East Lomond Hill

Good weather was forecast so we drove up to the car park for East Lomond Hill. an ancient site, part of a post-Roman Pictish kingdom.

Unfortunately a miscalculation of suitable attire (it was very cold and we had not put on boots) resulted in a decision not to head for the summit. However we did find two examples of the carved stones, marked WR 1818, following the Enclosures Act, whereby common land was divided between existing large landowners. The initials stand for William Rae, the appointed Commissioner.

We had begun in Falkland, with coffee in The Hay Loft and a wander round the town. Extra 1 shows a few interesting sights - one of many decorations in the buildings, this on The Weaving House in Back Wynd; an curious box, clearly old (as it is embellished), off Brunton Street, marked only with Callender London; and snowdrops which were posing so nicely.

After leaving Easter Lomond we drove back through Falkland and headed west, stopping briefly at Craigmead carpark, which lies between the two Lomond Hills. Along the way we spotted a large flock of birds, possibly redwing but could not get a camera ready before they flew off. From here we drove to Loch Leven, stopping at Findatie to walk down to the loch. In the field by the path were many greylag geese foraging and a variety of small birds - house sparrow, robin, great tit and chaffinch - flited between the branches. Extra 2 - The River Leven has been cut to regulate flow downstream and a milestone indicates the new establishments. A wander by the water's edge gave a view to Munduff Hill, with the Radar station, in the trees a trio of bright red cup fungi, Peziza coccinea. Close to this is an area of hydromorphological ecology, that is, wet ground fed by springs, favouring such plants as bogbean and Grass of Parnassus, of which there was no evidence today (neither will flower until later in the season).

We stood watching the different waterfowl at too great a distance to identify, then it was back to the car and potter home, and, being half term, there was no rush-hour-delay.

Reading of the missed identification opportunities shows that I really, really miss the features of the TZ30 but it is so unrealiable that I daren't take it out so I'm lacking any decent zoom. Any suggestions for a suitable substitute gratefully received.