Author Archives: borderslynn

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About borderslynn

Retired, living in the Scottish Borders after living most of my life in cities in England. I can now indulge my interest in all aspects of living close to nature in a wild landscape. I live on what was once the Iapetus Ocean which took millions of years to travel from the Southern Hemisphere to here in the Northern Hemisphere. That set me thinking and questioning and seeking answers. In 1998 I co-wrote Millennium Countdown (US)/ A Business Guide to the Year 2000 (UK) see https://www.abebooks.co.uk/products/isbn/9780749427917

The Mole Rat

Posted on December 20, 2012 by borderslynn

I noticed a series of mole hills on my walk today. We don’t get many signs of moles as they have to find land with plenty of worms in, so they help me identify where that land is. I usually … Continue reading →

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Red-Legged Partridge

Posted on December 17, 2012 by borderslynn

Our annual visitors, the Red-Legged Partridges came pecking by outside our window last week. They were pecking the grass seeds and we had a good close-up view from our low set windows with deep window sills. Any movement from us … Continue reading →

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The Language of the Watershed

Posted on December 15, 2012 by borderslynn

I was relaxing watching ‘The Lord of the Kings’ Trilogy this past week whilst wintry weather raged around our cottage. It seemed to me that Tolkien was using the landscape of Scotland to invent his mythological Hobbit landscape. I then … Continue reading →

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Fungi, Lichens and Mosses

Posted on November 30, 2012 by borderslynn

We have endured heavy winds and rain here in the Scottish Borders for a few days. All is calm tonight, with a bright moon lighting up the fells around us. The Forestry gamekeeper will be out looking for deer to … Continue reading →

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Bats around our cottage

Posted on November 15, 2012 by borderslynn

As the winter draws in, Autumn having not been the golden wonder this year, we know our local Bat population will be in a state of near hibernation. Researching this topic, as I do each one I write about in … Continue reading →

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Fast flowing water; Grey Heron and White Throated Dipper

Posted on November 9, 2012 by borderslynn

We live to the south west of Cauldcleuch Head, a 619 metres high ridge which is near the start of the Scottish Watershed (see Peter Wright’s ‘Ribbon of Wilderness’). It is a significant goal for many hardy hikers to aim … Continue reading →

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Buzzard Territory

Posted on November 7, 2012 by borderslynn

The Buzzard is a medium to large sized raptor, and is as an effective killing machine as a Golden Eagle. Geneticist Steve Jones suggests that the Buzzard is one of many creatures probably descended from a ‘segmented worm-like being in … Continue reading →

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The Beauty of Owls

Posted on November 3, 2012 by borderslynn

One of the lasting memories of my first night at our cottage was to be looking out of the rooflight window on a magnificent starry night, when a white apparition flew past. I was so shocked, it seemed supernatural. It … Continue reading →

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Weasel Family

Posted on October 25, 2012 by borderslynn

There are many badger setts around and beyond our cottage. This is the European Badger (latin name Meles meles), part of the Weasel family. It evolved over 2-4 million years, since the end of the Pleistocene era. Researchers have speculated … Continue reading →

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Insects around me

Posted on October 14, 2012 by borderslynn

Living in countryside with no living dwelling within sight of our cottage makes for an interesting life. Day and night we are presented with an array of insects. My favourite book as a child was ‘My Family and Other Animals’ … Continue reading →

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