#burghead harbour

[dansnaturepictures]

Some memories from the phenomenal Scotland trip we went on last year, which we began travelling to a year ago tomorrow. I don't know where that year has gone! What a fantastic and wild time it was. The photos in this set are a mixture of some I still hadn't got around to processing and did so this evening and some key ones from the trip that I processed at the time, each bringing back fond memories. The photos are of; Corn Bunting at Banff in Aberdeenshire, view at Findhorn Bay and Long-tailed Duck at Burghead Harbour one of the birds of the trip both in Moray, another of the star species of the trip and one of the main ones we wanted to see Otter at Dervaig on Mull, a view on the Aberdeenshire coast, Lapwing at Lochindorb, Black Guillemot on Loch Eil and view on Mull.

#mull #aberdeenshire #lochindorb #moray #scotland #uk #earth #nature #outdoors #birdwatching #lapwing #burghead harbour #banff #corn bunting #findhorn bay #long-tailed duck #otter #black guillemot #loch eil #happy #memories #april #europe #spring #isle of mull

[mightywellfan]

Creels,

Burghead Harbour, Moray

#scotland #visit scotland #morayshire

[scotianostra]

December 15th 1977 saw the fishing vessel Rosebud II flounder off the Isle of Mull with the loss of seven lives.

It was a heavy loss for Burghead to bear – and lives on still in the village's collective consciousness.

The men were skipper Alexander Davidson (28), Brian Peterkin (23), David Robertson (19), John Crawford (35), Robert McKenzie (23), and brothers Sandy McKenzie (32) and Billy McKenzie (30).

The sinking triggered one of the biggest air and sea rescue operations ever mounted in the Hebrides.

A Mayday signal had been intercepted by a Birmingham radio ham on the night and sparked off one of the biggest air/sea rescue operations ever to have been mounted in the Hebrides, an operation which has ended in stark tragedy with the loss of the Burghead fishing boat.

A call at 8.30 on Monday night from Oban radio brought out the Islay lifeboat in answer to the Mayday call which came from the area of the treacherous Torran Rocks off the Ross of Mull where the boat had grounded in a heavy south west wind, and the crew had taken to the life rafts.

All ships in the area were immediately alerted, and within minutes, fishing boats in the vicinity headed for the scene to search in vain in the darkness. Fishing boats alongside Oban’s Railway Pier cast off and steamed towards the Torrans while a Shackleton aircraft circled the area. In the early light of dawn a liferaft was spotted near Erraid, but this was found later to be deflated, and not from the stricken ship. At 08.46, the fishing boat Reliant came upon wreckage drifting half a mile west south west of Eilean a Chalmain. This was identified as being part of the Rosebud II. A few minutes earlier, an RAF helicopter from 202 air/sea rescue squadron took off from Leuchars to join the hunt for the missing crew.

7 fishing vessels were now combing the area, as well as the Islay lifeboat. At around 10.00am, however, the first tragic find was made when skipper Dan Ralph’s crew of the Burghead vessel Accord, found a crewman’s body floating off Eilean a Chalmain. The victim was later identified as 32 year old Sandy Mackenzie of Burghead, whose brother Billy, also from Burghead, was still among the missing. A second body was found a few miles north of the scene off the Dutchman’s Cap in the Treshnish Isles.

A marble open book, inscribed with the names of the crewmen, an image of the Rosebud II and an anchor, can be found at the head of the harbour, Burghead.

#scotland #scottish #history #Fishing vessel #Maritime disaster

[jollysportingbear]

Lee-Rose by Calum Reid Via Flickr: So glad Lee-Rose didn't come in much earlier as it would still have been foggy. Just a bit of patience required and it was worth the early start.

#harbour #wall #gulls #fresh #catch #prawn #lee #rose #fidhing #boat #trawler #burghead #tuesday #april #broch #scottish #scotland #fleet #canon #eos

[fenrislorsrai]

Grey Seal by Gav Troon Via Flickr: Burghead Harbour, Moray, Scotland.

#seal #seals #grey seal #mammal #mammals #animal planet #animal #animals #animal photography #animal portrait #animal portraiture #nature #natural beauty #natural #nature photography #nature walk #wildlife #wildlife in scotland #wild #wild animal #wildlife photography #Scotland #Scottish #scottish wildlife

[taifunu]

Harbour Storm by Andrew Watson Via Flickr: Tried a B&W conversion of the other Burghead Harbour shot, I definitely prefer this one, I would be interested to hear your thoughts also!

#harbour #burghead #black and white #white #black #scotland #fine #art #andrew #paul #watson #andrew paul watson #uk #moray #firth #sea #storm #wave #cloud #break #sunset #fujifilm #x-t1

[deadlinenews]

Steve Truluck captured the stunning images of several dolphins as they got up close to Burghead Harbour in Moray on Monday. https://qoo.ly/3c7zg9

[tipsycad147]

Capricorn December Hogmanay Trollolay!

By shirleytwofeathers

In Scotland, the last day of the year is called  Hogmanay, the word children use to ask for their traditional present of an oatmeal cake (which is why this is also called Cake Day). Traditionally,  children in small towns would wander about town, particularly in the more affluent neighbourhoods, visiting their neighbours of the better class, crying at their doors, “Hogmanay!” or sometimes the following rhyme:

Hogmanay, trollolay, Gie’s of your white bread and none of your grey!

In obedience to which call, they are served each with an oaten cake. Immediately after midnight it is traditional to sing Robert Burns’ “Auld Lang Syne”

“Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot and auld lang syne For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, We’ll take a cup o kindness yet, for auld lang syne.”

Fireworks and fire festivals are still common across Scotland, as are parties and celebrations of all kinds. There are many customs, both national and local, associated with Hogmanay. The most widespread national custom is the practice of ‘first-footing’ which starts immediately after midnight. This involves being the first person to cross the threshold of a friend or neighbour and often involves the giving of symbolic gifts such as salt (less common today), coal, shortbread, whisky, and black bun (a rich fruit cake) intended to bring different kinds of luck to the householder. Food and drink (as the gifts) are then given to the guests.

This may go on throughout the early hours of the morning and well into the next day (although modern days see people visiting houses well into January). The first-foot is supposed to set the luck for the rest of the year. Traditionally, tall dark men are preferred as the first-foot. And of course, the entire spirit of a Hogmanay party is to welcome both friends and strangers with warm hospitality and of course lots of kissing all-around!

It’s believed that Hogmanay originated with the invading Vikings who celebrated the passing of the winter solstice with much revelry, but the roots of Hogmanay perhaps reach back to the celebration of the winter solstice among the Norse, as well as incorporating customs from the Gaelic New Year’s celebration of Samhain.

In Rome, winter solstice evolved into the ancient celebration of Saturnalia, a great winter festival, where people celebrated completely free of restraint and inhibition. The Vikings celebrated Yule, which later contributed to the Twelve Days of Christmas, or the “Daft Days” as they were sometimes called in Scotland. The winter festival went underground with the Protestant Reformation and ensuing years, but re-emerged near the end of the 17th century

Each area of Scotland often developed its own particular Hogmanay ritual.

An example of a local Hogmanay custom is the fireball swinging that takes place in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire in north-east Scotland. This involves local people making up ‘balls’ of chicken wire filled with old news paper, dried sticks, old cotton rags, and other dry flammable material up to a diameter of 60 cm. Each ball has approximately 1 m of wire, chain or nonflammable rope attached.

As the Old Town House bell sounds to mark the new year, the balls are set alight and the swingers set off up the High Street from the Mercat Cross to the Cannon and back, swinging their burning ball around their head as they go for as many times as they and their fireball last. At the end of the ceremony any fireballs that are still burning are cast into the harbour.

Many people enjoy this display, which is more impressive in the dark than it would be during the day. As a result large crowds flock to the town to see it, with 12,000 attending the 2007/2008 event. In recent years, additional attractions have been added to entertain the crowds as they wait for midnight, such as fire poi, a pipe band, street drumming and a firework display after the last fireball is cast into the sea. The festivities are now streamed live over the Internet.

Another example of a pagan fire festival is the burning the clavie which takes place in the town of Burghead in Moray.In the east coast fishing communities and Dundee, first-footers used to carry a decorated herring while in Falkland in Fife, local men would go in torchlight procession to the top of the Lomond Hills as midnight approached. Bakers in St Andrews would bake special cakes for their Hogmanay celebration (known as ‘Cake Day’) and distribute them to local children.

In Glasgow and the central areas of Scotland, the tradition is to hold Hogmanay parties involving singing, dancing, the eating of steak pie or stew, storytelling and consumption of copious amounts of alcohol, which usually extend into the daylight hours of January 1.

Institutions also had their own traditions. For example, among the Scottish regiments, the officers had to wait on the men at special dinners while at the bells, the Old Year is piped out of barrack gates. The sentry then challenges the new escort outside the gates: ‘Who goes there?’ The answer is ‘The New Year, all’s well.’

An old custom in the Highlands, which has survived to a small extent and seen some degree of revival, is to celebrate Hogmanay with the saining (Scots for ‘protecting, blessing’) of the household and livestock. This is done early on New Year’s morning with copious, choking clouds of smoke from burning juniper branches, and by drinking and then sprinkling ‘magic water’ from ‘a dead and living ford’ around the house (‘a dead and living ford’ refers to a river ford which is routinely crossed by both the living and the dead). After the sprinkling of the water in every room, on the beds and all the inhabitants, the house is sealed up tight and the burning juniper carried through the house and byre.

The smoke is allowed to thoroughly fumigate the buildings until it causes sneezing and coughing among the inhabitants. Then all the doors and windows are flung open to let in the cold, fresh air of the new year. The woman of the house then administers ‘a restorative’ from the whisky bottle, and the household sits down to their New Year breakfast.

Collected from various sources

https://shirleytwofeathers.com/The_Blog/pagancalendar/category/december-days/page/4/

[clancarruthers]

Burghead, a Pictish Fortress

Burghead, a Pictish Fortress

Burghead, a Pictish Fortress

  Burghead is the largest fortified site yet uncovered from early medieval Scotland. It stood on a promontory in the Moray Firth, enclosing an area of two hectares. Based on the 30 or so stone plaques found incised with the form of a bull, it may have been the Tarvedunum of Ptolemy’s map, ‘the bull fort’.

Although now largely obliterated by the harbour and town built…

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#Ancient and Honorable Carruthers Clan Society International #Ancient and Honorable Carruthers Clan Society International LLC #carrothers #carruthers #Carruthers Clan #carruthers family history #Carruthers history #Clan Carruthers #Picts #scotland

[only-cats-photos]

Burghead Harbour https://ift.tt/2VdLsOq - Follow me https://ift.tt/Roy1qi

#cat #cats #kitten #kityy #pet #animal #funny cat

[dansnaturepictures]

April end of month post 1 of 4: Ten of my favourite bird photos I took this month and full summary of my month 

For this month’s end of month post, as it has been one of the best and most prolific bird and wildlife watching and photography months I’ve ever had, I am doing four posts each with ten of my favourite pictures I took of different (in places) grouped subject types so that I keep the link to the month’s number and am sharing forty of my favourite photos from the month. I pre-wrote the month summary text so wanted to keep that all together, so this is below and refers to every aspect of my hobby this month and my next three posts shall have the other thirty pictures. 

The bird pictures in this post are of; Slavonian Grebe on the Scotland trip, Lapwing at Lochindorb, Long-tailed Duck at Burghead Harbour in Moray, Hooded Crow on Mull, Tree Sparrow and Yellowhammer at RSPB Loch of Strathbeg in Aberdeenshire, Greylag Goose goslings and Woodpigeon at Lakeside Country Park, Hampshire, Little Owl at Portland in Dorset and Whimbrel at Pennington in Hampshire. 

April 2023 has been one of the best months of my life. That is of course mostly down to the fact that we returned to Scotland going on the Heatherlea Spring Into Scotland birding tour of the Highlands, Mull, Moray and Aberdeenshire. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life as we saw a very long list of phenomenal and many iconic birds and mammals and other flora and fauna, took in some of the most breathtaking views I’d ever seen of the rugged and high mountainous landscape with vast forest, splendid lochs and charging rivers with the coast enjoyed a lot too. From our first ever wild Otters seen to summer plumage Slavonian Grebes there were so many precious and marvellous natural sights we had never seen before and dreams came true when we saw them. We just really felt in our element and made the most of being out in wilderness and wild wonderland. There was some amazing birdwatching for us in the rest of the month too with alongside our first ever White-billed Divers on the Moray coast two more new birds at home in Black-crowned Night Heron at Stockbridge Common Marsh and Cirl Bunting at Portland. There were many other great species seen this month with us really cruising into spring and I loved seeing birds in their breeding seasons again this month headlined by goslings and ducklings I saw at Lakeside Country Park and in Winchester.

My bird year list after April is in an incredible place, I am already into the 190s with thirty four year ticks thus far this month my highest amount of year ticks in an April ever which is so unprecedented and thrilling for me. Only four of my previous year lists finished on a higher amount than what I’m currently on and of course I’m miles ahead of where I was on this date in previous years. Other of my standout birds seen this month were Osprey, Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Merlin, Black-throated Diver, Red-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Dipper, Corn Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Swallow, Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler, Blackcap, Cetti’s Warbler, Whitethroat, Whimbrel, Peregrine Falcon, Mediterranean Gull and Little Owl.

Of course Mountain Hare, Bottlenose Dolphin, Red Deer and others alongside Otters on the Scotland trip made it perhaps my best ever month of seeing mammals, making my mammal year list this year my highest ever already. As expected for April it was very much a butterfly awakening with brilliant time spent seeing more of the first few species in a year especially on strong sunny days. Orange Tip, Speckled Wood and Brimstone were key species seen as these flamboyant insects gripped me a lot. It was a big month of flowers for me too, from marsh marigold to cuckooflower I enjoyed seeing a lot more species in bloom. Scenes of blossom turning to ripe green leaves was a major feature of my observing and photographing of the landscape this month. I also enjoyed beetles, spiders and fungi this month. I was pleased to take a huge amount of photos this month with many varied ones I’m pleased with. I hope you all have a nice May.

#photography #birdwatching #april #month #england #scotland #uk #world #nature #lapwing #slavonian grebe #greylag goose #gosling #little owl #cirl bunting #golden eagle #white-tailed eagle #otter #bottlenose dolphin #corn bunting #yellowhammer #black-throated diver #red-throated diver #great northern diver #2023 #amazing #happy #memories #europe #outdoors

[nosasblog]

Digging the Pictish Fort at Burghead

Digging the Pictish Fort at Burghead

by Anji Hancock (NOSAS)

My childhood was spent in Lossiemouth, a mere 8 miles from Burghead. Then, my knowledge of Burghead was a jumbled mix of Druidism, a Roman Well, the burning of the Clavie and the harbour my father’s fishing boat used when the wind was in the wrong direction to get into Lossiemouth harbour. As a child I felt it was definitely a place of history and mystery, but I can’t…

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#archaeology 3d Model #bone pin #Brough of Birsay #Burghead pictish fort #burnt timbers #copper alloy ring #Gordon Noble #Northern Picts #pictish archaeology #Pictish buildings #Pictish citadel #University of Aberdeen #Whithorn

[scotianostra]

Duffus Castle by Tom McPherson Via Flickr: The castle is situated on the Laich of Moray, a fertile plain that was once the swampy foreshore of Spynie Loch. This was originally a more defensive position than it appears today, long after the loch was drained. The motte is a huge man-made mound, with steep sides and a wide ditch separating it from the bailey. The whole site is enclosed by a water-filled ditch, which is more a mark of its boundary than it is a serious defensive measure.

#Burghead #blackandwhite #mono #fuji #Moray #harbour #appicoftheweek #textures #monochrome #x100f #xpro2 #Scotland #instagood #photooftheday #beautiful #picoftheday #street #bestoftheday #fineart #nature #shadows #urban #travel #X-T3 #style #follow #repost #pictishimages #tommcpherson

[jollysportingbear]

Oceana and others by Calum Reid Via Flickr: Saturday, high tide, sun in a nice place and plenty boats in Burghead Harbour, what's not to like?

#fleet #broch #morning #February #white #blue #red #ins #starlight #Maldon #Oceana #colours #fishing #boats #moray #Scotland #Saturday #harbour #Burghead

[megamikethomson]

Scrooge councillors slap £one hundred charge on boxing day harbour dippers

A council has been swamped by a tidal wave of protest for slapping a £100 levy on Boxing Day dippers who raise thousands for charity.

The Burghead Boxing Day Swim has been held in the Moray fishing town for the past 34 years and hauled in around £250,000.

Volunteers, led by young chef Jamie Campbell, run the annual event themselves with little or no input from Moray Council.

Now the cash-strapped council have been forced to hit communities with another £10.3m tsunami of penny-pinching cutbacks.

But the Burghead charge has provoked a huge backlash and angered locals who have accused councillors of robbing charities. Read More Related Articles  

Swim organiser Jamie, 27, said: “For 364 days a year you can swim across the harbour for free but we’re being asked to stump up on Boxing Day.

“We’ve raised at least a quarter of a million pounds over the years and all the money raised stays in Moray.

“The irony is that a lot of applications we get, and which we do pick, are charities no longer getting enough from the council.

“We’re topping up what the council can no longer afford to give them so this charge is a bit of a kick in the teeth.

“We’re all volunteers. We keep enough money for insurance and the rest goes to the beneficiaries.”

In recent years the dip has netted around £10,00 a time and the proceeds have benefited prostate cancer sufferers, schools and the Moray Sea School Memorial. Read More Related Articles  

A spokeswoman for Moray Council confirmed: “Councillors approved a new charge for 2019/20 - £100 for use of a port/harbour for charity/community event.”

Burghead Conservative Councillor James Allan admitted he only just heard about the new charge and took no part in the decision.

He said: “I want them to reverse it. This event has been a huge success for over 30 years and that’s down to the hard work, dedication and commitment of local volunteers.”

Community leaders in Burghead are set to meet next week to decide what to do.

But people vented their fury on the Burghead Boxing Day Swim Facebook page.

Lorraine Stewart said: “Can’t believe they even thought of this charge, somebody sitting in an office obviously with very little to do but think of an easy way to take in money for Moray Council. Speechless.” Read More Related Articles  

John Farquhar added: “I would like to find out the name of the person whose diligence, initiative and application to duty is the source of this ridiculous suggestion. Please Moray Council, name someone.”

Gordon Matheson posted: “I find it strange that they want to levy a charge for the citizens of the town using the harbour to further enhance both our standing and our charitable functions as a town.” Janice Mackenzie fumed: “By charging the council are imposing a tax on the charitable donations made by people who sponsor the swimmers.”

Scott Thomson suggested: “They must have a department of denying fun.”

From New Zealand, Haydon Ditchburn posted: “How sad that petty bureaucracy has invaded such an initiative, especially as it has been self-funded for so long.

“Hopefully, common sense will prevail to the benefit of all.”

John Morrison added: “This is embarrassing and disgusting that a charity event is getting charged, shame on you Moray Council.”

And John Farquhar suggested: “Go ahead with the swim and if any Moray Council officials turn up to collect a ‘fee’ throw them in.”

#boxing day #Boxing Day 2019 #http://boxingday.in/boxing-day-soccer-tradition-in-england/

[dansnaturepictures]

2023: One key photo from each month

Sunset seen from Farlington Marshes in January, Whooper Swan at RSPB Lakenheath Fen in February, sky at home in March, Long-tailed Duck at Burghead Harbour in April, Sandwich Terns and Black-headed Gulls on Brownsea Island in May, view at Llyn Ogwen in June, Brown Hairstreak at Shipton Bellinger in July, view at Milkham in the New Forest in August, Red Deer at Bushy Park in September, amethyst deceiver at Denny Wood in the New Forest in October, yellow autumn leaves at Lakeside Country Park in November and Long-tailed Tit there in December.

#england #scotland #wales #birdwatching #butterflies #landscapes #fungi #photography #2023 #outdoors #memories #europe #uk #happy #nature