliging as this. To get it, I had to hold the camera at arms-length, set on macro mode. The lens was about 4cm from the insect. Pot luck.

Mark's blog starts here

2006-09-08T22:04:00.000+01:00

Hello world! This is the start of my blog. What's it for? Making photos available to friends and family I reckon. Maybe I'll rant a bit too.