Scottish Highlands
| “I’m sorry. I can’t make it. I’ll be out of the country that week.” I finally got to use that phrase before a late July and early August trip to Scotland. The trip was a gracious gift from my sister-in-law and late brother-in-law before he passed away. It was an early celebration of my mother-in-law’s 85th birthday. To say it was an experience was an understatement. Even though I am of predominately German heritage, I was still able to find a few connections to the country. First and foremost, Scotland has feral goats. I was able to get any photos. I literally only saw them in passing as our tour bus passed them on the roadside. These goats’ ancestors were those released during the Highland Clearances, a not-so-great time in Scotland’s history. The event involved the systematic removal of tens of thousands of Highlanders from their ancestral lands to make way for more profitable agricultural practices such as sheep farming, according to Wikipedia. Estimates suggest that between 70,000 to 150,000 people were displaced. Many emigrated to North America, Australia and New Zealand. So, when the landowners evicted their tenant farmers, they just let loose the farm animals, creating the feral goats of today. Back home in Pennsylvania, Earl and Milo decided to become feral, too. Testosterone had taken over Earl’s talking, thinking and walking. On walks, Earl would molest Milo. Milo, tired of the abuse, would take off running for home while the dogs and I were still on the trail. While unattended the goats continued to run amok and assault the neighbors’ shrubbery. First, I tried leashing Earl. This wasn’t fair to him or me. He wanted to browse and I wanted him to stop pulling my arm off. |  Leaving Pittsburgh for Dublin airport  Sheep graze in the Scottish Highlands  Scottish Highlands  Milo and Earl at home in Pennsylvania  Earl chasing Milo |
Earl was then fitted with an electronic correction collar like the ones the dogs wear. Whenever he began to molest Milo, he was met with a pain in the neck. Currently, Earl has been behaving. Daily walks have resumed without any AWOL goats.
Shepherd's dog works a sheep herd in Scotland
Over in Scotland, our tour group had the privilege of visiting a working sheep farm.
The shepherd’s dogs were awesomely trained which was way better than just well-trained. He explained he had different whistles for each dog, and each dog had different whistles for each task.
The shepherd’s dogs were awesomely trained which was way better than just well-trained. He explained he had different whistles for each dog, and each dog had different whistles for each task.
Sheep and puppy on a Scottish farm
Watching the border collies work was just amazing and it was obvious that they loved their jobs. I was quite surprised when he said he only fed his dogs slop and they didn’t drink water when they were working. However, this made sense with how hard they worked and the possibility of bloating.
The shepherd proceeded to demonstrate how a sheep gets sheared. He put something over the sheep’s eye, and it went catatonic.
The shepherd proceeded to demonstrate how a sheep gets sheared. He put something over the sheep’s eye, and it went catatonic.
Scottish sheep farm
Scottish sheep farm I forgot to ask if this technique would work for goats.
Milo and Earl need their hooves trimmed. Before I went to Scotland, my spouse and I cut off one of Earl’s horns that was curling into his head.
A comatose Earl would have quickened the process.
The shepherd added that shepherding was jeopardy as a way of life.
The price of wool was ridiculously low. The real money was made from meat. However, the government was currently paying landowners more money to plant trees in their fields.
Milo and Earl need their hooves trimmed. Before I went to Scotland, my spouse and I cut off one of Earl’s horns that was curling into his head.
A comatose Earl would have quickened the process.
The shepherd added that shepherding was jeopardy as a way of life.
The price of wool was ridiculously low. The real money was made from meat. However, the government was currently paying landowners more money to plant trees in their fields.
Pennsylvania pups, Jeb, Clem and Buckley enjoy a swim in the neighbor's pond.
The sheep dogs’ obedience, even the pups’, put to shame the Applegates’ pack of crazy canines. The shepherd’s puppies tried to work hard while not getting trampled.
I would be lucky to have my dogs come when they are called let alone separate two sheep from a herd.
I would be lucky to have my dogs come when they are called let alone separate two sheep from a herd.
Buckley makes a splash.
Buckley was a prime example of this. The Saint Bernard pup was normally the first to enter the neighbor’s pond for a swim.
However, he did not wish to go outside to pee in the rain. I failed to see the difference in the degree of wetness.
However, he did not wish to go outside to pee in the rain. I failed to see the difference in the degree of wetness.
Seals in Scotland
Speaking of water, I was able to snap a photo of some harbor seals while in Scotland.
I captured a heron during a stop at the Isle of Skye. It was most likely a grey heron according to an internet search.
I captured a heron during a stop at the Isle of Skye. It was most likely a grey heron according to an internet search.
Heron at the Isle of Skye
| Being an island, there were literally seagulls everywhere even in the Scottish cities. A European robin posed for a picture on my trip. Even though the “American robin received its name due to its superficial similarity to European Robin — both have an orange breast—but the two species are not closely related,” said a post on All About Birds. European robins belong to the Old-World Flycatcher family while American robins are thrushes, the site said. Meanwhile back in Pennsylvania, the hummingbird feeders were packed with both hummingbirds and bees in early August. I was going through nearly eight cups of sugar water daily. The frenzy continued until the first week of September. Their numbers dropped and only a few passers-by visited. They too will leave country for a longer winter stay in southern locations before the birds’ return in the spring. A search of the internet found that it was highly unlikely there would be any hummingbirds in Scotland let alone Europe. “The majority of hummingbird species are found in the Americas…, only around 10-15 occur outside of the Americas. This is because hummingbirds evolved in South America and subsequently expanded their range northwards and into the Caribbean islands,” said a post on Hummingbird101. “So, while not native, small pockets of hummingbirds can be found across parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, largely due to human-assisted introductions as well as vagrant individuals,” the site added. |  European robin in Scotland  Ruby-throated hummingbird and a bee in Pennsylvania  Ruby-throated hummingbirds at a feeder in Pennsylvania |
 Bees at a feeder in Pennsylvania |  Ruby-throated hummingbirds in Pennsylvania |
Back in Scotland, I believed to have caught a glimpse of a roe deer. Our tour guide said that Scotland is home to roe deer and red deer. Roe deer are smaller deer ranging from 22 to 55 pounds.
Blair Castle, Scotland
The red deer are much larger weighing in at 220 to 749 pounds. Their ancestors were most likely related to the elk in the United States.
While I didn’t see any living red deer, their skulls and antlers decorated many of the castles and estates we visited. There were hallways lined with antlers, antler chandeliers and antler chairs.
While I didn’t see any living red deer, their skulls and antlers decorated many of the castles and estates we visited. There were hallways lined with antlers, antler chandeliers and antler chairs.
Blair Castle, Scotland
 Blair Castle, Scotland | Back home in Pennsylvania, the area whitetails still had velvet covering their horns in early August. It wasn’t until the first week in September when the hard horns appeared on the trail cameras. All but on buck had their velvet shed by Sept. 5 and the rest were done by the second week of September. While I didn’t see the Loch Ness Monster in Scotland, I was able to see quite a few highland cows which are affectionately known as hairy “coos.”  Highland cow in Scotland |
It appeared to me that Scotland may be divesting itself of marketing items for Nessie. The new trend was hairy “coos.” It worked on me as I purchased two sweatshirts, multiple tee shirts and a cow beanie.
 Trail camera photo of a Pennsylvania whitetail in early September. |  Trail camera photo of Pennsylvania whitetails in early September.  Trail camera photo of Pennsylvania whitetails in early September. |
Highland cow grazes in Scotland
The cows themselves seemed larger than life. I was dismayed that I could not fit one in my carry-on bag for the trip home.
Highland cows in Scotland
Despite that “udder” disappointment, the trip was an awesome experience. I learned a lot about Scotland and realized that there was still a lot to learn. That’s just the nature of things ‘round here.
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