Mark's Journal

 The old blog has been a bit neglected of late but that's just because I've been busy in the real world, going to concerts, birdwatching, exploring, eating out and all of that. Online I created a companion blog which I share with Adrian Chenzbraun and Paul Toner, where we post some of our photographic results. For April there is a little post from me showing some of the great birds that visit here in the southwest of Scotland. You can find the whole post here and here are a couple of the photos to get you started.

 This year is a good one for seeing Aurorae as the Sun is coming down in activity from its eleven-year maximum. It's a tricky business though. I have an aurora alert app on my phone but, I need to respond instantly if I am to see the aurora as it doesn't last long. Last night I managed to get some scrappy aurora photos through a back bedroom window, picking up the camera immediately after a red alert on my phone. The aurora was visible above the street light of Dumfries but not as pretty as it would be from out in the countryside. The aurora is the greenish light with red blobs in it, but not the reflection on the window. 😀 Once I was sure I had some photos, I went downstairs, grabbed a coat and shoes and went to get a better view. that was all it took to miss the end of the show. the sky was beautiful, clear and starry but had no aurora in it. So - aurorae are a great challenge to hunt for but you need to be quick. I used the AuroraWatch UK app and the camera is a Fujifilm XT...

  Dihaoine bha mi a’ coiseachd ann a’ choille Heathhall. Bha uisge gu leòr ann an lag ghrinneal agus b’ urrainn dhomh faicinn steallan air an t-uachdar. Nuair bha mi a’ sealltainn faisg air an lag, chunnaic mi muile-mhàg a’ coiseachd fon t-uisge. Cha robh ach an camara beag agam ’s mar sin cha b’ urrainn dhomh toirt dealbh-camara math air sgàth na t-uachdar deàrrsach. Diluain thàinig mi air ais dhon lag ghrinneal. An uair seo bha mi a’ toirt leam am XT-50 Fujifilm agam len claon-ruathar agus glainne dhom pòlarachadh. ’S urrainn dhon camara seo faicinn tron t-uisge. Thàinig Cèidh cuideachd le DSLR len claon-ruathar agus glainne dhom pòlarachadh. An uair seo bha sinn a’ toirt an dealbhan-camara agus ’s iad an seo. Cuideachd chunnaic sinn dearc-luachrach uisge agus `s i seo.

   Disatharna, an seachdamh, bha feasgar reul-eòlais ann an taigh-tasgaidh Dun Phrìs. An t-uisge trom ann ach bha teaglach moran a'tighinn a-mach. 'S toil le clann an taigh-tosgaidh. Bha iad a' ruidh mun cuirt air e agus bha iad a' lorg rudan ann an sealg-ionmhais. Chan fhaca sinn rionnagan idir agus mar sin bhruidhinn Judith, an neach-gleidhidh, mun an eachdraidh an taighe-tasgaidh Dun Phrìs agus bhruidhinn Niall bhon Comann Reul-eòlais Dun Phrìs mun prosbaigan. Disatharna an ath-seachdain fheuch sinn a-rithist. 

 It's Twelfth Night, the Epiphany. Did you remember to leave your Christmas lights up to guide the Wise Men? You don't want to start the new year lost in foolishness. 😀 To finish off the Christmas season, here are some photos taken over the holiday period. I also have an album of  Glasgow's Southside on Christmas Night over on my Lomography home . Have a look before diving on into the teeth of winter. So here is a wee Christmastime gallery for you.  

  It's Christmas, as the song goes. I hope my readers are managing to have a happy day and that you have someone to share it with. We're coming to the end of the feasting bit, which was delicious, and Simon and I had a great time last night, with Andy our drummer, as we lead the music at St John's Christingle service. Lovely to hear all those little voices singing along.   So, Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadhna Math Ùr!

 I've been taking a few photos on the warmer May days and there's an interesting effect that comes with the skies over Dumfries and Galloway. Sometimes with all the heat haze they don't get coloured in. I thought at first that maybe this was due to the pale bright skies being overexposed but, if you look at the sky, you see this effect for yourself. There really are times when the sky is whited out on a warm day with not a snowstorm in sight. Often there is a reward for this when the air cools in the evening and then you can enjoy a wonderful sunset.