26/06/08  earlier this year we suffered power cuts seven nights in a row,and always at 11pm.As you can imagine this became frustrating as we had to reprogramme a host of electrical devices.Our first enquiry led to a response of bird strike,but a few days later this was amended to a bird nesting.It turned out as not just any bird but a very determined hooded crow,who was using discarded fence wire in amongst the nest materials.A neighbours son,Murdo Louis is the linesman for the area,and a policy of early nest removal was in place as previous years had seen several poles ablaze from non removal.The time was chosen as the least inconvenient to users.The ensueing struggle was well contested by both parties,and it seemed only proper to record the event,from both perspectives--so here goes-----------

 1/07/08  the croft is looking at its finest with huge amounts of white clover in flower giving a rich heady scent,breeze permitting.The water meadow is turning into a sea of deep pink as the ragged robin makes its annual appearance.There are orchids everywhere in greater numbers than ever.Meanwhile sand park in absolutely covered in yellow rattle,which is great news for the establishment of a truly memorable wildflower meadow.Being parasitic it roots attach to the grasses and prevents a dense heavy sward and allows wildflowers to proliferate.The plan will now to encourage this by letting the belties in to chew the ground up in autumn and bring up the residual seed bank,and also to seed some wildflower mixture after haymaking to help the transition.Having grown a small plot of wildflowers we now know they like our soils and will hopefully provide seed and plants. Our species list growing on the croft has jumped significantly this yearThe bumblebee conservaton trust are monitoring our croft this year and the good news on the first visit is that there are plenty of bees and plenty of food flowers.No great northern yellows were spotted on this occaission,but they will come hopefully if the food is there.Undoubtedly the early sunny dry spring has helped ,but there is no doubt we are seeing the beneficial effects from our inclusion into the rural stewardship scheme and the structure of management it imposes upon us.What a great pity then,that it is coming to an end with the optional five year extension being withdrawn.When a scheme can be shown to be delivering the very benefits it set out to achieve,why cut it off at the very time it is coming to fruition?Why not monitor and only those areas that have achieved are then offered the extension.would this not be a greater use of public funds,which for a change actually delivered .

                               a walk across the croft on a recent sunny afternoon was a absolute joy,and we hope to be able to continue to assist nature to regenerate.Oystercatcher and ringed plover chicks have hatched and are dashing about on the beach,and the new livestock building is rising up with the blockwork completed,awaiting the roof.From a short distance it looks incredibly small belying its actual size,the positioning and ground contours seemingly shrinking it ,and l am well pleased that the months of agonising have paid such good dividends.Looking forward to having the use of this tremendous asset this winter if l can manage to roof it without breaking my neck doing it.

 04/07/08   a truly splendid day with plenty of hot sunshine,with the promise of a very good weekend.Great skuas and a golden eagle overflying the croft today    

12/5/08   the weather here is glorious.With no rain for over a fortnight and continuous sunshine since the 1st of may,everything is bursting into life.Compared to last year when there was no grass growth until the 5th june,we are much forward this year.And just to reinforce this,a pair of swallows were flying in the township on the 2nd may.l have taken advantage and have installed a bridge over the river in the water meadow,large enough to take a small tractor.Now that peace has returned we once again hold our breath to see if this is the year that the corncrake will return. With a lot of flag iris and rush cover,grazed areas by cattle,we are told it is perfect habitat by those that know.But will the "EXPERTS" themselves agree and take up residence.All l know is that it is a joy to have been working there with the sound of burbling water and all the wild flowers brilliant wearing their new shiny bright clothes,and songbird song filling ther air 

20/5/08   enjoyed a flying visit to North Uist today and was surprised to see how backward everything is there this year.They are still feeding cattle fodder on fields of bare grass.They have had the double whammy of very dry conditions on sandy ground coupled to a cold easterly wind blowing through may.There was a distinct lack of birdlife noticeable,in stark contrast to previous visits,and no calling corncrakes heard.For our own part here,we have had cows at grass for the past month,and have seen more birds,in greater numbers than ever.They did however have a male snowy owl in residence,but the female snowy owl has left for warmer climes and is working her way up the west coast of lewis according to the latest reports.Meanwhile the pair of swallows are deciding whether or not to set up home in our stables.Five weeks of dry sunny weather todate and not much sign yet of a significant break.The wind has picked up from the northwest which always brings a sharpness with it,perfect for working outside though

26/5/08   7 weeks of continous dry sunny weather and l am seriously considering ordering sun loungers,but have not managed to find any that can withstand the urge to take flight when the wind picks up.So although l have been out in the SUN a awful lot it has not quite won me over just yet.Incredibly good weather with too few visitors here to take advantage

6/6/08   had our first shower of rain last night since l cannot remember.We are" burning up" here with grass fields dying off.Total rainfall here for may was 11.9 mm and that was mostly made up of dew.Have been taking advantage of this weather by building walls on a homebuilt livestock building,and thus avoiding sun loungers.Our swallows are building a nest of sorts, so its fingers crossed.No sign of a corncrake yet,so l feel they are a bird of very limited vision since the water meadow is wonderful this year,lacking in water but smothered in wildflowers,and an idyllic spot.For future guests it will be now possible to book the Galson estate trust, countryside ranger for your very own personal tour,with your fields of interest catered for.These run as half day trips at a very reasonable charge of £25pp(based on a minimum of 2 people),.Also available are free "walks with talks " on tuesday and thursday afternoons.A great way to learn the history,culture and wildlife and provides far more from a short stay on lewis.Speak to julie on 01851 810825 or her mobile 07979 947664.Feedback from guests who have participated is that they were wonderful,enjoyable and extremely informative

         THE CROFTING CROW

l,ve no place to go,said the crofting crow,     

eying up the electricity pole,

its nice up here,bright fresh and clear,

far better than the usual bolthole.

l will make my nest big,using the odd twig,

and maybe a branch or two,

a little wire,to start a fire,

will do nicely to finish"my feu".

now whats all this,theres something amiss,

heres a man with a very big stick,

he,s poking my home,suggesting l roam,

off into another district.

it,s the "clearance"for me,and my family,

evicted before they are born,

 l,m not finished yet,and you,ll come to regret,

evicting me quite so soon.

thers plenty more to choose,lots of poles left to use,

and one thing l can state with certainty,

Murdo Louis will get no rest,his efforts l will best,

and you lot can forget your electricity.

The moral is clear,l,m not leaving here,

fighting for my right to be free,

so if you want bright,nice electrical light,

go out and PLANT UP A TREE

       THE FINAL WORD

A man of some power,l am paid by the hour,

working for the SSE,

out in all weather,pulling together,

to ensure your electricity.

Out travelling my round,whats this l,ve found,

a real mess on top of a pole,

its not quite a goodie,aye-aye its a hoodie.

setting up home is its goal.

           DAY 1

Here now you bird,have you not heard,

that its dangerous around electricity,

so off you go,you silly old crow,

fly off and nest in a tree.

       DAY 2

Its you again,did you nae ken,

our conversation of yesterday,

l feel you should know,itstime to go,

and dont come back this way.

          DAY 3

did l not say,get off to stornoway,

thers plenty of "wood" over there,

well its out with my stick,its you l,ll evict,

soon have this pole nice and bare.

             DAY 4

its trouble and strife,and grief from the wife,

because l am so on the go,

its hard you see,a great difficulty,

explaining a date with a crow.

             DAY 5

this has gone past fun,will l fetch out my gun,

have l got to threaten your life,

you can no longer stay,get off on your way,

mind,dont forget your wife.

          FINAL DAY

now l have done my duty,given him the bootie

he,s no longer a meanace or pest,

l am pleased as can be,off home for my tea,

its certainly a load off my chest.

The message is clear,l wont stand for it here,

any threat to the power supply,

so for this particulat bird,l know he has heard,

time to leave,OR DIE

         POSTSCRIPT

now money is tight,my wallet feels light,

with doubletime set to disappear,

the bills keep on coming,standing still feels like running,

can we do it again next year?

  (caw really?--THE CROW)