Ian Carter
@iancarter67.bsky.social
Galloway-based naturalist and author: Rhythms of Nature | Human, Nature | The Red Kite | The Red Kite’s Year | The Hen Harrier’s Year | Wild Galloway
https://pelagicpublishing.com/collections/ian-carter
https://www.whittlespublishing.com/Wild_Galloway
https://pelagicpublishing.com/collections/ian-carter
https://www.whittlespublishing.com/Wild_Galloway
For a handful of nature writers, I want to read all that they write. The common traits? Knowledge, understanding, clarity of thought, and a knack for transferring it all to the page with humour and enthusiasm. Mark is one of them. And his co-author is very good too. @markavery.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 12:10 PM
For a handful of nature writers, I want to read all that they write. The common traits? Knowledge, understanding, clarity of thought, and a knack for transferring it all to the page with humour and enthusiasm. Mark is one of them. And his co-author is very good too. @markavery.bsky.social
The noisy early morning commute between the Solway and the fields where they feed. As I soon discovered, there were two wildfowlers hidden away directly below the flight line. Had these been Pink-feet rather than (non-shootable) Barnacle Geese, the spectacle would have been rudely interrupted.
November 6, 2025 at 12:17 PM
The noisy early morning commute between the Solway and the fields where they feed. As I soon discovered, there were two wildfowlers hidden away directly below the flight line. Had these been Pink-feet rather than (non-shootable) Barnacle Geese, the spectacle would have been rudely interrupted.
Badger paths run across all the different layers of habitat in the glen. Across the fields, through gaps in the stone dykes then up and away into the hills where they make useful routes through the Bracken - narrow but just about walkable lines for humans through otherwise impenetrable vegetation.
November 5, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Badger paths run across all the different layers of habitat in the glen. Across the fields, through gaps in the stone dykes then up and away into the hills where they make useful routes through the Bracken - narrow but just about walkable lines for humans through otherwise impenetrable vegetation.
… is told in the book. As is her finding of a dead Gannet killed by trying to swallow a dogfish. Gannet killed by dogfish or dogfish killed by Gannet depending on your point of view!
November 4, 2025 at 1:59 PM
… is told in the book. As is her finding of a dead Gannet killed by trying to swallow a dogfish. Gannet killed by dogfish or dogfish killed by Gannet depending on your point of view!
I can’t help but pick up these fishing lures whenever I find them. These are mostly from the Solway strandline, at the edge of our Galloway glen. Our cocker spaniel once found, and almost swallowed, a baited hook, and the sorry story…
November 4, 2025 at 1:55 PM
I can’t help but pick up these fishing lures whenever I find them. These are mostly from the Solway strandline, at the edge of our Galloway glen. Our cocker spaniel once found, and almost swallowed, a baited hook, and the sorry story…
Remember it well. The publisher of Wild Galloway insisted on lower case lunacy throughout. A battle lost. But the war goes on!
October 31, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Remember it well. The publisher of Wild Galloway insisted on lower case lunacy throughout. A battle lost. But the war goes on!
The scat looks good for Pine Marten, and is usually the only evidence we have that they are here in our glen. On top of a stone dyke at the edge of the wood. A moulted Buzzard feather found nearby.
October 29, 2025 at 11:21 AM
The scat looks good for Pine Marten, and is usually the only evidence we have that they are here in our glen. On top of a stone dyke at the edge of the wood. A moulted Buzzard feather found nearby.
Interesting Fly Agaric on the Galloway cliffs today, miles from the nearest woodland. Not sure I’ve ever seen them away from the woods before.
October 20, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Interesting Fly Agaric on the Galloway cliffs today, miles from the nearest woodland. Not sure I’ve ever seen them away from the woods before.
A ‘starburst’ print in sand where the burn rushes over the beach (Otters love fresh water for bathing). A few minutes later, one fishing in the shallows offshore, carrying a fish up onto the rocks. Rascarrel, on the north side of the Solway, a regular spot.
October 18, 2025 at 7:13 AM
A ‘starburst’ print in sand where the burn rushes over the beach (Otters love fresh water for bathing). A few minutes later, one fishing in the shallows offshore, carrying a fish up onto the rocks. Rascarrel, on the north side of the Solway, a regular spot.
Just had a Barn Owl box put up. The blokes installed it the wrong way up and had to come back to flip it round. Got there in the end!
October 17, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Just had a Barn Owl box put up. The blokes installed it the wrong way up and had to come back to flip it round. Got there in the end!
Lots of Honey Fungi about at the moment. The caps are edible if well cooked.
October 16, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Lots of Honey Fungi about at the moment. The caps are edible if well cooked.
Perfect little group of Field Mushrooms in rough pasture near the cliffs. Hestan Island and the Solway in the background. Birding and sorting lunch rolled into one.
October 13, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Perfect little group of Field Mushrooms in rough pasture near the cliffs. Hestan Island and the Solway in the background. Birding and sorting lunch rolled into one.
Good haul of hazenuts yesterday. And lucked into these perfect field mushrooms on the way home. The heather-clad slopes of Bengairn as a backdrop.
September 25, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Good haul of hazenuts yesterday. And lucked into these perfect field mushrooms on the way home. The heather-clad slopes of Bengairn as a backdrop.
You spend all July and August looking for one (without success) and then hit the jackpot in late September. This wing was all on its own in woodland so not sure what happened to the bird. Eerily, Jays were screeching from the trees as I took the photo.
September 24, 2025 at 4:19 PM
You spend all July and August looking for one (without success) and then hit the jackpot in late September. This wing was all on its own in woodland so not sure what happened to the bird. Eerily, Jays were screeching from the trees as I took the photo.
Still a few tickets for this event at Wigtown Book Festival next Wednesday. Talking all things wildlife and conservation in Galloway with Polly Pullar. Wind turbines, Sitka Spruce, Red Kites, open access and more. Plus my take on trying to stay positive, despite everything.
September 24, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Still a few tickets for this event at Wigtown Book Festival next Wednesday. Talking all things wildlife and conservation in Galloway with Polly Pullar. Wind turbines, Sitka Spruce, Red Kites, open access and more. Plus my take on trying to stay positive, despite everything.
A good crop of Yew berries this year, much enjoyed by wild birds and mammals. All parts of the tree are toxic to humans EXCEPT the flesh of the berries (always spit out the toxic ‘pip’). A sweet taste and pleasingly gooey texture. We’ll worth trying.
September 16, 2025 at 6:30 AM
A good crop of Yew berries this year, much enjoyed by wild birds and mammals. All parts of the tree are toxic to humans EXCEPT the flesh of the berries (always spit out the toxic ‘pip’). A sweet taste and pleasingly gooey texture. We’ll worth trying.
A birdless ‘Wildlife reports’ in the current BW, and I’ve checked 5 (make that 6) times. Read through the molluscs section twice by way of compensation but its not quite the same.
August 27, 2025 at 2:37 PM
A birdless ‘Wildlife reports’ in the current BW, and I’ve checked 5 (make that 6) times. Read through the molluscs section twice by way of compensation but its not quite the same.
Sat down to eat my sandwiches and this popped out of the nearest rock. On the north side of the Solway, looking across to Cumbria. Undeniably cute even if we’d be better off without them.
August 20, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Sat down to eat my sandwiches and this popped out of the nearest rock. On the north side of the Solway, looking across to Cumbria. Undeniably cute even if we’d be better off without them.
All part of the same social group but that doesn’t count for much when the nuts are running out.
August 16, 2025 at 8:11 PM
All part of the same social group but that doesn’t count for much when the nuts are running out.
There’s a maternity roost of pipistrelles (both species) in the roof and we get the odd interloper that finds its way inside. This one at least was easy to catch and release - next clip.
August 14, 2025 at 4:49 AM
There’s a maternity roost of pipistrelles (both species) in the roof and we get the odd interloper that finds its way inside. This one at least was easy to catch and release - next clip.
Second brood from this nest, almost ready to go. Very tolerant of the intrusion. Until they weren’t. Adults calling in the background. Loads of insects around this year so both Swallows and House Martins have done well locally.
August 11, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Second brood from this nest, almost ready to go. Very tolerant of the intrusion. Until they weren’t. Adults calling in the background. Loads of insects around this year so both Swallows and House Martins have done well locally.
They’ll soon be flying over a garden they don’t yet know exists, though the nest is just a few inches from the window.
July 26, 2025 at 10:37 AM
They’ll soon be flying over a garden they don’t yet know exists, though the nest is just a few inches from the window.
The dark line is a Badger path. The lawn was wildflower meadow and so little light reached the ground. Now it has been cut the dead, yellow grass is revealed. But where the Badgers cross they trample the long grass letting light down to the ground. Worth looking out for in recently cut fields.
July 23, 2025 at 7:02 PM
The dark line is a Badger path. The lawn was wildflower meadow and so little light reached the ground. Now it has been cut the dead, yellow grass is revealed. But where the Badgers cross they trample the long grass letting light down to the ground. Worth looking out for in recently cut fields.