Grouse Moors A Naturalist’s Paradise?

[Wildfisher]

We had a stroll up a local glen today. Chilly until the sun broke through. Sent the drone up to get some video footage of a rather special loch that is hard to access and it shall remain nameless. No sign of any fish moving but as I was not fishing it made no difference.



Farther up the glen was teaming with birdlife: wheatears, meadow pipits, cuckoo, ring ousel etc. We even watched a golden eagle fly back and forth along a cliff face. No drone flying up there of course!

All prime grouse moor and teaming with life. But hang on – the Scottish Government and Greens tell us all wildlife except grouse is mercilessly exterminated on grouse moors!

Not much sign of that today!

Are people with a certain political agenda telling us porkies?

I don't know, but what I do know is that as long as these grouse moors are there the hills won't be covered in hideous wind turbines. I know what I (and probably the eagles) would rather have.

A naturalists paradise.

[Bobfly]

Lots of studies show higher bird numbers and a wider range of bird species on managed moorland. Largely attributed to predator control assisting ground nesting species ... which most are on moorland.
Particularly marked in comparing RSPB moors with grouse moors in Northern England.

[Laxdale]

Lots of studies show higher bird numbers and a wider range of bird species on managed moorland. Largely attributed to predator control assisting ground nesting species ... which most are on moorland.
Particularly marked in comparing RSPB moors with grouse moors in Northern England.

Given the rate at which unmanaged, ungrazed an un cared for land is going up in smoke in the UK, it is just as well there are some managed estates and farms  about to ensure the birds do not all vanish.

[Wildfisher]

Where we were today is one of the few places in central-eastern Scotland that is wind turbine free. I have no doubt that if grouse moors became uneconomic as a result of political interference all this would change and one of the most lovely glens in the country would be ruined. The eagles, harriers and all the other rare birds the urban socialists pretend to care about would soon be gone for good.

[burnie]

I was told I could fish there before covid, but never got there, got some Char in it seemingly.