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benvrackiebeasties.bsky.social
@benvrackiebeasties.bsky.social
34 followers 62 following 23 posts
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benvrackiebeasties.bsky.social
#Merlinbirdsapp heard all of these in the path today but I’ve only ever seen the chaffinch and gold crest myself. Cuckoo’s still calling on hillside but nothing from the Curlew.(The expression singing like a lintie is apt it seems.)
Some of the more elusive birds heard by the Merlin app in the Ben Vrackie path…I’ve seen a gold crest and chaffinch but not the others….chiffchaff willow warbler and linnet
June 22, 2025 at 4:01 PM
benvrackiebeasties.bsky.social
A showery day at Ben Brackie - reassuring to have some rain!
The giant stepping stones crossing the stream on the Ben Vrackie path, but no sign of the Ben itself with the summit covered in cloud Pale pink clusters of bell heather by the stream… unusual sage colour leaves Giant fronds of fern overlapping the stream Delicate flowers of water avens- the reddish brown sepals overlapping the pale yellow petals
June 22, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Reposted
billjonesjr.bsky.social
Friday Jamz: "Wichita Lineman" is as perfect a song as you'll ever find in terms of chord changes. Here's Glen Campbell's version. No other version comes close.

#Music #video #ArtIsLife

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HFC...
Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman (Live Goodtime Hour)
YouTube video by Glen Campbell
www.youtube.com
June 13, 2025 at 12:17 PM
benvrackiebeasties.bsky.social
Foxgloves, water avens (terrible picture,) and wood cranesbill…summer is here!(and a beetle which wove its way past in precarious flight then landed right next to me!)
Foxglove flower with hovering bumblebee. Water avens amongst the lush green flora of the ditch Blue delicate flowers of wood cranesbill amongst the lush undergrowth Black beetle making its way through the undergrowth
June 16, 2025 at 8:08 AM
benvrackiebeasties.bsky.social
Blackbirds singing the length of the path(cropped from here,) and curlew picked up by the Merlin app at the top of the path out on the moorland…I still haven’t heard it myself! #Merlin-birdID
A list, with photos,) of some of the birds picked up by the Merlin app on Ben Vrackie yesterday….Willie warbler and redpoll another pair I don’t think I’ve ever spotted.. Feisty wren in evidence from one end of path to other.)
June 16, 2025 at 7:58 AM
benvrackiebeasties.bsky.social
Busy with Sunday walkers on the Ben yesterday ….. this wee one came scampering past to catch up with the rest of the party already through the gate!
Small spaniel scampering across stepping stones - Ben Vrackie behind on the hrizon
June 16, 2025 at 7:50 AM
benvrackiebeasties.bsky.social
Foxglove in bloom, and interesting ferns by the stream
Foxglove in shady glade Fern reemerging after winter on bank of stream. Big Myrtle in foreground
June 7, 2025 at 3:08 PM
benvrackiebeasties.bsky.social
Birds in song …but now quietened by rain chucking it down in late afternoon. A couple in the path cooried together under a huge brolly!Merlin picked up the cry of a Curlew out on the hillside…I missed it completely!!
#MerlinBirdapp
A list, with pictures of birds detected by Merlin app on Ben Vrackie path…warbler, chaffinch, woodpeckerwren Siskin and, unusually, a curlew Amongst the usual suspects, a gold crest which I’m not sure I’ve heard sing…but blackbird robin coaltit(always predominant in winter,) and warbler Bestiary detected…not sure if I’ve ever seen or heard one, but apparently it’s there!
June 7, 2025 at 3:02 PM
benvrackiebeasties.bsky.social
Yellow on the broom, and seed pods set.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Cidr...
Broom in full bloom in its bright yellow array, but already seed pods are set and starting to swell
June 7, 2025 at 2:46 PM
benvrackiebeasties.bsky.social
Rain at last, and in no small amounts! One froglet last week; kudos to the frog given the very long dry spell. Birdsong reemerged as the downpour slackened. #Merlinapp #wildbirds
Birds reemeged with their song as the rain slackened: great tit, warblers(garden and willow, robin, thrush, chffinch and blackbird.)
June 1, 2025 at 6:24 AM
benvrackiebeasties.bsky.social
#MerlinID #MerlinBirdID
Just saw the raven as it flew away, but heard its croaking call from the nearby birch tree. It’s been unseasonably dry and the pool with tadpoles has evaporated to a muddy puddle.
Clear views to Dunkeld and Ben Vrackie in the evening glow
A list of birds detected by the Merlin app including robin, willow warbler. wren, long tailed titans as I’d guessed from its haunting evocative call, a raven! Pale apricot sky lighting the Strath by evenibg Ben Vrackie in the clear blue evening sky
May 19, 2025 at 6:16 AM
benvrackiebeasties.bsky.social
The Merlin app reveals birds I couldn’t distinguish without it. Western House Martin, and not a house in site!
Western House Martin found by Merlin app and nearest house a good mile away.
May 14, 2025 at 7:30 AM
benvrackiebeasties.bsky.social
Primroses and oxalis still in flower, but very dry and not good weather for tadpoles.
Pretty delicate white oxalis flower and pale green trefoil leaf. Primrose still in flower Primrose in the shade of a tree
May 13, 2025 at 7:16 PM
benvrackiebeasties.bsky.social
Birds found by Merlin today!
Black cap party coed up on the recording….. The usual suspects(robins,) but willow warblers which I can’t distinguish without the app and a Siskin too Merlin has revealed a surprising array of birds I never suspected to be around….garden warblers, gold crest, Sunoco amongst others(last week a white throat. First cuckoo of the year today on the Ben pat
May 13, 2025 at 7:11 PM
benvrackiebeasties.bsky.social
Blue skies over Ben Vrackie. Buds unbroken on the rowans growing by the stream.
Blue sky over Ben Vrackie. Rowans still not in leaf growing on the bank of the stream wending its way up to the Ben
April 12, 2025 at 1:57 PM
benvrackiebeasties.bsky.social
Early April evening on the Ben - buds on the rowans still not broken but unseasonably clear skies.
Ben Vrackie from the stream crossing. April evening clear blue skies but still no leaves on the trees.
April 9, 2025 at 5:34 AM
benvrackiebeasties.bsky.social
Christmas Day blue tit at fat feeder
Blue tit pecking mug full of fat and oats
December 25, 2024 at 8:57 PM
benvrackiebeasties.bsky.social
Late afternoon sunset - icy crystal covered pines on the way back down. Cold orange sky behind icy trees and distant hills Welcome sight of the cottage next to the track Orange sunset delineating icy hills at end of day
December 12, 2024 at 8:10 PM
benvrackiebeasties.bsky.social
Snow on the Ben, taken from the crossing at the stream. Cold wind blowing down off the hill.
December 8, 2024 at 9:03 PM
benvrackiebeasties.bsky.social
Patches of snow on the Ben- Hamish just shinned up and down in customary style!
Ben Vrackie from the top gate.. still some patches of snow left. Frost tracing the moss Young beech trees with few leaves left.
November 29, 2024 at 9:05 AM
benvrackiebeasties.bsky.social
Beaver moon looking out from behind a cloud to light the path through the tracery of late autumn trees.
Full moon looking out from behind a cloud to silhouette the late autumn trees,
November 16, 2024 at 11:11 PM
benvrackiebeasties.bsky.social
Late afternoon in autumn on the Ben path.
Autumn evening sky tree tracery Misty cloud layer on the summit of Ben Vrackie in its autumn colours
November 5, 2024 at 10:03 PM
benvrackiebeasties.bsky.social
Regular visitors
Early autumn sunshine on path through woods to Ben Vrackie Two great tits on bird feeder
October 21, 2024 at 7:26 PM