That 2nd pic would look lovely hanging in a Victorian hallway
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Not many of them on the island and seldom seen but this one was feeding in daylight at Funzie today.
Erinaceus europaeus
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Lovely, but do you think that they may cause a problem with ground nesters Paul? Istr that there was a removal effort on the Hebrides
Yes, that can be, and in some locations is, a problem but the population is so low and doesn’t seem to be on the increase so it doesn’t seem to be an issue here.
I’ve discussed it with the local RSPB management and they’re not concerned at current levels.
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I bloody love hedgehogs. Used to visit my garden every night. Up to four at a time. Not seen a single one in three years now. Gives me the sad. Hope it’s a temporary local thing and they make a return soon.
Haven’t seen a live one for > 5 years here. 
Lerryn is lovely
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A pod of at least 7 Rissos Dolphins offshore today. A long way out, hence the massively cropped pics. Hopefully, if they’re still around tomorrow, they might be a bit closer
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Well spotted.
Hoping to kayak down to it soon.
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Worth going to look at the remains of the pleasure gardens, lost in the woods on the South side of the estuary.
From my post about visiting it a couple of years ago.
Around 100 years ago a local China Clay magnate Frank Parkyn, decided he wanted to recreate the famous Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen on the South bank of the Lerryn river. A site some 2-300 meters in length was cleared and ornamental gardens accessible then by a staircase from the river were built. They’d hold regattas on the river and various sporting events including running races in the gardens. The gardens stayed functional until the 60’s but were then abandoned and have become overgrown with trees & rhododendron bushes.
As we approached the site we first encountered an arched structure behind what appeared to have been a bathing pool.
Grand fountain with octagonal pool & arches behind
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Is it obvious from the water where to stop to get out and have a look ?
I don’t know. i walked to it from the village. Only took 5-10 minutes. I guess if you could come ashore near the orange X you could leave the kayak & just walk along into the woods. It’s an easy footpath & you come across several stone structures.
When it was a garden, they’d hold boat races; rowing etc along the river there so there would’ve been somewhere to come ashore but I didn’t get right down by the river while I was visiting the site.