Spring Road Trip Drive To The Pends On History Visit To St Andrews Fife Scotland

Tour Scotland Spring 4K travel video of a road trip drive, with Scottish bagpipes music along North Street and to the Pends on ancestry, genealogy, history visit to St Andrews, Fife, Britain, United Kingdom. The arched Pends was the former entrance to the St Andrews Priory. The Pends is also known locally as one of the sites of a ghostly vision of a coach and horses. This is often thought to be the coach of Archbishop Sharp who was murdered in 1679 during the Covenanter period of Scottish history. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day. Find things to see and do in Scotland where you are always welcome. When driving on Scottish roads in Scotland slow down and enjoy the trip. The date for astronomical spring is Sunday 20th March, ending on Tuesday 21st June All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Grey Squirrel On Spring Thursday Visit To My Cottage Garden Scone Perth Perthshire Scotland

Tour Scotland 4K Spring Thursday wildlife nature camera travel video clip of the sight and sounds of a bushy tailed Grey Squirrel spotted opening feeder box and eating peanuts on morning visit and trip to my Scottish cottage garden in Scone by Perth, Perthshire, Britain, United Kingdom. While Squirrels are known for their agility and resourcefulness in finding food, providing them with supplementary nourishment can offer an exciting opportunity for observation and interaction. As its name suggests, this squirrel typically has a grey coat with white undersides, though the coat colour can also be quite brown at times. Grey squirrels are mainly herbivorous, eating acorns, hazel nuts, berries, fungi, buds and shoots, and even bark. The grey squirrel was introduced to Great Britain in the middle of the 19th century. There is now an estimated population of 2 million making them much more common than the native red squirrel. They arrived in England from North America and are now one of Britain's most well known and frequently seen mammals, with an estimated population of 2 million. It is a myth that grey squirrels chase red squirrels away. Greys are just more adaptable to new surroundings. Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical wellbeing. Feeding grey squirrels provides a wonderful opportunity for observing their behaviours up close. You might witness their playful antics, social interactions, and even their impressive agility while navigating your garden. While squirrels may become accustomed to your presence, it's essential to remember that they are wild animals. Maintain a respectful distance, and never attempt to handle or approach them closely . Feeding grey squirrels in your garden can offer a unique connection to nature, fostering a sense of appreciation for the wildlife that coexists alongside us. By providing suitable and healthy food options, you can contribute to their well-being while enjoying the delightful charm these creatures bring to your outdoor space. The date for astronomical spring is 20th March, ending on 21st June All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Female Blackbirds On Spring Thursday Visit To My Cottage Garden Scone Perth Perthshire Scotland

Tour Scotland very short 4K Spring Thursday wildlife nature camera travel video clip of the sight and sounds of dark brown female Blackbirds spotted eating on morning visit and trip to my Scottish cottage garden in Scone by Perth, Perthshire, Britain, United Kingdom. Female and juvenile blackbirds have a mainly dark brown plumage. This widespread bird is a common visitor to United Kingdom gardens, and has adapted well to suburban areas, it’s often possible to get quite close. It can also be found in woodland and grassland areas, but you’re much less likely to see it on areas of higher ground and in some parts of Scotland, Common and widespread across Britain, the blackbird population is currently stable, although it has seen periods of decline in the past. One of the biggest threats is lack of food availability, particularly when the weather is dry. Leaving mealworms and ground feeder mix out on bird tables and planting bushes that attract caterpillars to your garden are great ways to help blackbirds. If you were to believe various myths and folktales, you’d find this solitary, territorial bird to be imbued with evil and supernatural powers. Welsh poet R. S. Thomas observed that there was “ a suggestion of dark Places ” about the blackbird that was at odds with its beautiful song. In the story of the life of Saint Benedict, the Devil was said to have come to tempt the saint in the form of a blackbird. The English nursery rhyme “ Sing a Song of Sixpence ” involves blackbirds “ baked in a pie ” which reanimate and sing when the pie is opened. Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical wellbeing. Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. The date for astronomical spring is 20th March, ending on 21st June All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Magpie Birds On Spring Thursday Visit To My Cottage Garden Scone Perth Perthshire Scotland

Tour Scotland short 4K Spring Thursday wildlife nature camera travel video clip of the sight and sounds of beautiful, sociable, black and white Magpie Birds spotted eating on morning visit and trip to my Scottish cottage garden in Scone by Perth, Perthshire, Britain, United Kingdom. The magpie bird is one of our most familiar birds and the source of much myth and legend: '" ne for sorrow, two for a joy "is a rhyme that many children learn. Magpies are, in fact, small crows, and are omnivorous, feeding on carrion, invertebrates, and chicks and eggs. They are sociable birds and are often seen in small groups across many habitats, from gardens to parks, and heaths to hedges. The magpie is an unmistakeable long tailed bird. It is mainly black, with a white belly and white patches on the shoulders and wings. Folklore surrounds the magpie: from providing good luck when greeted, to being in league with the Devil, its ubiquitous presence has provided plenty of opportunities for stories. Many surround religion, including the belief that it didn't mourn with all the other birds at Christ's crucifixion, and that it refused to enter Noah's Ark, preferring to stay on the roof and swear for the whole journey. Find things to see and do in Scotland where you are always welcome. Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical wellbeing. The date for astronomical spring is 20th March, ending on 21st June All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Scotsman Walking Wearing Kilt By Abbotsford House On Spring History Visit To Borders Scotland

Tour Scotland short 4K Spring travel video clip of a Scotsman wearing a Kilt and Sporran and walking by daffodils in a garden at Abbotsford House on ancestry, genealogy, history visit and trip to the Borders, Britain, United Kingdom. Abbotsford is the house built and lived in by Sir Walter Scott, the 19th century novelist, and author of timeless classics such as Waverley, Rob Roy, Ivanhoe and The Lady of the Lake. The garden is compact, fragrant, colourful and detailed. It is contained within high walls, with the facades of the house setting a scene which could be straight out of one of Scott’s historical romance. Walter Scott was born on 15 August 1771, in a third floor apartment on College Wynd in the Old Town, Edinburgh, a narrow alleyway leading from the Cowgate to the gates of the University of Edinburgh. He was the ninth child, six having died in infancy, of Walter Scott, born 1729, died 1799, a member of a cadet branch of the Clan Scott and a Writer to the Signet, by his wife Anne Rutherford, a sister of Daniel Rutherford and a descendant of both the Clan Swinton and the Haliburton family, the descent from which granted Walter's family the hereditary right of burial in Dryburgh Abbey. Walter was thus a cousin of the property developer James Burton, died 1837, born Haliburton, and of his son the architect Decimus Burton. Walter subsequently became a member of the Clarence Club, of which the Burtons were also members. A childhood bout of polio in 1773 left Scott lame, a condition that would much affect his life and writing. To improve his lameness he was sent in 1773 to live in the rural Scottish Borders, at his paternal grandparents' farm at Sandyknowe, by the ruin of Smailholm Tower. In 1778, Scott returned to Edinburgh for private education to prepare him for school and joined his family in their new house, one of the first to be built in George Square. In October 1779, he began at the Royal High School in Edinburgh, in High School Yards. He was by then well able to walk and explore the city and the surrounding countryside. Scott began studying classics at the University of Edinburgh in November 1783, at the age of 12, a year or so younger than most fellow students. After completing his studies, Scott took up law in Edinburgh. He made his first visit as a lawyer's clerk to the Scottish Highlands, directing an eviction. He eventually became a Scottish historical novelist, poet, playwright and historian. Many of his works remain classics of European and Scottish literature, notably the novels Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, Waverley, Old Mortality, The Heart of Mid-Lothian and The Bride of Lammermoor, and the narrative poems The Lady of the Lake and Marmion. He had a major impact on European and American literature. He died at Abbotsford on 21 September 1832. He was 61 years of age. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day. Find things to see and do in Scotland where you are always welcome. The date for astronomical Spring is 20th March, ending on 21st June All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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