Crathes Castle on a cold Autumn day
Autumn trees at Crathes
Crathes Castle
Crathes Pond
Crathes Autumn tree
Yesterday I took the bus to Crathes Castle and had a lovely day traipsing round the woods searching for Red Squirrel. I had a plan too. I knew they regularly appeared at the feeder behind the shops, so I took a wee seat and was ready to camp there for a few hours. It’s a shame no one told the staff who hadn’t put any food out that day, I had foolishly not taken any with me.
I enquired within the shop if they had any seed for sale and they very kindly gave me a wee bag of their own seed, so I put into action plan number two. I had found a great picturesque stone, covered in moss and in a ray of sunlight. My plan was to put some seed on the stone then sit and wait for birds or squirrels to start feeding, it was a good plan. Sadly my plan did not take into account the mother and toddler group who were collecting pine cones and twigs, while making as much noise as twenty toddlers are in the habit of making. Oh well.
So, a little disheartened but still enjoying the day I decided to get some landscape shots of the Castle. At least it won’t hide from me. While working away at the end of the lawn some movement caught my attention in the corner of my eye. I whirled round to see a Red Squirrel skipping past some trees on the other side of the path. It had obviously waited till I had switched lenses, attached some filters and been in full landscape mode before coming out for some food, the wee red swine. As quickly as I could, I switched lenses and tried to circle around the back of where the squirrel had headed. Taking care not to make any loud noises, I crept round the trunks of some large trees and caught a glimpse of the Red foraging at the foot of a beech tree. Just a little closer. I went round another trunk, surely it’s just through this bush. Nothing. It obviously heard me coming and scarpered. My eyes scanned the branches for movement but this Red was obviously better at hiding than I was.
Returning to my gear, I packed up and followed the path back to the bus stop. At least I know there are definitely Red’s in the woods at Crathes and there’ll always be another day.
