This morning I went off to Pollock Park, Glasgow to view and photograph a rare calf known as a silver dunn. The animal about 1 month old now. He is part of a family of Highland Cows called 'Chorrach'. The calf is unusual because of its silver colour. His mother is yellow and father pure red. The following two images show the calf, which seemed a little nervous notwithstanding which I managed to obtain the images.


This could be the mother.

Here is a typical, red coloured, mother and calf which form part of the same herd.


Elsewhere today:

• I am currently occupied with new tour enquiries including a gardens tour of Scotland and a Sinclair Clan themed tour.
• Will be posting information to my separate Glasgow Ancestry blog information on Jamieson from a very old burial ground in Glasgow.
• Weather in Glasgow is dry but on the cool side.
  

Labels: highland cattle

posted by Nigel Cole @ 4:49 AM  0 comments

You scratch my neck and I'll scratch yours!


Here's looking at you, kid.
This afternoon, heavy and persistent snow curtailed my activities. I hear that many roads around Scotland are blocked or restricted. We are certainly having a tough time this winter! Certainly glad I am not out touring in this weather.

Notwithstanding the snow storm, I decided to get out on my bike and photograph specimens of a very photogenic herd of Highland Cattle. These animals are docile and allow photographers to get close without so much as batting an eyelid. It could be this particular herd is very used to humans gawping at them.

Although not immediately evident, the above pics were in fact during a snowstorm and it will be noticed that the animals' coats are damp. However, Highland Cattle are extremely hardy and will thrive in harsher conditions than today. In fact, they are an ancient and hardy breed which emanate from the Scottish Highlands and Islands; they are hardy grazers and live out in all weathers. Apart from Britain/Scotland this breed is popular in Australia and North America. I do understand they are not particularly efficient as beef animals due to their relatively slow rate of growth vis-a-vis more modern beef breeds.

In the course of my private, Scotland tours I usually come across a herd or specimen somewhere. Small herds are usually kept near grand houses or castles to attract visitors.

Here is a video clip of a herd closer to their natural habitat in Glen Nevis, near Fort William in the Highlands. Great little beasts!

Labels: highland cattle

posted by Nigel Cole @ 9:30 AM  0 comments

Scotland continues to suffer from an exceptionally harsh winter spell. Yesterday the daytime temperature in central Scotland (Perthshire) fell to an incredible minus 17 degrees centigrade which is on a par with places like Iceland. Many properties are suffering from burst water pipes and/or frozen water pipes. Glasgow ( S.W. Scotland) is slightly milder than some of the cold spots in the Highlands but, nevertheless, temperatures remain at or below freezing and there is a good layer of snow and ice around.

This morning, there were some slushy snow showers combined with low temperatures and overcast skies, conditions which are not ideal for photography. In the circumstances, I went to off on my bike to visit a nearby herd of Highland Cattle. These animals are actually ideally suited to the type of weather we are experiencing and seem totally non-plussed.

This breed of cattle is very docile which meant I was able to up right close without unnerving them. The images below show these attractive animals in their icy habitat.


Mother and calf.



This video shows the entire herd. I think they viewed me as a curiosity!

Labels: highland cattle

posted by Nigel Cole @ 5:40 AM  0 comments

This morning, I came across this small herd of Highland Cows enjoying their morning feed at Pollock Park, Glasgow. The muddy conditions did not seem to faze them.

Labels: highland cattle

posted by Nigel Cole @ 12:28 PM  0 comments

This morning, the heavy rain had eased. I went off to Pollock Park, south Glasgow to obtain some images of the small herd of Highland Cattle which are maintained there by the Council. These are magnificent, photogenic and generally docile, beasts which tend to thrive on the poor pasture found on the hills and mountains.

Labels: highland cattle

posted by Nigel Cole @ 5:20 AM  0 comments

This evening, I am presenting an image of Hamish, a Highland cow (actually a bull!) who is probably one of the most photographed animals in Scotland. He resides in his own pen at a tourist attraction near Callander in Perthshire.

He is about 15 years old and appears very friendly and placid. His present 'pampered' lifestye means he will probably live until age about 40 years.

Labels: highland cattle

posted by Nigel Cole @ 12:42 PM  0 comments