Ranger’s Diary

September 2010

As summer begins to languidly draw to a close, the glen itself seems to be sighing deeply, cloaking the early morning hillsides in its wistful breath.  Perhaps relieved that the frenetic pace of summer is slowing. Gathering itself for the torpid winter months to come.

Yet despite the misty, somewhat sharper mornings, offering a foretaste of the harsher weather around the corner, september is historically a sunnier, drier month than august. This fact seems to be holding true, and sometimes, during the day, it is only the appearance of the hillsides which betray the changing seasons. The vegetation is tired. The bracken, particularly, is relinquishing its hold on the glen. Where once there was emerald and then deep green, there are now vast swathes of rust and ochre. For now the leaves on the trees remain green, but on close inspection those too are looking jaded, and will soon lose their battle against the inexorable march of time.

The first frosts cannot be far off, and with them will come a respite from the midges which still plague the glen during warmer, stiller periods of weather. During sunnier spells many butterflies, like the speckled wood and the ever-present green veined white can still be seen, feeding on the late summer flowers such as cats-ear and the remaining heather.

Stag sightings are a rarity throughout the lower reaches of the glen during this month, spending practically all of their time on the higher mountain meadows. This is both to escape the midges, which are less of a threat at higher, cooler, and windier elevations, and in preparation for the coming rut, which will begin in earnest next month. As if to compensate however, many majestic and predatory birds have been spotted in the area, including merlins in Gleann-leac-na-muidhe, Sparrowhawks by the road near the visitor centre, and even a buzzard and a golden eagle having an aeriel battle in the skies above Glencoe village! 

.That's it for now, but don't forget, if you've enjoyed the glen, or wish to post a comment, don't forget the visitor book, found on the home page drop-down menu.